Pesticide use survey
All Ontario field crop, vegetable, fruit and specialty crop farmers are asked to fill out a confidential, anonymous online survey of pesticide use for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Rural Affairs. This year, the survey is being conducted by Farm and Food Care Ontario (www.farmfoodcare.org) and is available on line at www.ontariopesticidesurvey.ca. Surveys have been conducted every five years since 1973 and are used to track trends in pesticide use. Government, commodity boards and researchers use the information to help improve minor use pesticide registration lists, work toward safer use of pesticides and to understand trends in use and the types of pesticides used. The survey will track all field and horticulture crops and the pesticides used, acres applied and also acres where no pesticides are used. All farmers and custom spray applicators are encouraged to help fill out the survey of products they used during the 2013 growing season.
2014 Premier’s Award for Agri-Food
Innovation Excellence Program
Have you developed and implemented an innovative product or process within your agriculture or food business? If so, you could be eligible to receive one of the following awards from the Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Program: Premier’s Award (one award valued at $75,000), Minister’s Award (one award valued at $50,000), Leaders in Innovation Awards (three awards valued at $25,000 each) and Provincial Awards (45 awards valued at $5,000 each). Eligible applicants include: primary producers/farmers, processors and agri-food organizations. A copy of the program guidebook and application form, as well as information on previous award recipients, is available at www.ontario.ca/agrifoodinnovation or by calling 1-877-424-1300. Applications will be accepted until 5 pm on Friday, February 28.
National Farm Animal Care Council Code
The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) Code development process was followed in the development of this Code of Practice. This Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle replaces its predecessor developed in 1991 and published by Agriculture Canada.
The NFACC Code development process aims to:
• link Codes with science
• ensure transparency in the process
• include broad representation from stakeholders
• contribute to improvements in farm animal care
• identify research priorities and encourage work in these priority areas
• write clearly to ensure ease of reading, understanding and implementation
• provide a document that is useful for all stakeholders
For a copy of the updated Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle please contact me at the Service Ontario Office in Gore Bay.
