July 2024

Excellence in Agriculture Awards 

Apply by July 22, 2024!

Calling all Ontario producers, processors, Northern businesses, Indigenous businesses and communities, organizations, women and youth! The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness wants to recognize and showcase the efforts and excellence that are driving the agriculture and food industry forward! 

This year, the province is recognizing excellence in 12 categories in addition to a Minister’s Award:

·     Research and innovation excellence

·     Food processing excellence

·     Education excellence

·     Promotional excellence

·     Supply chain excellence

·     Workforce excellence

·     Urban agriculture excellence

·     Northern business excellence

·     Indigenous, Métis or Inuit-owned business or community excellence

·     Women’s excellence

·     Youth excellence

·     Farm family excellence

Governments Investing in Seed Facility to Support Economic Growth

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $330,000 through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to enhance the Superior Plant Upgrading and Distribution (SPUD) Unit in New Liskeard. The SPUD Unit supports farmers and the wider agriculture and food industry by offering testing for plant diseases and providing a stock of healthy plants to commercial growers across the province.

• The upgrades will begin this year and work will continue through 2025.
• The SPUD Unit produces 10 per cent of the minitubers needed for seed potato production in Ontario and is the only source in Canada for garlic seed suited for the Ontario climate.
• Sustainable CAP will help enable the goals outlined in Ontario’s Grow Ontario Strategy, which include increasing the consumption and production of food grown and prepared in Ontario by 30 per cent by 2032.
• Supporting continued and targeted investments in science, research and innovation to address key challenges and opportunities in the agri-food sector was among the priorities set for Sustainable CAP by the federal-provincial-territorial agricultural ministers in The Guelph Statement.

Register Now!

Experience the agricultural event of the year at the Northwest International Ag Expo, hosted by the Northwest Soil & Crop Improvement Association! 

Whether you’re a seasoned producer, a thriving agribusiness, or a passionate stakeholder, this expo is tailored just for you. 

Join us as we delve into insightful discussions on crops, livestock, and regional agricultural practices that shape our industry. Engage with industry-leading experts at equipment displays, where innovation meets practicality. And don’t miss out on invaluable networking opportunities with fellow agribusiness professionals.

Follow us on Facebook @NorthwestInternationalAgExpo

Webinar: Ontario's Not-for-profit Corporations Act (ONCA) for non-profit organizations

WHEN:  Thursday, July 11, 2024

TIME:  6:00 p.m. - 7:30 pm.

Where: Zoom - register below

Ontario’s Not-for-profit Corporations Act(ONCA)was proclaimed on October 19th, 2021. Non-profit organizations have until October 18th, 2024 to update their bylaws and letters patent to comply with ONCA.

Until then, the rules in your articles and bylaws continue to be valid provided they were valid before the ONCA took effect.

We are excited to invite all local non-profit organizations in Algoma to a Question and Answer (Q & A)session hosted by AWIC in partnership with Huron North Community Economic Alliance - HNCEA and presented by the Ontario Non-Profit Network.

This session will provide you with an open forum to ask questions that may have come up for you during the ONCA transition process. You will have the opportunity to hear from other participants on the questions they are facing as well as common questions that arise.

Supports farmers to build resilient ecological farms and grow a strong knowledge-sharing community.

EFAO brings farmers together so they can learn from each other and improve the health of their soils, crops, livestock and the environment, while running profitable farm businesses.

Upcoming Events:

July 8th - Webinar: Introduction to Bee Keeping

July 10th - Webinar: Field Day at Poschaven Farm

July 10th - Field Day: Crosby Gitigaan and County Left Farm

July 15th - Webinar: Orchard Care Basics

July 15th - Webnar: Mushroom Cultivation with the Wild Basket

July 17th - Webinar: Farmer Mental Health

July 22nd - Webinar: Pasture-Raised Poultry

July 24th - Field Day: Salad Production at the New Farm

July 24th - Webinar: Permaculture for the Market Gardener

July 24th - Field Day: Grey Wolf Gardens Field Day

July 29th - Webinar: Intercropping in Market Gardens

July 31st - Workshop: Soil Health Workshop At Shelldale Farm Park 

OMAFA Dateline

OMAFA Dateline is an online calendar resource for use by interested individuals, businesses and organizations across Ontario. Calendar events may be hosted by OMAFRA or other groups. The events posted on this site are aimed at sharing information to agriculture, agri-food businesses and regional economic development clients. Please check the calendar regularly for upcoming events, workshops, conferences and meetings or to post an event.

Preventing The Introduction

Of Bovineviral Diarrhea Virus

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus is one of the most common viral diseases in cattle and is found in most countries around the world. Viral infections lead to respiratory and reproductive disease, causing significant economic losses for producers.

BVD infection is typically introduced to a herd with the arrival of a persistently infected (PI) animal—a bovine that appears normal but sheds large amounts of the BVD virus into the environment. Naïve cattle exposed directly to the virus through nose-to-nose contact or indirectly through contaminated materials become sick with a fever, depression, pneumonia and-or diarrhea, and have reproductive losses and a reduction in milk yield.

Honey Bee Health Initiative - NOW OPEN

The Honey Bee Health Initiative helps to support beekeepers in maintaining healthy honey bee colonies as well as grow their number of colonies to increase the sustainability of the beekeeping industry in Ontario. 

Projects will focus on:

• Operational improvements that reduce biosecurity risks, overwintering loss, and to manage or prevent the introduction and spread of honey bee pests and disease
• Purchase of or modification to equipment or facilities necessary to improve hive health management practices
• Adoption or implementation of best management practices to prevent the introduction and spread of honey bee pests and diseases within a beekeeping operation
• Sampling and analysis for pests and diseases
• Purchase of new honey bee stock or queens to ensure healthy honey bees with genetic diversity and selection are integrated into Ontario’s honey bee population

Intake 2 of The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) - NOW OPEN

As part of the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative, OSCIA is delivering the second year of the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP), a five-year program providing funding to eligible Ontario farmers to implement projects focused on addressing climate change through reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering carbon. 

Funding is available for:

• Natural Grassland Establishment
• Perennial Biomass Crops
• Perennial Warm Season Pastures
• Reduced Tillage;
• Tree and Shrub Planting
• Water Retention Features, and;
• Wetlands

The intake will close once available funding has been fully allocated. A farm business can have a maximum of two active applications submitted to the intake. 

The program guide provides information on eligible activities and costs, available funding, documentation required to be submitted with an application, and a link to the application form. 

Species at Risk Partnership on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) - OPEN

SARPAL is a Environment and Climate Change Canada initiative that is focused on working with farmers to support the recovery of species at risk on agricultural land. SARPAL funds conservation actions currently focused on supporting 12 target Species at Risk.

Dairy Processing Modernization Initiative & Guidelines - OPEN

The Dairy Processing Modernization Initiative provides funding to dairy processors for equipment upgrades that make processing more efficient and/or improve food safety.

The following activities are eligible under the Initiative:

1. incremental activities specifically required to create or increase processing efficiencies for Ontario facilities
2. incremental activities specifically required to both create or increase processing efficiencies and improve food safety for Ontario facilities

Grow Ontario Market Initiative - OPEN

Apply Now - This initiative is in high demand

OMAFA is pleased to inform you that the governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $6 million under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to help eligible agri-food businesses and industry organizations expand markets for Ontario food products.

This Grow Ontario Market Initiative will support agri-food producers, processors, and industry organizations with cost-share opportunities for the implementation of domestic and export marketing activities. 

Eligible activities will include (see link to guidelines for specific program details):

·    analysis and planning for new export and domestic market opportunities

·    implementation of new export and domestic marketing activities

·    development of new products that meet market opportunities 

Under the Grow Ontario Market Initiative applicants can receive up to 50 per cent cost share for eligible costs, to a maximum of $60,000 for producers and processors, and up to $125,000 for industry organizations. 

For More Information or with questions about the program please contact your regional advisor directly

Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative Guidelines - OPEN

Learn more about funding opportunities to enhance biosecurity at your business.

Intake Open

The Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative supports the resiliency of the agriculture and food sector by addressing biosecurity risks and enhancing emergency preparedness. It provides funding opportunities to key agriculture industry businesses, including Primary Producers, Processors, and Service Providers. The Initiative has 7 Project Categories to support related activities across the full agri-food value chain (two for animal health and five for plant health).

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation

INVEST North Program

The Invest North Program is designed to boost economic growth in Northern Ontario by encouraging businesses to invest in transformative, strategic and complementary business development opportunities in Northern communities. The program will support productivity, innovation, business competitiveness, revenue growth, export capacity development, job creation and retention.

Community Enhancement Program

The Community Enhancement Program is designed to help build strong and resilient Northern communities through infrastructure investments, to upgrade / repair existing assets to improve community quality of life, economic development infrastructure and strategic economic development initiatives

For a list of all NOHFC programming go to: https://nohfc.ca/en/nohfc_programs

Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario 

FedNor is the Government of Canada's economic development organization for Northern Ontario. Through its programs and services, and through its financial support of projects that lead to job creation and economic growth, FedNor works with businesses and community partners to build a stronger Northern Ontario.

Current Open Programs Include:

Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) 

Supporting the growth of Canadian businesses, their expansion into new markets and their adoption of new technologies and processes.

Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP) 

Supporting communities' efforts to plan and mobilize their resources, enhance business growth, and exploit new opportunities for economic development and diversification.

Community Futures Program (CFP)

Encouraging the growth of small and medium-sized businesses via a network of 24 Community Futures Development Corporations spread out across the region.

Economic Development Initiative (EDI)

Enhancing the economic viability of the region’s Francophone communities through support for innovation, economic diversification and business growth initiatives.

For More Information or to Apply:

Other E-mail Notices, Updates, Blogs and Podcasts that OMAFA offers

Food

• Food and Beverage Industry Newsletter

Farm Business Registration

To register a farm business and get a Farm Business Registration number (FBR), please contact Agricorp at 1-866-327-367 fbr@agricorp.com | www.agricorp.com 

First Nations Agriculture & Finance Ontario

Provides financing and support to build sustainable communities for Indigenous farmers and businesses.

Indigenous Services Canada

Canadian Agricultural Loans Act program

Loan program to farmers and agricultural co-operatives. Farmers can use these loans to establish, improve, and develop farms, while agricultural co-operatives may also access loans to process, distribute, or market the products of farming. 

AgMaps

An online application that allows you to create custom maps and find agricultural information for Ontario, combining agricultural data on soils and drainage, as well as data layers from other Government of Ontario ministries.

Farmnorth.com

The website for all things agriculture in the north, hosted by Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance.

Farm Credit Canada

A federal Crown corporation that lends money and provides other services to primary producers, agri-food operations and agribusinesses that provide inputs or add value to agriculture.