Messenger News Letter - April 2011

T HEMessenger M ESSENGER The

November 2010-11-13 Volume 1, Issue 1

APRIL 2011

Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency, 130 Malcolm Road, Guelph, ON, N1K 1B1 www.ontariosheep.org Tel: 519-836-0043

Inside This Issue

Important Dates for Mandatory RFID Tags  · Starting July 1, 2011 Ketchum Kurl lock and Allflex dangle

tags will no longer be available for sale to sheep producers as Canadian Sheep Identification Program (CSIP) tags.

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· All animals born or tagged after January 1, 2012 must be tagged with approved CSIP RFID tags

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· Approved CSIP RFID tags include the Shearwell Data Ltd SET tag and the Allflex RFID Button Tag.

       

Board Decisions / Actions Programs Religious & Ethnic Holidays Programs / Workshops Upcoming Events District Information OSMA Reaching Out Internal/External Committee’s

· After December 31, 2012 the Ketchum Kurl lock #3 and the Allflex dangle tags will be officially removed from the list of approved tags for the CSIP and will no longer be accepted at sales, abattoirs or by CFIA as official CSIP tags for shipping, transfer or sale of sheep in Canada.

For more information, please go to www.cansheep.ca 

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO ALL PRODUCERS: It is imperative that all lambs and sheep leaving your farms be properly tagged. Animals detected by CFIA ( the Canadian Food Inspection Agency) without tags are now receiving fines of $1300.

These fines are being charged to everyone involved in the sale.

Therefore the producer, the transportor and the Salesbarn are each receiving a $1300 fine for every sheep or lamb without a tag.

Failure to comply may soon result in Salebarns refusing to accept lambs and sheep for sale.

PLEASE NOTE: All fines have been a result of sheep and lamb arriving at the Salebarns without evidence of ever being tagged.

Please pass this information onto any other producers you know especially those who do not have email access.

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger

April 2011

BOARD DECISIONS / ACTIONS

NEXT SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING April 27 -

Face to Face

BOARD MEETING – March 30 Matters the Board addressed on March 30th Board conference call (synopsis):

- Acceptance of unaudited financials to January 31 - Received and discussed update reports from Chair and GM - Received reports from: Predation Team; CSF Reps; OASC Reps; and District Development Pilot - Approved three projects recommended by the Research Committee - Approved and named composition for the Awards and Recognition Committee

PROGRAMS

The following topics have been removed from the Messenger as there have not been any changes to information.

If you would like to read any of these topics please click on the link below to go to the Messenger on the OSMA website.

March Messenger -

Canadian Sheep Information Platform Business Risk Management Program SFIP- Sheep Flock Improvement Program CFIA Testing For Scrapie

RELIGIOUS & ETHNIC HOLIDAY’S For more information on the Holidays please click the link below to go to the March issue of the Messenger.

March Messenger

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger

April 2011

PROGRAMS - WORKSHOPS CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL LOANS ACT (CALA) PROGRAM The CALA program builds on and replaces the previous Farm Improvement & Marketing Cooperative Loans Act (FIMCLA) program.

The CALA program is a financial loan guarantee program that provides farmers easier access to credit.

Farmers can use these programs to establish, improve and develop farms.

For more information: Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) Program > Programs and Services

*************************************************************************************** GROWING FORWARD A commitment by Canada's federal, provincial and territorial government that supports the development and implementation of best practices in four key areas: 1) Environment and Climate Change 2) Business Development

3) Food Safety and Traceability 4) Biosecurity

For more information: Call 1-888-479-3931; e-mail growingforward@ontario.ca Or visit their website at: Growing Forward in Ontario

*************************************************************************************** AGRIWEBINAR – LEARNING WITHOUT LIMITS Presented by The Canadian Farm Business Management Council.

Currently: The Agriwebinar season is complete at the moment. Information on upcoming speakers and topics will be posted at a later date.

Visit the website to access over 100 archived webinars, and to subscribe to their mailing list.

Website: http://www.agriwebinar.com/

*************************************************************************************** FARM CREDIT CANADA Where do you want your operation to be in five years? Do you know how to get there?

For information on upcoming workshops visit: www.fcc.ca/workshops or call 1-888-332-3301

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger

April 2011

UPCOMING EVENTS For more information on any upcoming event please visit the OSMA website at: Events

1st Annual Renfrew Pasture Day Hosted by Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency - District 9 April 30, 2011 - 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

*************************************************************************************** DISTRICT 10 PERFORMANCE TESTED SHEEP SALE

Jan-Lan-Ro Farms Sheep Exchange Saturday, June 4, 2011, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

July 30, 2011 Spencerville, ON Featuring performance tested rams, ewes and commercial ewes.

For more information visit the OSMA website or call Colleen Acres – 613-826-2330 (colleen.acres@sympatico.ca)

For further information visit www.sheepexchange.ca or contact the coordinator Rob Lamont at robelamont@yahoo.ca or (519) 323-1769.

Those participating should be following proper biosecurity protocol.

*************************************************************************************** LOOKING AHEAD ……….

September 13 – 15, 2011 – Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, Canada’s Outdoor Park, Woodstock, ON. Watch for event details at http://www.outdoorfarmshow.com/ September 20 – 24, 2011 – 2011 International Plowing Match, Prescott Russell.

Details at http://www.plowingmatch.org/ipm2011/index.php November 4 – 13, 2011 – Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Exhibition Place, Toronto. Visit http://www.royalfair.org/ for all the details.

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger

April 2011

DISTRICT INFORMATION Note: For further information and details about your District please contact your District Secretary

District 1: COMING EVENTS: Meetings are usually held the first Thursday of every month at Coldstream Community Centre, just north west of London, Ontario at 8:00 PM May 5: Paul Luimas speaking on sheep feeding trial at Ridgetown College Meeting June: No Meeting Aug: Farm Tour Sept: Annual Meeting @ Coldstream Contact: District Secretary: Marlene Raymond at 519683-6635 or District 1 Website: OSMA_district_1.tripod.com

District 3: Contact: District Secretary - Mike Beuerman – 519527-2676 or email mike_beuerman@ hotmail.com

District 4: COMING EVENTS: April 19th 7:30 pm at the firehall in Onandaga.

Focus will be on predation.

Last Saturday of every month: Breakfast at 9 am at Devine’s in Jarvis. Join us for sheep chat, good people and good food.

Contact: District Secretary - Sharon Petheram – 519443-5844 or email petherdale@gmail.com

District 2: Contact: District Secretary - Anita DeJong – 519534-1211 or anitabrian@gbtel.ca DISTRICT UPDATE: District 2 Lamb Banquet 2011 On April 15th, 2011, District 2 held their 9th Annual Lamb and Wine Banquet. A large crowd enjoyed the dinner at the Elmwood Community Centre. Upon arrival, the guests were treated to an appetizer of lamb kabobs supplied by Ewe Dell Farms and sheep milk feta cheese supplied by Shepherd Gourmet Dairy of St. Mary’s accompanied by crackers and punch.

The Treasurer of District 2 Sheep Marketing Agency, Jason Emke was the M.C. for the evening and welcomed everyone. The Elmwood Chamber of Commerce and Bill Prues the barbecuer, served a full course barbecued lamb dinner with all the trimmings, including red and white wine.

After a delicious dinner, a social time was enjoyed by all.

District 5: COMING EVENTS: Meetings are usually last Wed. of every month, Location TBA April 27: 7:30 pm - Daina & Bruce Hunter (519831-7983) Belwood, ON – Hands-on workshop.

Instruction on some methods to revive and warm a lamb and Dr. Bruce Hunter will show how to “post” a dead lamb.

Contact: District Secretary - Lene Band phone 905.87-2969 e-mail lhband@hotmail.com

District 6: Contact: District Secretary – Grant Cowan phone 7056436-2236 or e-mail gcowan@gtcnet.ca

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger

April 2011

District 7: Contact: District Secretary – Cynthia Palmer phone 705-295-3351 or e-mail cjpalmer@nexicom.net

District 8: Contact: District Secretary – Kenton Dempsey phone 613-969-8154 or e-mail kenton.dempsey@sympatico.ca

District 9: COMING EVENTS: April 30: 1st Annual Renfrew Pasture Day – Please see “Upcoming Events” for details Contact: District Secretary – Sara Loten phone 613264-0539 or e-mail loliver@storm.ca

District 10: COMING EVENTS: July 30th : District 10 Performance Tested Sheep Sale in Spencerville, ON – please visit the OSMA website for more information under “Events” District 10 Website: www.osmadistrict10.ca/ Contact: District Secretary – Laurie Maus phone 6135274-1897 or e-mail info@hawkhillfarm.ca

District 11: COMING EVENTS: April 27 at Kerns Hall - Report on MNR Coyote Study- Jim Johnston will present study results from researcher Brent Patterson’s project on “Livestock Depredation by Coyotes & Wolves in the Temiskaming Region of NE Ontario”

May 14 at 6:00 p.m. at Kerns Hall District 11 SocialSocial evening with meal and guest speaker(s). Salad & desserts will be pot-luck.

June 21: OMAFRA sponsored Pasture Walk- Jack Kyle will be conducting a pasture walk at the New Liskeard Ag. Research Station in New Liskeard in the evening . Details to follow.

DISTRICT UPDATE: In mid-March District 11 held a workshop on pregnancy scanning and body condition scoring of sheep. It was intended for new producers and gave them hands-on experience into techniques that they could use on their own farm. The event was very well received and had producers travelling from as far away as Kapuskasing. (a 3.5 hour drive one way!) We would like to thank Rebecca Parker and Mark Lenover for sharing their expertise with producers.

April 8 & 9 was the NEOSCIA Ag Tradeshow & Conference. Approximately 1,220 visitors passed through the doors and had an opportunity to stop by the OSMA display. Visitors were able to ask questions, pick up recipe cards and visit with producers at the booth. A few new producers were signed up.

On Saturday afternoon there was a Sheep Flock Expansion session , with 28 producers in attendance.

Marcus Wand was guest speaker for the session, followed by a panel discussion with Colleen Alloi, Jim Johnston and Mark Lenover presenting their experiences and answering questions. An evaluations of the session indicated how much producers appreciated having the information session, and requests were made for other information sessions in the future.

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger

April 2011

Other District Organizations: Victoria County Sheep Producers.

Third Wednesday every month starting at 7:30 Sunderland Co-op Boardroom at Oakwood Location Membership is $20 per farm per year. Contact: Doug Walden - 705-324-7478 Middlesex Sheep & Lamb Producers

Secretary/Media - Mels van der Laan, 519-666-2423, Email: dutchtexel@execulink.com Grey Bruce Sheep Management Club Location: Grey Gables in Markdale Western Ontario Lamb Producers District 2 and 3 area

Chairman - George Molson, 519-695-2936,

OSMA REACHING OUT

OSMA Website – www.ontariosheep.org Have you visited OSMA’s new website yet. If you haven’t, please take a moment to check it out. The following are just a few of things you will find.

About Ontario Sheep - Messenger Programs, Services - OSN Market Information - Locators – Lamb, Guardian Animals, and Breed Sheep Production Information - Lamb Nutrition and RecipesCurrent Initiatives Research Projects - Virtual Farm Tour News - Links Events - Kids Corner

*************************************************************************************** UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION It is important for Ontario Sheep to have current contact information for all sheep producers in order to keep you up to date on current events.  Do you have a new email address  Has your address changed Please contact us by calling 519-836-0043 or emailing: admin@ontariosheep.org

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger

April 2011

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMITTEES 2010/2011 Standing Committees Audit Committee: Fraser Hodgson*, Colleen Acres, Judy Dening, Members at Large – Jason Emke, Jennifer Peel Awards & Nominations Committee: Colleen Acres*, Christopher Kyle, Fraser Hodgson Board Training Committee (Ad Hoc): Chris Kennedy*, Dennis Fischer, Judy Dening, Neil Mesman By-Law and Regulations (Ad Hoc): Allan Burn*, Neil Mesman, Christopher Kyle, Murray Hunt Governance Committee: Christopher Kyle*, Neil Mesman, Dennis Fischer, Markus Wand, Murray Hunt Research Committee: Markus Wand*, Mark Lenover, Fraser Hodgson, Colleen Acres, Murray Hunt ___________________________________________________________________________________ Standing Teams Advocacy: Murray Hunt**, Chris Kennedy, Dennis Fischer Breeding Stock: Murray Hunt**, Colleen Acres, Christopher Kyle, Ruth Gilmour, Darryl Hopkins, Gary Brien, Brian Atkinson, Jim Groves, Ted Skinner Education: Murray Hunt**, Judy Dening, Christopher Kyle, Ruth Gilmour Organization: Murray Hunt**, Allan Burn, Neil Mesman, Ruth Gilmour Predation: Chris Kennedy**, Murray Hunt**, Mark Lenover, Allan Burn, Judy Dening, Dick Kuiperij, Leah Riddell, Al Whitlam Promotion: Murray Hunt**, Markus Wand, Neil Mesman, Ruth Gilmour R & D: Murray Hunt**, Mark Lenover, Colleen Acres, Fraser Hodgson

External Representatives 2010 – 2011 Agricultural Adaptation Committee, Livestock Seat: Judy Dirksen (OVA); Oliver Haan (ON Pork) CFFO: Fraser Hodgson Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF): Mark Lenover **, Andrew Gordanier, Dennis Fischer CSF-CSIP: Dennis Fischer Environmental Representative: Chris Kennedy Farm Innovation Program: Murray Hunt National On-Farm Food Safety Working Group: Murray Hunt Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council (OACC): Andrew Gordanier**, Murray Hunt Ontario Federation of Agriculture: Judy Dening OFPMC Sheep Advisory Committee: Will be determined at a future date OLPC: Murray Hunt OSMA Ontario Scholarship Committee: Education Team Predation Leader: Chris Kennedy Presidents Council: Chris Kennedy Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (Sheep Committee): – Christopher Kyle**, Lene Band Sheep Flock Improvement Program Advisory (SFIP) Committee: Bob Comfort, Bill Duffield, Wayne Oosterhoff John Steele, Rebecca Parker, Scott Prudom Toronto Stock Yard & Land Development Board: Allan Burn

* Chair

** Leader or Co-Leaders