Messenger News Letter - July 2011

OSMA AGM is just around the corner Don’t Forget Your Pictures for the next Photo Contest

Look for details in the June Ontario Sheep News

The Messenger

Inside This Issue

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

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

THE MESSENGER

J U L Y 2 0 1 1

Congratulations goes to Western Ontario Lamb Producers Association

(WOLPA) who are celebrating their 40th

anniversary this month

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger July 2011

NEXT SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING August 19-20 - Face to Face Board Meeting and District Tour October 12 Face to Face Board Meeting, Guelph

BOARD MEETING – July 6

A synopsis of Board decisions follow: Board approved projects that have public support

were for Benchmarking (Year 3), production limiting disease and predation

Board received a preliminary budget for 2011-2012 and offered suggestions on projects for the year.

Board revised and approved a new Regulation #1 as well as agreement for Agents, Auction Markets, and Processors.

Board received initial Governance Committee report for a revised Policy Manual and directed the Committee to work further on the project.

Board supported providing input to CSF as it goes about revising the National Association

The Board received and supported the input from the committee working on the Ontario Risk Management Program for sheep. Information sessions will be held in August to update producers. Producers will need to file applications by early October

The Board will provide a letter of support for the Canadian Lamb Company as it applies for public support to establish a co-operative.

The Board will support the District 10 exhibit at the 2011 IPM (International Plowing Match)

Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) For Sheep Producers Please visit the Ontario Sheep website (www.ontariosheep.org) for press release and more information on the program. SUPPORTING FARMERS AFFECTED BY WILDLIFE DAMAGE McGuinty Government Supports Farms, Updating 30 Year Old Program

Ontario is increasing the compensation farmers can access for damage caused by predatory wildlife. Through the new Wildlife Damage Compensation Program livestock producers will receive improved compensation when their livestock are injured or killed by predatory wildlife. The new program

expands the current list of wildlife species and variety of livestock that farmers can be compensated for, and increases the maximum compensation rates for farmers. It also:

Provides a $30 reimbursement for each claim a municipality processes;

Provides a $50,000 fund for strategic investments with industry to better understand how to prevent agriculture-wildlife conflicts; and

BOARD DECISIONS / ACTIONS

PROGRAMS


Commits to reviewing the program every two years to ensure it is up-to-date.

The Wildlife Damage Compensation program is part of Growing Forward, a joint federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

QUICK FACTS Guidelines and applications will be available

on July, 1st at www.ontario.ca/predation.

Since 2009, almost 13,700 livestock animals were injured or lost due to predators like coyotes or wolves in Ontario.

These changes modernize the 30 year-old Livestock, Poultry and Honey Bee Protection Act, which governs wildlife damage compensation.

LEARN MORE Support For New Program -

http://news.ontario.ca/omafra/en/2011/06/support-for-new-program.html

For more information on the Holidays please click the link below to go to the OSMA website: Religious & Ethnic Holidays - http://www.ontariosheep.org/ - Market Information – Market Reports

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL LOANS ACT (CALA) PROGRAM

The CALA program builds on and replaces the previous Farm Improvement & Marketing Co-operative 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 click on the following link: Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) Program > Programs and Services or http://www.agr.gc.ca/index_e.php - Choose programs & services – Choose Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) Program.

LIVESTOCK AUCTION TRACEABILITY INITIATIVE (LATI) The Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative (LATI) will provide contributions to assist primarily in the alteration of animal handling structures, which will enhance traceability capabilities at high-risk, high through-put sites where animals from different herds co-mingle.

For more information click on the following link: LATI or http://www4.agr.gc.ca/ - Choose programs & services – Choose Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative

RELIGIOUS & ETHNIC HOLIDAY’S

PROGRAMS - WORKSHOPS


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 2) Food Safety and Traceability 3) Biosecurity

For more information: Call 1-888-479-3931; e-mail [email protected] Or visit their website by clicking on the following link: Growing Forward in Ontario (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/growingforward/gfontario.htm)

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

Ontariofresh.ca Launches in the Fall Registration is now open for Ontariofresh.ca, the new free website and online community that is being created to expand the market for buyers and sellers of local Ontario food. The aim is to make connections across the food service value chain, linking bulk buyers, chefs, restaurants, caterers and distributors as well as growers and producers. Throughout the spring and summer, information will be collected and profiles built to prepare for the full www.Ontariofresh.ca launch in September. You can register your business’ profile at http://www.ontariofresh.ca/ or by calling 1-888-249-9399 or 647-426-8420.

For more information on any upcoming event please visit the OSMA website at: Events (http://www.ontariosheep.org/Events.aspx) DISTRICT 10 MULTI BREED SHEEP SALE & EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS 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 ([email protected])

UPCOMING EVENTS


Southwestern Sheep Farmers Barbeque August 25, , Poplar Hill Park, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Advance tickets only. Adults $18.00. Children (6 – 12) $7:00 Preschoolers Free. For tickets call 519-666-0596 or 519-287-5637. This event is co-sponsored by Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency - District One. Western Ontario Lamb Producers Association(WOLPA) A sheep seminar on August 27 2011 @ Wingham Columbus Centre (Hockey Arena by Tim Horton's) The theme for this sheep day is "Two farmers points of view, both using pastures, crop residues and quality forages to produce lamb" The two guest speakers are:

- Chris Boettcher from Brussels, Ontario will present a slide show presentation about his Certified Organic sheep and crop farm. Chris is very successful at producing Certified Organic lamb while using sheep to compliment his Certified Organic crop land nutrient needs. Chris feels both parts of his farm compliment each other and together operate as a whole to create a successful Organic farm. -Richard Ehrhardt Ph.D. from East Lansing, Michigan, USA works as small ruminant specialist at Michigan State University and also operates an accelerated flock of sheep at his own farm in Michigan. His job has him working through out Michigan on sheep farms, since his job position was previously held by DR. Joe Rook. Richard was previously employed at Cornell University with the sheep program there. Cornell University is well known for creating the "STAR" program for accelerated lambing.(5 times in 3 years)

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LOOKING AHEAD ……….

Sept 13 – 15 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, Canada’s Outdoor Park, Woodstock, ON. Soon to be announced – Details on the Lamb carcass competition. Watch for event details at http://www.outdoorfarmshow.com/

Sept 20 – 24 International Plowing Match, Prescott Russell. Details at http://www.plowingmatch.org/ipm2011/index.php

Sept 27 – 28 Sheep Infrastructure Workshop – For more information click the following link: OMAFRA Website (http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/sheep/20081211.htm)

Oct 28 & 29 OSMA AGM – Details soon to be announced

Nov 2 Ruminant Feed Industry Day

Nov 4 – 13 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Exhibition Place, Toronto. Visit http://www.royalfair.org/ for all the details.

Nov 15 Atwood Sheep Seminar

Nov 17 Napanee Sheep Seminar


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 Sept 1: District AGM @ Coldstream

Contact: District Secretary: Marlene Raymond at 519-683-6635 or District 1 Website: OSMA_district_1.tripod.com District 2:

COMING EVENTS: Sept 15 District AGM

Contact: District Secretary - Anita DeJong 519- 534-1211 or email: [email protected] District 3:

COMING EVENTS: July 26 District 3 Farm Tour/Pasture Walk with BBQ/Potluck - 6-6-30 Social, 6:30 supper, 7pm Tour Potluck with the Lamb and Beef burgers being supplied by District 3 RFID and Rotational Grazing systems with Tim Prior of Brussels Ag Services. At the Farm of Tim and Luann Erb, on a 4th Generation farm new to Sheep in 2009. Currently with 100 Commercial Ewes on 300 Acres using an old bank barn to house them and river flats to graze them. They are currently marketing their lambs though farm gate, the Slow Food Market and the new Local Market Co-op in Stratford. Luann is the Vice Chair for District 3. Please RSVP to [email protected] or call 519-393-5512 by July 22nd

Address: 3907 Road 134, Sebringville Please consider biosecurity and wear clean cloths and footwear - Plastic boots will be provided by District 3. Sept 8 Disrict 3 AGM – 7:30 pm at the Rostock hall in Rostock. Guest speaker: OSMA GM, Murray Hunt will speak on the benchmark study. Contact: District Secretary - Mike Beuerman 519- 527-2676 or email: mike_beuerman@ hotmail.com District 4:

COMING EVENTS: 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 519- 443-5844 or email: [email protected] District 5:

COMING EVENTS:

Aug 24: District AGM and Pot Luck dinner - 7 pm, hosted by the Andrew Gordanier family in Shelburne. Please contact Lene Band if interested in running for positions and for additional information. [email protected] or 905.877-2969 cell 416.931-3413

Meetings are usually last Wed. of every month, Location TBA

Contact: District Secretary - Lene Band phone: 905-877-2969 e-mail: [email protected]

DISTRICT INFORMATION


District 6:

COMING EVENTS:

Aug 29 District 6 Annual Meeting 7:30 pm at Church's Farm Supplies.

Contact: District Secretary – Grant Cowan phone: 705-436-2236 or e-mail: [email protected] District 7:

Contact: District Secretary – Cynthia Palmer phone: 705-295-3351 or e-mail: [email protected] District 8:

COMING EVENTS:

Sept 19 District 8 AGM – 7-10 pm, Westdale Park Public School, 12 Richmond Drive, Napanee. Guest speaker, Dr. Doug McLeod, (vet with CFIA). Topic is Food Safety. Election of officers for 2011-12 and appointment of delegates to OSMA provincial AGM. All lamb, wool and sheep milk producers encouraged to attend. Contact Linda Huizenga / [email protected]

Contact: District Secretary – Kenton Dempsey phone: 613-969-8154 or e-mail: [email protected] District 9:

COMING EVENTS:

Aug 19-20 District Bar-B-Q and meet the OSMA provincial board The OSMA provincial board meeting is happening in our district this year. There is a Bar-B-Q on Friday, August 19th at the Woolgrowers in Carleton Place. There will be a farm tour on Saturday, August 20th. Please contact

Chris Moore at [email protected] or Allan Burn at: [email protected]. Come and enjoy some social time with other shepherds and meet your provincial directors!

Sept 19 District AGM Speaker TBA. Please contact Sarah Loten at [email protected] for further information.

Contact: District Secretary – Sara Loten phone: 613-264-0539 or e-mail: [email protected] District 10:

COMING EVENTS: July 30th : District 10 Multi-Breed Sheep Sale and Education Day. Spencerville Fairgrounds. Education Session - Ontario Sheep Performance and Health programs: their use on the farm and in selecting breeding stock. 9- 11:30. Viewing of sale animals 11:30 -1pm. Auction sale of performance tested rams and ewes 1pm. Contact 613- 989-2792, 613-989-5352 or [email protected] for more information. Please visit the OSMA website for more information under “Events” Sept. 3 BBQ and tour hosted by Andrew Harrison, Brynog Farm, L'Orignal ON Sept. 7 District 10 AGM Leahurst House, Kemptville College 7 pm District 10 Website: www.osmadistrict10.ca/ Contact: District Secretary – Laurie Maus phone: 613-527-1897 or e-mail: [email protected] District 11:

COMING EVENTS:

Sept 8 District AGM – 8 pm at Kerns Hall

Contact: District Secretary – Debra Garner phone: 705-563-2761 or e-mail: [email protected]


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

Chairman - George Molson, 519-695-2936, Secretary/Media - Mels van der Laan, 519-666-2423, Email: [email protected] Grey Bruce Sheep Management Club Location: Grey Gables in Markdale Western Ontario Lamb Producers District 2 and 3 area

Aug 27 Sheep seminar (see page 5 for details)

Ontario Suffolk Sheep Association Saturday August 13th - 5th Terminal Sire Ram Sale, 1pm at Carson's Sales Arena, Listowel

Including registered Suffolk Ewes and Commercial Suffolk Sired Ewe lambs

Performance tested and genotyped for Scrapie Resistance

Excellent rams for the Commercial Breeder

For Information or Catalogue contact: Glen Porteous, Home: 519-794-4549, Cell: 519-270-9214, Email: [email protected] Karen Hayward, Home: 519-371-8487, Email: [email protected]

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

OSMA REACHING OUT


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: [email protected]

Important Dates for Mandatory RFID Tags For more details, see attached CSF Notification called “Sheep Industry Continues Toward 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. Retailers will have until Oct. 1, 2011 to sell any remaining stock.

All animals born or tagged after January 1, 2012 are encouraged tagged with approved CSIP RFID tags

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

If you tag an animal which will still be in the population as of January 1, 2013 (i.e. breeding stock) with a non‐RFID tag, that animal will be non‐compliant after January 1, 2013. As a result, you will be required to retag the animal with a CSIP approved RFID tag and cross‐reference with the old identification number if the animal is to leave the farm after January 1, 2013.

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


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*, 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**, 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): 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

Sheep Industry Continues Towards Mandatory RFID Tags

20 June 2011 - Discussions around traceability for the Canadian Sheep Industry have been and continue

to be a major focus of the Canadian Sheep Federation’s Board of Directors and staff.

In June 2010, the Canadian Sheep Federation approved a motion to move the sheep industry towards

mandatory RFID tags. This decision was given a great deal of consideration. Not only does an RFID

system help sheep producers meet anticipated traceability requirements, it also gives producers an

opportunity to move the industry forward.

Government continues to support a mandate to phase in the necessary infrastructure to allow for the

tracing of products and food animals from the point of origin (the farm) to the consumer starting in

2011. As such, the sheep industry, in conjunction with other species that have either chosen to move

forward and/or were considered one of the priority species with sheep (i.e. beef, swine and poultry),

continue to discuss with government what mandatory traceability will look like. With the necessary

infrastructure in place, identified commodities will continue to negotiate with government what the

regulations will look like to facilitate a ‘farm to fork’ traceability system.

As such, the Canadian Sheep Federation still feels confident that a move towards mandatory RFID

tagging will best position our industry to discuss with government what the future of traceability will

look like for our industry, in addition to protecting our industry and remaining competitive with

importing countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Currently, Canadian

producers only supply 47 per cent of the lamb that Canadians consume. We have a market ready and

waiting for Canadian lamb and an RFID system gives us one of the tools we need to increase production

to fill that demand.

As primary producers, implementation of new technologies by those further down the value chain

requires having animals equipped with RFID tags in order to test and use those technologies. In the end,

all those along the value chain will be required to comply with new regulations once in place.

As we continue forward with the timelines that were approved by the CSF Board of Directors in June

2010 to move towards mandatory RFID tags, the Canadian Sheep Federation has felt it necessary to add

some further clarification around the timelines to best address producer concerns and facilitate a

smooth transition for the industry. As such, please note the following:

July 1, 2011

• Ketchum Kurl lock # 3 and Allflex dangle tags will no longer be available for sale from the

manufacturers, Ketchum and Allflex, as Canadian Sheep Identification Program (CSIP) tags;

• Retailers will have until October 1, 2011 to sell any remaining stocks.

January 1, 2012

• Producers are encouraged to tag all animals born or tagged after this date with CSIP approved

RFID tags (Shearwell Data Ltd SET tag or Allflex RFID Button Tag).

• Producers need to carefully monitor their stocks and use up inventory of the Ketchum Kurl lock

#3 and Allflex dangle tags before December 31, 2012.

• If you tag an animal which will still be in the population as of January 1, 2013 (i.e. breeding

stock) with a non-RFID tag, that animal will be non-compliant after January 1, 2013. As a result,

you will be required to retag the animal with a CSIP approved RFID tag and cross-reference with

the old identification number if the animal is to leave the farm after January 1, 2013.

January 1, 2013

• 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 from this date forward at sales,

abattoirs or by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for shipping, transfer or sale of

sheep in Canada.

CSF remains committed to working closely with provincial organizations to provide them with timely

communication, information and education required to make sure the RFID system provides a positive

return for the industry.

We strongly believe that this continues to be the right decision for our industry. And we're confident it

will play a key role in helping us realize our tremendous potential.

The funding for this initiative was made available under the Canadian Industry Traceability Infrastructure

Program (CITIP), and will help the sheep industry address the federal government’s initiative for

mandatory traceability as one of the four priority species (Hogs, Cattle, Sheep and Poultry) identified by

government.

The Canadian Sheep Federation is a national, non-profit organization that represents all Canadian sheep

producers. Its mission is further the viability, expansion and prosperity of the Canadian sheep and wool

industry. For more information contact the Canadian Sheep Federation at 1-888-684-7739 or

[email protected].

New Local and Fax Numbers for Scrapie Canada

Wednesday, July 6, 2011 – Guelph, ON – The local telephone and fax numbers for Scrapie

Canada have changed effective immediately. The numbers for Scrapie Canada are now:

Local Telephone – 1.613.652.1824

Toll Free – 1.866.534.1302 (remains unchanged)

Fax # - 1.613.652.1599

While the Scrapie Canada number has been forwarded to the Canadian Sheep Federation

pending transfer to the new Scrapie Coordinator, the numbers above will now connect directly

with Corlena Patterson, the Scrapie Coordinator. The toll free number has not changed, but

should you be faxing or using the local number, please note the changes above. The previous

numbers will be disconnected.

We appreciate your patience during this transition. With the new Scrapie Cananda numbers,

you will be in direct contact with the National Coordinator, which will speed up response time

for questions, inquiries, and submission of program documentation.

Funding for the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program is provided through Agriculture

and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) AgriFlexibility program.

The Canadian Sheep Federation is a national, non-profit organization that represents all

Canadian sheep producers. Its mission is further the viability, expansion and prosperity of the

Canadian sheep and wool industry. For more information contact the Canadian Sheep

Federation at 1-888-684-7739 or [email protected].

Documents

Messenger News Letter - July 2011