Executive for 2015

President Bryan Barlow 705-457-7556 Vice-President Casey Cox 705-286-4432 Secretary Jeanne Parcell-Hughes 705-286-1602 Treasurer Sheila Robb 705-489-4201 Past President Andrea Coysh 705-286-6753 Directors Matt Wesley 705-935-0357 Paul Hilyer 705-488-2371 Jeff Mainprize 705-286-6458 Jim Vidoczy 705-488-1470 Godfrey Tyler 705-457-2214 Chris Coysh 705-286-6753 Ross Daniels 705-457-0274 BFO Rep Bryan Barlow 705-457-7556 BFO Alternate Jeff Mainprize 705-286-6458

Visit us online at www.haliburtoncountyfarmersassociation.com

March 2015

The County Farmer Haliburton County Farmers’ Association

Upcoming HCFA Events (2015) July 1st, Canada Day, Minden

Sometime in July & August, at ‘School is Cool’ - ASES, Minden & Stuart Baker, Haliburton

July 18th, Stanhope Heritage Day

Aug 8th, Wilberforce Ag Fair

Aug 15th, Haliburton County Fair, Minden

Around Thanksgiving, Giant Pumpkin Contest, Minden

Dec 12th, Christmas Pot Luck, Minden Community Centre

OFT Annual Farmland Forum When: Fr iday March 27, 2015, 10:00am – 6:00pm

Where: Durham Banquet Hall & Convention Centre, Oshawa

Cost: $90 ear ly-bird (includes lunch & dinner)

The Ontario Farmland Trust’s Annual Farmland Forum will be held in Oshawa this year – the first time it has been held outside of Guelph – making it more accessible to local farmers in this area.

OFT’s 11th annual Farmland Forum will bring together farm-ers, planners and interested individuals and groups for a day of networking, learning, and creative-thinking about how we can expand and enhance farmland protection in Ontario.

Farms at Work is the regional Forum Partner for this event. For more information and to register, visit: www.ontariofarmlandtrust.ca.

IMPORTANT

Reminder for Renewal of HCFA & VSC Membership. See page 3

The County Farmer 2

Farms at Work Launches Brand New Farm Mentorship Programs

Since 2013, FAW has been building relation-ships between experienced farmers and new entrants through their unique on-farm mentor-ship programs. Each season-long, curriculum-based program has been designed by long-time producers, and will feature plenty of hands-on learning, complement-ed by one-on one mentor support.

Beekeeping Mentorship April – September

Durham Region Sheep Farming Mentorship April – August

Peterborough County Pasture Management Mentorship April – September

Northumberland County Maple Syrup Production Mentorship October – May

For more information, please visit us on the web (farmsatwork.ca/mentorship-programs) or contact our office: (705) 743-7671, info@farmsatwork.ca.

Minden Cat Angels

A caring group of people have been rescuing feral cats from the town of Minden. Don Kerr has financed and ren-ovated a building on his property where they are now warmly housed and cared for. The Municipality has grant-ed them $3000.00 to have the cats spayed and neutered. These cats are waiting to be adopted. Some would make excellent barn cats as they have lived most of their lives on their own. If anyone is interested in adoption please call Sonya Holliday- Rhodes at 705-286-6379.

There is an excellent video and write- up about the facility on "indiegogo".

The County Farmer 3

IMPORTANT

Reminder for Renewal of HCFA & VSC Membership

This is a reminder for your membership renewal. Forms were sent out some time ago. Cost of membership to the HCFA is $10 per year and the cost of membership in the VSC is $25 per year. Combined membership to both organizations is $35 per year. This is due before March 31st. There is a one month grace period but after April 30th the cost will be $45.

If joining both organizations make cheques payable to Vet Services Committee and mail to:

Vet Services Committee or VSC P.O. Box 1369 Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0

If you are just renewing membership in the HCFA, cost is $10. This covers your family, gets you into all our social events and will receive issues of the “County Farmer”. As well it gives us a stronger voice in the community. Make cheque payable to Haliburton County Farmers Associa-tion and mail to:

Sheila Robb, 1574 Buckslide Road Algonquin Highlands, ON K0M 1J1 Please provide the following details:

Name..........................................................................................

911 Address...............................................................................

Postal Code................................................................................

Township....................................................................................

I wish to join the VSC ( ) and /or the HCFA ( )

Lot.....................Conc.........................Total Paid.......................

Phone ........................................................................................

Email Address ...........................................................................

The County Farmer 4

From the BFO Corner Last year HCFA hosted a session at Casey Cox’s farm on the revised Beef Code of Practice. Dr. Aimee Fil-ion attended and demonstrated to the group some specific practices now documented in the new Code of Practice.

One area that was highlighted by her and Dan Ferguson from BFO concerned the Herd Health section which emphasizes the requirement of a much more formal relationship between the vet and the beef producer. One of the potential implications of not having this ‘relationship’ in place is that certain drugs/medications that you may have obtained in past will no longer be available. I spoke with Aimee and Dr. Laurie Brown in the fall about how we might move forward in this area. The following several paragraphs I have extracted/condensed from a document they put together for all of us producers to review. One of the many benefits of this is that if we put this information that the vet needs together ahead of time for the vet the review, the cost of the vets’ time to get this information plus a potential site visit will be greatly reduced.

Goals

Maximize production

Minimize losses

Main Components

Nutrition Program

1 Feed quality – determined by nutrient analysis of main forage components. Supplements needed?

2 Feed quantity – determined by body weight and body condition scores and stage of production.

3 Trace minerals and salt

4 Feed additives – growth promotants and coccidiostats

5 Feed storage and bunkers

6 Water quality and availability

7 Pasture – forage type, rotational grazing, and parasite control

Disease control

1 Biosecurity measures – minimize exposure to pathogens

2 Vaccination programs – for the maternal herd to minimize losses due to illness or abortion

3 Parasite control - internal parasite burden determined by fecal flotation (nematodes, tapeworms, coc-cidia, etc.) treatment depends on parasite type, products available, ease of handling, and stage of pro-duction.

4 Disease treatment – early detection, appropriate treatment with appropriate drugs, isolation of sick animals to prevent disease spread, handling facilities, recognizing which diseases to expect at each stage of production.

5. Minimize stress – animals that are comfortable produce more and are more resistant to disease. Providing shelter (from flies, predators, the elements etc.) and comfortable bedding areas for the ma-ternal herd and creep feeding / housing areas for their offspring provides benefits on many levels.

continued on page 5

The County Farmer

Husbandry practices 1. Breeding management - seasonal breeding, timing/lighting, and herd sires breeding . 2. Preparation for parturition/birthing – clean, dry, sheltered birthing area with handling/restraints readily

available (halters, squeeze). Iodine, colostrum, colostrum, supplements, milk replacer, ear tags, Vitamin E/Se injections within first week

3. Management of castration, dehorning, tail docking - proper method, proper technique, handling facilities In Summary: Producers need to develop a plan. What are your goals? What do you want to produce? When do you want to sell your product? What facilities do you have available? How are you planning to acquire your assets? (i.e. maternal herd? breeding sire? offspring to feed and/or finish?) Do you plan an open or closed herd approach? The answers to these questions determine the basic structure of your herd health program. With so many variables, these pro-grams need to be developed on an individual basis. Inquiries and/or submission of a preliminary plan for review can be done using: haliburtonveterinaryservices@gmail.com

Submitted by Bryan Barlow, BFO Delegate

INFO on ALL CODES of PRACTICE

The BFO article in this issue focuses on one section of the Beef Code of Practice. Most other farm animals’ prac-tices have also been updated in the last year or so, or are presently under review. If anyone is interested in obtain-ing further information, all of these Codes of Practice are available on the NATIONAL FARM ANIMAL CARE COUNCIL website: https://www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice

From the BFO Corner, continued from page 4

Dig In Workshop Series 2015

We are pleased to partner with Sirch Community Services, and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit to bring a new "Dig In" series of fantastic workshops for 2015!

A total of 8 unique and educational workshops will be led by local experts in various locations throughout the county.

View the complete workshop series on our website: www.abbeygardens.ca. Also register online on our website here: www.abbeygardens.ca/programs-events/workshops/

Or contact Irene at (705) 457-1742; email Irene@abbeygardens.ca

See the box on the left for the first workshop in this series.

5

The County Farmer 6

Classified Ads HCFA members are not charged for ads.

Contact Sheila Robb at 705-489-4201 with the details.

Free to a good home, young Golden Laced Wyandotte rooster.

Call Jean at 705-286-2345

RECIPE CORNER

Mixed Fruit Crisps

Using Europe’s Best 4 Field Berry Mix Frozen

Preheat oven 375 deg.

Topping: 1c flour or rolled oats; 3/4c all purpose flour; 1/2c brown sugar, packed; 1/3c shortening, melted.

Filling: 6c 4 Field Frozen; 2 apples, peeled & diced; 1/4c brown sugar, packed; 2 tbsp all purpose flour; 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Topping: Combine oats, flour and sugar in bowl. Mix in melted shortening, stirring with a fork until well moistened and clumpy, set aside.

Filling : Toss together all ingredients in 8” square baking dish. Cover with topping. Bake in centre of oven for 45-55 minutes until fruit is tender and bub-bling and topping is golden.

Thought for the Day Farming looks mighty easy when

your plow is a pencil, and you're a

thousand miles from the corn field.

Dwight D Eisenhower