northwest link thethe - ontariosoilcrop.org · regional president erik johanssen 628-5260 regional...

June 2017

Northwestern Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement AssociationThunder Bay | Rainy River | Kenora

Northwest LinkTheNorthwest LinkThe

Canada Post Publication Mail Agreement Number 40010846Return undeliverable copies to:Suite B012, 435 James StreetThunder Bay, Ontario P7E 6S7

REGIONAL EVENT LISTING & UPCOMING DATES

RRSCIA Directors Meeting Wednesday, June 7, 7:00pm

Grain DaysSaturday, June 10, 1:00–4:00pm Baggage Building Arts Centre, Sleeping Giant Parkway An event for the whole family! Hands on science activities for all ages. Activities include pasta making, wheat grinding, canola seed crushing, and a lot more! Presented by Friends of Grain Elevators, with generous support from Science North. For more info: Kathleen, [email protected]

Rainy River Regional Abattoir MeetingWednesday, June 14, 7:30pm ** If you would like to join in on the fun of our weekly “Catch the Ace Draw” let Kim Jo know and she will get you a ticket! They are only $2.00 per week. 20% of the weekly sales are given a way each week – and as that happens the progressive jackpot grows until someone “Catches the Ace!”**

Cloverbelt Farmers MarketEvery Saturday from 9:00am - noon (Begins June 17)Oxdrift Hall, Hwy 17, Oxdrift, OntarioAlternating Thursdays from 3:00 - 6:00pm (Begins June 29)Dryden Arena (parking lot), 84 Whyte Ave, Dryden, OntarioFor more info: www.cloverbeltfarmersmarket.ca

Local Food and Farm Co-ops Egg Grading CollectivesTuesday, June 20, 7:30-9:30pmIn 2016, Farms at Work published a great report on the functioning of egg grading collectives in Ontario. These collectives are solving the challenges for small scale growers to sell graded eggs off farm. Learn about the options that these collectives offer and how to start on in your community. FREE online webinar.Register at www.cultivatingfoodcoops.net

TBSCIA Crop Tour & TBARS Open HouseWednesday, July 26, 10:00am, starting at the Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Station on Little Norway RoadCome out to see what TBARS has covered throughout the 2017 growing season. Lunch provided followed by an afternoon of crop tours including the cattle crossing at Hansen’s, canola and galega fields. Plus a guest speaker from Richardson’s. For more info: Christina, [email protected] or 807-629-2947

RRSCIA Crop Tour & EARS Open HouseThursday, July 27 Emo Agricultural Research Station, Hwy 11 EARS Open House will begin at 7:00 pmSTAY TUNED for more info on the crop tours! For more info: John, [email protected]/807-271-3216 OR Kim Jo, [email protected]/807-482-2354

KDSCIA Crop TourFriday, July 28, 5:30pm Oxdrift Hall, Hwy 17 A BBQ will be held at the hall followed by crop tours in the area. STAY TUNED for more info on the crop tours! **Note: The NWSCIA is hoping to arrange a Soil and Crop member bus tour from Thunder Bay/Rainy River districts to join KDSCIA in their crop tour. Stay tuned for details if interested!** For more info: Martin, 807-937-5739

A Soil & Crop

Association Event!

A Soil & Crop

Association Event!

A Soil & Crop

Association Event!

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The Northwest Link June 2017

and innovations in an outdoor setting, complementing the lifestyle farmers have chosen! For more info: www.outdoorfarmshow.com

International Plowing Match & Rural Expo September 19-23Walton (Huron County), OntarioPlenty to do and see plus entertainment for all ages. For more info: www.plowingmatch.org/ipm-2017

Stratton Sales Barn2017 Dates: Mark your Calendars!August 26, September 30, October 22 & November 4 97 Salesbarn Road, Stratton, Ontario We will be starting our sales at 8:30am for the 2017 season. If you have cull cows for sale – you should get in touch with Dale Pollard at the Rainy River Regional Abattoir at 807-482-3028 and if he has a market for them he will be able to let you know. You can also let James Gibson know (contact info below) and he may be able to put a load together to ship out of the area. We are looking to try and help market animals as much as we can in the District so please take the time to give us a call and we will see if we can figure things out and keep more $$ in our District. James Gibson - H. 807-487-2731 \ C. 807-271-2005Sales Barn - 807-483-5354 (only present week of the sale)

Farm Safety Day (Thunder Bay) Saturday, October 14 (time and location TBD)3 sessions are planned for ages 7-11, ages 12-16 and adults. Stay tuned for further information. For more info: Sandy, [email protected]

PROVINCIAL EVENT LISTING & UPCOMING DATESCanada’s Outdoor Farm Show September 12, 13, 14 Canada’s Outdoor Park, Woodstock, Ontario Many unique offerings, all geared to showcasing new technologies

Local OSCIA Contacts

Regional Director Andrew Brekveld 630-7258Regional President Erik Johanssen 628-5260Regional Secr/Trea. Jeff Burke 933-0570Regional Commun- Miranda ications Coordinator van den Berg 577-4987President TBSCIA Johan Huisman 251-2270President KDSCIA Martin Sherwood 937-5739President RRSCIA John Sawatzky 271-3216

A newsletter representing one of 11 Regional newsletters in conjunction with the Provincial Newsletter and OMAFRA Crop Talk. This newsletter is published 10x per year. Articles should be submitted by the 15th of the month prior to the publishing month. Material in this newsletter is based upon factual information believed to be accurate. Action taken as a result of this information is solely the responsibility of the user. We reserve the right to edit articles.

SUMMER JOB POSTING:Thunder Bay Agriculture Research Station has a job opening for a student between the ages of 15 and 24, who plans to continue his/her education in the fall of 2017.Details: A work week will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, Monday to Friday. Duties include assisting technical staff with field plot research work; general grounds maintenance; daily janitorial duties. Rate of pay: $12 per hour.Please send resume with two references and a handwritten letter of application before deadline of June 16, 2017 to:Thunder Bay Agriculture Research StationC/o Dr. Tarlok Singh Sahota CCA5790 Little Norway RoadThunder Bay, Ontario, P7E 5G6Phone and Fax (807) 475-8404Email: [email protected]: www.tbars.netOnly those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Notice to Members of OFA:All members of OFA are being made aware that their name contact information are to be given to Kendal Donahue, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Agriculture Development Advisor for the Thunder Bay area, for the sole purpose that OFA members may receive the Northwest Link. Your information is not given out to any other organization. Please contact Sandra Meyer, Thunder Bay/Dryden Member Service Representative at 475-7031 or email [email protected] should you have a concern.

Submission Deadline: July NewsletterSend your article or event to our Regional Communications Coordinator Miranda van den Berg at [email protected] by Wed. June 28

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Northwestern Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association

Are YOU Growing Forages This Year?!Northwestern Soil and Crop Improvement Association is hoping to have a few participants compete in this year’s provicial-wide Forage Masters Competition! Whether you’re located in Kenora, Rainy River or Thunder Bay district, we’d like to showcase a few crops from the north. (Note that only Soil and Crop members can participate.) It would be great to get some competitors up to the challenge to show our neighbors to the south that our farming initiatives in Northwestern Ontario are just as capable. The introduction of the new Forage Masters Competition took place this past February at Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) Annual Conference. The previous competition ran successfully for about 30-years, but in recent years was experiencing reduced enrollment. OSCIA, take on a fresh new approach to the competition and make a few changes in hopes to attract new competitors and increase enrollment. At the same time, the competition encourages the growth of forages all across the province in forms of hay, ensilage, and pasture. These perennial forages are a key building block for Ontario agriculture. Boosting the success of Ontario’s forage producers not only maintains this basic sector and the industries that rely on it, but it also helps the soil, improves water quality, stores carbon, and provides green space and wildlife habitat. Here is what is expected of the Competitor:1. Completing a self-assessment package, available through Regional Director Andrew Brekveld or RCC Miranda van den Berg. The package includes simple questions of your current forage management practices. Choices range from Best, to Good, to Needs Improvement. You only need to answer questions that apply to their operation, and the competition is equally open to all farm sectors that rely on forage.

2. Participants will be asked to forward a summary of their responses, along with results of their most recent soil

analysis and feed analysis to the Guelph OSCIA office, where a confidential scoring procedure will be applied.

3. An aggregate grade will be shared with the participant, and with a designated point-person for the OSCIA Region.

4. Once the top scores are verified across the region, the first, second and third-place finishers will be notified and arrangements made to present the prizes that have been generously provided by General Seed Company.

5. The first-place finishers from each of the eleven OSCIA regions will be invited to participate in the provincial speaking competition to be held at the next OSCIA Annual Conference. This provides the opportunity to share experiences and tips with others in the farm community. Each presenter will be judged and an overall winner declared for the year. ProRich Seeds is sponsoring the provincial speaking competition.

Deadline to apply is July 15! For more details go to www.ontariosoilcrop.org and look up Membership/ Forage Masters Competition. Interested in competing in the Northwest? Talk to Andrew (630-7258) or Miranda (577-4987) for more info, or Arend Janssens who is the rep for Thunder Bay’s region.

‘Know Your Weeds and Controls’ App!For all you farmers embracing technology, try this: SavvyFarmer has developed two free apps, the first called Savvy Weed ID & Control which includes 300+ Canadian weeds and identifies every herbicide in Canada that will control each weed in any crop.The second app is Savvy Resistance Manager which identifies all herbicides that control herbicide resistant weeds in any crop, even those with multiple resistance. Download both FREE apps by searching for “Savvy Weed” or“Savvy Resistance” in the App Store or Play Store.

Celebrating Diversity.Supporting Equality.

Celebrating Diversity.Supporting Equality.

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Update at E.A.R.S.Submitted by Kim Jo BlissMay 31, 2017 – On a dreary drizzly day here at EARS we are discussing that we cannot believe it is already the end of May! My students are weighing up some seed that we just received late last week. Though we haven’t had much rain we are likely out of the field for a day or so. I desperately need to get out spraying. We have had strong winds daily so that has been a challenge not only for myself but on farm as well. The weeds are growing nicely of course. Other than this late seed and some areas of sod – we are mostly completed our planting. I joke a lot that we had a farmer seed 4800 + acres before we finish our 40 or 50 acres. There is just a lot of fiddling around to get some of plots into the ground. We have also had a fair bit of equipment troubles. Though it might sound like I am complaining (I am really not) but as our equipment gets older the repairs become more frequent. We are very happy with our service though; Nussbaumer’s Machine shop is always extremely helpful and tries hard to get us up and running as quickly as possible. I have been teasing the students that we haven’t had many days without running to the machine shop for something.All our crops are poking out of the soil now other than our forages that were only put I the ground last week. Since it is a fairly big job switching our drill around we waited to finish

up the larger seeds and then made the changes. Now we are doing the same before we switch things back.Unfortunately our late seeded winter wheat trial did not make the winter. I was doubtful since we did not receive seed until the end of September and this is seems to be too late for Rainy River District. I have asked for the seed earlier but it hasn’t happened yet!I haven’t been our touring around a bunch but the crops I have seen are looking good. We are not experience the wet conditions that many of our neighbours are but we are missing the heat. You are starting to see cows out to pasture but many are holding back just waiting for a bit more growth. We are still wearing sweatshirts and jackets in the field so you know it isn’t overly warm!We have decided to hold our Soil & Crop Tour and Open House on July 27th, 2017. Of course it is a bit soon to have the tour all mapped out but I will certainly share with you as it is planned. We look forward to seeing you on the evening of July 27th at EARS.I hope that in my next report I can give you an update on our Hops yard – but a challenge this has been.Wishing you a great month ahead and looking forward to some summer like weather.

Which Crops Should I Seed in June?Submitted by Dr. Tarlok Singh Sahota CCAVirtually any crop till the first week of June; provided you grow short duration varieties of soybean and corn! In 2015, our canola growers and even we at TBARS had seeded canola during the first week of June and we had bumper crops. In 2013, we seeded canola at TBARS on June 12 and still got reasonably good seed yield (4.6 MT/ha). Last year, seeding canola in mid June was a failure; but then we had over 200 mm rain in June last year. Which crops would be suitable for seeding as late as mid June? Last year, wheat (Sable) seeded on June 14 gave 95 % of grain and 96 % of straw yield of its seeding on May 17; Barley (Encore) seeded on June 14

Willem VellingaAlta Dairy Representative

Phone: 807-475-9515Email: [email protected]: [email protected]

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Linda SudnickiSmall Business AdvisorBalmoral & Hewitson

745 Hewitson StreetThunder Bay, OntarioCanada P7B 6B5

General 807.623-5626Tel 807.624.5140 x 4301Fax [email protected] scotiabank.com

resulted in 14 % higher grain, but 33 % lower straw yield than its seeding on May 20; and Oat (AC Rigodon) seeded on June 14 recorded 31 % lower grain and 27 % lower straw yield than its seeding on May 17. Thus among the three cereals, barley was the most suitable and advantageous crop for late (mid June) seeding. Wheat too could be seeded in mid June without any significant loss in grain/or straw yield. There was no success with flax and peas when seeded in mid June last year.

A past canola crop grown in the plots of TBARS.

Which other crops could be suitable for seeding after first week of June? Annual (berseem clover-alone or in mixture with barley or oats, MasterGraze corn, sorghum Sudangrass and ryegrass) and perennial (alfalfa, Galega, red, white and other perennial clovers, temperate grasses) forages will grow well when seeded after first week of June under good soil moisture conditions. As far as possible, try to grow perennial forages alone (without any companion crops). Forage yield loss in the seeding year, will be more than compensated in the next year(s). Among grain legumes, edible beans could be well suited for seeding after first week of June; variety Earlired has given consistently good grain yield (3.5 MT/ha or more) at

TBARS for the past several years. Including grain/or forage legumes into the cropping systems could lower input costs (nitrogen fixation by legumes), improve soil heath (easily decomposable nitrogen rich crop residues)/and fertility and the yield of proceeding crops in the rotation. Research at TBARS has indicated that legumes in rotation could lower nitrogen requirements of spring wheat by half. Elsewhere, research evidence shows that wheat following legumes gave up to 30 % higher grain yields. Therefore, make legumes an integral part of your cropping systems. Package of cultivation practices of some of the new crops, such as MasterGraze corn and Galega, may be seen at TBARS website (www.tbars.net); by clicking at Extension articles or going straight to www.tbars.net/extension.shtml. Any questions? Please feel free to contact me at [email protected]/or at 807-475-8404. Happy Seeding!

OFA Survey About Wildlife Damage to Crops: Please Contribute! The OFA is looking for information about wildlife damage to crops in the North. The OFA has created a wildlife damage survey that can be completed online atwww.nofiaon.wixsite.com/ofanorth/wildlife-survey

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2017 LOCAL SOIL AND CROP ASSOCIATION EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Kenora District Soil & Crop Improvement Association

For equipment rentals or questions contact Martin Sherwood, (807) 937-5739

Manure Spreader $75/dayAerator - ground-driven $75/day3 point hitch spinner-type fertilizer spinner $25/day6 foot rotary mower, heavy-duty $50/day

5 foot Allis Chalmers combine, pull-type (for small crops) $10/hr12-foot wide wick type herbicide applicator $25/day

Thunder Bay Soil & Crop Improvement Association

Contact Christina Mol by phone or text at (807) 629-2947 or email at [email protected] for more information, or to place your turn to rent.

* The Land Roller is available for pickup at the last farm of use. Depending on the current location, the rental schedule may be shuffled around to make things more efficient for pickup locations.

Land Roller* $200/dayTire Scales (currently not available)

Rainy River Soil & Crop Improvement Association

Equipment available from Sunrise Equipment, (north of Barwick on Sturgeon Creek Road) (807) 487-2620. For more info contact any member of the Rainy River Soil and Crop board.

Rock Rake $265/dayRock Picker $250/dayLarge Scraper $200/daySmall Scraper $125/dayBrillion Seeder $100 for first 40 acres or $5.00/acre

Manure Spreader $200/dayLand Roller $200/day with an additional charge of $1.00/acre after the first 100 acresWeigh Wagon $75/dayTransit $10.00/dayLand Wheel $5.00/use

Note: You must be a member of your local Soil and Crop Association to rent the equipment

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15 Farmers From Around the World Win Trips to ONE: The Alltech Ideas ConferenceGUELPH, Ontario – Farmers are continuously adapting to changes in technology, markets and the weather, battling the constant unknown while working hard to ensure a future for their farm and to feed a growing world. The Alltech “My Farm. My Future.” Facebook contest offered producers the opportunity to create a video that shared their farm’s story and their plans for the future for a chance to win a trip to ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, held in Lexington, Kentucky, May 21–24, 2017. The selected finalist videos were posted on Alltech’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/AlltechNaturally) for public voting. It was a tight race, right down to the wire with enthusiastic participants, and the votes were so close that a second-place prize was added for Andrew Brekveld from Thunder Bay, Ontario. • Andrew Brekveld, Woodstar Farm (dairy producer), Thunder Bay, Ontario: 2nd place trip package to Lexington, Ky. for ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference. He is focused on improvements and innovations for the future of his farm, including cow comfort and producing high quality Canadian milk. (Watch video)“In no other business is future-planning more important than in farming. Yet, at the same time, in no other business

is it as difficult as it can be within agriculture with its myriad variables,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. “We’re proud to salute these forward-thinking farmers for sharing their ideas and inspiring us with their stories of how they are ensuring the future of their farm and, indeed, all of our futures as a hungry, growing world.”

Andrew Brekveld from Thunder Bay, Ontario, will represent Canada at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference as one of the winners of the “My Farm. My Future.” contest

Registration is now open for ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference, held in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, from May

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21–24. The annual international conference draws more than 3,000 attendees from nearly 80 countries to network and discuss world-changing ideas. For more information or to register, visit one.alltech.com. Join the conversation online with #ONE17.Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech discovers and delivers solutions for the sustainable nutrition of plants, animals and people. With more than 100 manufacturing sites globally, Alltech is a leading producer and processor of yeast and organic trace minerals, and our flagship algae production facility in Kentucky is one of only two of its kind in the world.Our guiding ACE principle seeks to develop solutions that are safe for the Animal, Consumer and the Environment. Our more than 5,000 team members worldwide put this purpose to work every day for our customers.Alltech is a family-owned company, which allows us to adapt quickly to emerging customer needs and to stay focused on advanced innovation. Headquartered just outside of Lexington, Kentucky, USA, Alltech has a strong presence in all regions of the world. For further information, visit www.alltech.com/news. Join us in conversation on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.Media Release Contact: [email protected] Jenn Norrie; 403-863-8547

Recent Winnipeg Cattle PricesFeeder cattle prices increased dramatically compared to last month. Volumes ranged from about 1000 – 1200 head per sale. Following are the price ranges for steers.Over 1000 lbs. $NA900 – 1000 lbs. $165.00 – 189.00800 – 900 lbs. $170.00 – 212.00700 – 800 lbs. $190.00 – 227.00600 – 700 lbs. $196.00 – 246.00500 – 600 lbs. $230.00 – 265.00400 – 500 lbs. $240.00 – 279.00under 400 lbs. $250.00 – 321.00

There were close to 200 slaughter cattle per sale over the past month. Prices were quite a bit higher over the last month. Here are the price ranges. Cows - Age Verified $100.00 – 140.00- Dry Fed $97.00 – 108.00- Good Fleshed $88.00 – 102.00- Lean $75.00 – 88.00Good Bulls $118.00 – 133.00

Note: A sale in early May saw good young bred cows trade up to $1825 and moderate cow/calf pairs trading up to $2250.

Pasture MineralMost cattle are now out of their winter feeding locations and on pasture. This is a reminder to not forget the importance of mineral feeding while on pasture. Calf growth, cow reproductive status and general health are all influenced by the intake of adequate amounts of salt and mineral. It appears often that the definition of “free choice” mineral is your “free choice” on whether or not to buy mineral. Pasture mineral feeding studies show interesting results. One trial measured mineral intake of the beef cow. Believe it or

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not, the range of consumption per cow per day varied from 0 ounces to 40 ounces intake.Given this variability, consider the following guidelines when choosing your mineral program for pasture. Please note that minerals are sold by proportions of calcium to phosphorous to magnesium. Example: a 20:10:6 tag guarantee means 20% calcium, 10% phosphorous and 6% magnesium. Often this will be shortformed to “I feed a 2:1 mineral with 6% magnesium”.Following are some considerations when providing mineral on pasture.• Use sheltered mineral feeders and supply quantities that will last no longer than 5 days.• Some producers mix a dairy premix (usually salt free, and often higher in trace minerals and vitamin levels than :free choice: cattle minerals) and cobalt iodized salt, at a blending rate of 1:1 salt/premix or 1:2 salt/premix depending on pasture conditions and water availability.• Choose the mineral suitable for your pasture type. Grass based? Use a higher calcium mineral like 3:1 or 2:1. Mixed legume/grass? Use a balanced mineral, typically 2:1 or 1:1. Heavy legume? Consider a 1:2 mineral.• Evaluate the magnesium levels required. Normally a 4% magnesium content mineral is adequate but in the case of fast growing grass pasture, higher levels may be required to avoid grass tetany.• The salt content of the mineral offered usually drives mineral intake. Cattle have a natural physiological requirement for salt, so don’t offer salt separately. Most cattle salt and mineral needs are met with an intake of about 2-3 ounces of a salt/mineral mix per day. If conditions warrant additional salt, consider offering it in block form.

Media Release: Cloverbelt Local Food Co-op Begins Community Consultations to Create Regional Food CharterNorthwestern Ontario OR Dryden, Kenora, Sioux Lookout, Rainy River, etc. – May 15th, 2017 – Cloverbelt Local Food Co-op (CLFC) is an online farmer’s market that began in Dryden in 2013. Since then, it has expanded its distribution to the communities of Kenora, Ignace, Upsala, and Sioux Lookout. In April 2017, CLFC began a new project with the support of the Greenbelt Fund and in partnership with Lakehead University’s Food Security Research Network to collect community input on its region’s food system to then develop a

regional food charter for the Kenora and Rainy River districts.A food charter is a value, vision or principle statement, including a series of goals written by a region to describe what a community wants their food system to look like. Food charters are often used as a reference document for municipalities, business, school board, and organizational decision makers and helps to develop better policies that address food-related issues. Regional charters can help communities to come together and connect local food projects across municipalities, as well as support the unique needs and issues that are commonly faced by our communities in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.“The food charter is a first step towards establishing the unified vision around food in the Kenora & Rainy River Districts. We need to better understand the values and goals of our communities, commit to them at municipal levels, then find the best ways to work together to achieve them” says Jen Springett, Cloverbelt Local Food Co-op’s President.Participants in Kenora’s input sessions addressed some of the diverse needs and issues that relate to its regional food system: accessibility and increased knowledge of traditional Anishinaabe foods, logistical issues of transportation for local food producers, and the affordability of healthy foods. In Sioux Lookout, participants have made it clear that efforts need to be made to make food more affordable and accessible to all members of the community. Dryden participants voiced

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concern around preserving local agriculture, increasing access to resources for local farmers, and building a thriving and sustainable food production system locally.Sioux Lookout Community Coordinator Andrea Habinski stated, “In all sessions, it’s been obvious that participants strongly believe in the importance of educating children and the community about growing food, preparing healthy home-cooked meals, and maintaining knowledge on harvesting traditional food sources since these skills are slowly being lost by our community members.” CLFC will continue to facilitate community input sessions until the end of June to collect as much community input as possible to use to create a representative regional food charter. Any interested organizations, associations, businesses, and schools are encouraged to contact CLFC to host their own input session.For more information please visit:www.cloverbeltlocalfoodcoop.com/ ww.cloverbeltlocalfoodcoop.com/our-projects/

The CLFC strives to foster a thriving local food community by:• cultivating & facilitating farmer-consumer relationships;• promoting the enjoyment of naturally grown, fairly priced, healthy food;• and providing education & resources regarding environmentally sensitive agriculture.

Contact Information:All community coordinators and project leads can be reached by email at [email protected]: Jen Springett, President of CLFCKenora: Jocelyn Dockerty, Community CoordinatorSioux Lookout: Andrea Habinski, Community CoordinatorThunder Bay: Monika Lucas, Community CoordinatorRainy River District: Anita Marcotte, Community Coordinator

Northern Ontario Businesses Receive $313,428 from Sustainable New Agri-Food Products & Productivity (SNAPP) ProgramDryden, ON (May 23, 2017): In partnership with FedNor, Northeast Community Network, Rethink Green, and Cloverbelt Local Food Co-operative, the Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) has established a multi-year funding program for farm and food businesses in northern Ontario. The Sustainable New Agri-Food Products and Productivity (SNAPP) Program supports northern Ontario agriculture and food producers, businesses, collaboration, communities and First Nations to create new products, enhance abilities for season extension, scale up production or enhance productivity. Last year, FedNor announced $921,300 in SNAPP funding over a three-year period, $825,000 of which will be used as microgrants to support eligible project costs. Cloverbelt Local Food Co-Op oversees the funding of SNAPP, and works with the committee of northern partners to review applications. SNAPP’s first in-take period was November 15, 2016 to February 28, 2017. During this period RAIN distributed just over $313,000 in grants to 63 applicants, bringing the total value of investment to $744,519. In the Northwest region, 12 applicants were approved. Each applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000 at 75% cost share to purchase equipment for approved projects, and collaborations of

Consider An E-Version!Get your copy of the Northwest Link sooner by switching from paper to an electronic version of our newsletter! To make the switch send your email address to the Regional Communications Coordinator at [email protected]

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three or more entities are allowed. Details of all approved applicants can be found at www.rainalgoma.ca/snapp/grants. “There is an abundance of innovative agri-food projects across the North. Northern hops, trout paté, apple cider, essential oils and shiitake mushrooms were just a few of the new products to be created with the support of SNAPP,” said David Thompson, RAIN Project Coordinator. Eat The Fish, located in Thunder Bay, ON, is one of the 63 applicants that was approved for a grant of $5,000 for season extension. Eat The Fish processes and sells locally harvested fish directly to customers in Thunder Bay, working in collaboration with the Registered Lake Superior Commercial Fisherman.“Local fish are completely unavailable to consumers between January 1st and Ice Out, which takes place April through May. The SNAPP funding will help us deliver on our vision of increasing local access to wild northern Ontario fish by allowing us to preserve fish and extend our operational season,” says owners and operators Anthony Chiodo and Paul Drombolis.The next in-take will be open from July 1, 2017 to August 31, 2017. Details can be found at www.rainalgoma.ca/SNAPP.Join the Cloverbelt Local Food Co-op at the Dryden Agricultural Centre on July 18th from 4-7pm to hear about our area’s successful applicants.For more information please contact Andrea Habinski, [email protected] or (807) 221-3293 ext. 27. Media Contact: Jen SpringettPresident, Cloverbelt Local Food [email protected](807) 221-3293 ext. 26

Season Extension Techniques for Vegetable CropsSource: www.omafra.gov.on.ca

A few of our Soil and Crop members around the region commit their lifestyle to the growth of vegetable crops. Here are a few tips on extending the growing season for those that deal with vegetable crops, especially since our growing season is so highly dependable upon our northern climate:Many vegetable crops, especially heat-loving crops such as cucurbits (vine crops), peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and sweet corn, benefit from the use of plastic mulch and row covers. Some benefits associated with season extension include:• earlier harvest• increased yield• higher-quality produce• soil moisture retention• reduced disease pressure• reduced fertilizer leaching• increased season-long nutrient availability• weed controlPlastic Mulch: Most mulches are made of polyethylene. Table 1 (refer to www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/hort/Season_Extension.htm), Plastic Mulch Types, describes the different types. They are available in widths of 1.2-1.5 m (4-5 ft) with a thickness of 1-1.5 mil (thousandths of an inch).Several commercial plastic mulch layers are available. Proper set-up of the mulch layer is essential. The edges of the mulch should be well covered, and the plastic should be tight on the soil surface to permit heat transfer to the soil. Angle the discs and press wheels of the mulch layer to ensure a tight and uniform fit.Do not lay mulch on dry soil. If the soil is very dry, irrigate or wait for rainfall before laying. Soil moisture is important for heat retention. Lay mulch 2-3 weeks prior to planting for maximum soil heating.

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Row Covers: Row covers can be used to promote earlier production by increasing the canopy air temperature and protecting young transplants from wind damage. There are two basic types: floating row covers and low tunnels.Regardless of the type of row cover used, heat can build up inside the covers and damage crops. Temperatures should be monitored. Remove or ventilate the covers when the temperature exceeds 32°C-35°C (90°F-95°F). For crops that require bee pollination (vine crops), row covers must be removed or opened up at flowering time.High temperatures under the row cover during flowering may cause fruit deformities or a decrease in pollen viability.Floating Covers: These are made of polypropylene or various polyester-type fabrics and are laid directly over the crop. They are available in sheets up to 15 m (50 ft) wide to cover multiple rows. Floating covers are well suited for large acreages and low-growing plants. They are not recommended for use on upright-growing crops such as tomatoes and peppers. They may cause abrasions on the plant’s shoot tips.Low Tunnels: These are made of white or clear polyethylene and are supported over the crop on wire hoops. The plastic usually has slits or perforations for ventilation. Commercially available layers install hoops, lay the plastic covers over the hoops and bury the edges of the row cover in one operation.Research in Ontario has demonstrated that use of low tunnels can result in earlier production of lettuce, peppers, cucumbers and melons. Tunnels used on fresh-market tomatoes should be removed well before flowering. Extended use of row covers on tomatoes may result in reduced fruit set.High Tunnels: A high tunnel is a semi-permanent, simplified greenhouse. It is typically made of a metal tubing framework and a single sheet of polyethylene plastic. Each end of the tunnel is open or contains a large wooden door frame, allowing for the use of small field equipment inside the tunnel.A high tunnel may expand the growing season by 3-4 weeks, but will not function well for growing during the winter. It is

possible to expand the growing season even more by adding temporary heaters to the structure.In addition to expanding the growing season, high tunnels may improve the harvest quality of certain vegetable crops. Shoulder-checking (russetting) and cracking of tomatoes may be reduced when the fruit is protected from rain. A reduction in leaf wetness may also help reduce disease problems.During the hot summer months, the tunnels may be ventilated simply by rolling up the plastic sidewalls, allowing air to move through the structure. As the inside of the tunnels does not receive any natural rainwater, drip irrigation is highly recommended.Remove the plastic from the high tunnel during the winter months. This will improve the lifespan of the plastic. It will also prevent structural damage to the tunnel due to snow load or inclement weather.Plastic Disposal: Used plastic mulches are difficult to recycle due to the amount of dirt, plant material and water present. Limited recycling opportunities do exist in some areas. In most areas, disposal at a licensed landfill site is currently the most practical option. Burning or on-farm burial is not recommended. More tips and research for all types of crops within Ontario can be found on OMAFRA’s website: www.omafra.gov.on.ca

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USEFUL CONTACT INFORMATIONCrop Research StationsEmo Agricultural Research StationTel/Fax: (807) 482-2354Email: [email protected]

Thunder Bay Agricultural Research StationDirector of Research and BusinessDr. Tarlok Singh Sahota, CCATel: (807) 475-1373 Fax: (807) 475-1313Email: [email protected] | www.tbars.net

Northern Ontario Regional OfficeCaldwell Township Hall BuildingHwy 64, Box 521, Verner ON P0H 2M0Tel: 1(705) 594-2393 Fax: (705) 594-9675Monique Legault, Regional Manager, NorthEmail: [email protected]

Emo OfficeP.O. Box 210, 5907, Hwy 11-71, Emo ON, P0W 1E0Tel: 1(807) 482-1921 Fax: (807) 482-2864Gary Sliworsky, Agriculture Development Advisor Email: [email protected]

Thunder Bay OfficeSuite B012, 435 James Street, Thunder Bay ON P7E 6S7Tel: 1(807) 475-1214 Fax: (807) 475-1313Kendal Donahue, Agriculture Development AdvisorEmail: [email protected]

Northern Ontario SpecialistsBarry Potter, Agriculture Development AdvisorNew Liskeard Tel: 1 (705) 647-2086Email: [email protected] Poirier Mensinga, Agriculture Development AdvisorVerner Tel: 1 (705) 594-2315Email: [email protected]

Visit OMAFRA at www.ontario.ca/omafra

Membership BenefitsNot yet a member of your local Soil and Crop Improvement Association? Here are just a few of the things a membership will entitle you to: • Annual Spring Farm Conference attendance• Annual summer crop tours attendance • Participation in local crop trials and research• Equipment rentals• Opportunities to apply for funding through the many grants available at Provincial LevelContact [email protected] for more info

Submission Deadline: July NewsletterSend your article or event to our Regional Communications Coordinator Miranda van den Berg at [email protected] by Wed. June 28

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