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
Executive
for 2015
President
Bryan Barlow
705-457-7556
Vice-President
Casey Cox
705-286-4432

July 18th, Stanhope Heritage Day

Aug 8th, Wilberforce Ag Fair

Aug 15th, Haliburton County Fair, Minden

Around Thanksgiving, Giant Pumpkin Contest, Minden
Secretary
Jeanne Parcell-Hughes 705-286-1602

Dec 12th, Christmas Pot Luck, Minden Community
Centre
Treasurer
Sheila Robb
705-489-4201
Past President
Andrea Coysh
705-286-6753
OFT Annual Farmland Forum
When: Fr iday Mar ch 27, 2015, 10:00am – 6:00pm
Where: Dur ham 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 farmers, 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.
Directors
Matt Wesley
Paul Hilyer
Jeff Mainprize
Jim Vidoczy
Godfrey Tyler
Chris Coysh
Ross Daniels
705-935-0357
705-488-2371
705-286-6458
705-488-1470
705-457-2214
705-286-6753
705-457-0274
BFO Rep
Bryan Barlow
705-457-7556
BFO Alternate
Jeff Mainprize
705-286-6458
IMPORTANT
Reminder for Renewal of HCFA & VSC Membership.
See page 3
Visit us online at www.haliburtoncountyfarmersassociation.com
The County Farmer
2
Farms at Work Launches Brand New
Farm Mentorship Programs
Since 2013, FAW has been building relationships between experienced farmers and new
entrants through their unique on-farm mentorship programs. Each season-long, curriculumbased program has been designed by long-time producers,
and will feature plenty of hands-on learning, complemented 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, [email protected].
Minden Cat Angels
A caring group of people have been rescuing feral cats
from the town of Minden. Don Kerr has financed and renovated a building on his property where they are now
warmly housed and cared for. The Municipality has granted 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 Association 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 Filion 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
2
3
4
5
6
7
Feed quality – determined by nutrient analysis of main forage components. Supplements needed?
Feed quantity – determined by body weight and body condition scores and stage of production.
Trace minerals and salt
Feed additives – growth promotants and coccidiostats
Feed storage and bunkers
Water quality and availability
Pasture – forage type, rotational grazing, and parasite control
Disease control
1
2
3
4
5.
Biosecurity measures – minimize exposure to pathogens
Vaccination programs – for the maternal herd to minimize losses due to illness or abortion
Parasite control - internal parasite burden determined by fecal flotation (nematodes, tapeworms, coccidia, etc.) treatment depends on parasite type, products available, ease of handling, and stage of production.
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.
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 maternal herd and creep feeding / housing areas for their offspring provides benefits on many levels.
continued on page 5
5
The County Farmer
From the BFO Corner, continued from page 4
Husbandry practices
1.
2.
3.
Breeding management - seasonal breeding, timing/lighting, and herd sires breeding
.
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
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 programs need to be developed on an individual basis.
Inquiries and/or submission of a preliminary plan for review can be done using:
[email protected]
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’ practices have also been updated in the last year or so, or are presently under review. If anyone is interested in obtaining 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
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
[email protected]
See the box on the left for the first workshop in this series.
The County Farmer
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
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
6
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 bubbling and topping is golden.