The Rural Voice, 2001-01, Page 20f
• fact sheets
• answers to general inquiry
questions
• referral service on technical
inquiries
• general application forms for
various programs
• audio/visual equipment
A Coalition Steering Committee
with representation from the Grey
County Federation of Agriculture,
Grey County 4-H Council and Grey
County Soil and Crop Improvement
Association is responsible for the
overall management of the Centre.
Already the Centre has been a
success, says Robertson, with
nearly 1,000 calls recorded
plus 150 walk-in visits. Because of
the knowledge Robertson and Evans
bring, they're able to act as a referral
centre for questions from many
clients. While OMAFRA's call
centre may be able to answer
questions on a general, province -
wide basis, Robertson says, it can't
know the local information that an
office right in the county can.
In fact the Agricultural Service
Centre has been so successful in
providing services for local farm
organizations, Robertson has been
approached by OMAFRA about the
possibility of helping out farm
groups beyond the Grey County
boundary. Many of these groups
Ray Robertson: Stepped in with a
plan
depended on OMAFRA staff to help
with administrative services but now
are on they own. OMAFRA
wondered if the Grey office might be
able to offer administrative support
for some of these organizations rather
than trying to re -invent the wheel in
each county.
And things will be looking up (or
down) for the Service Centre in the
coming weeks when they move into a
new office in the basement of the
Grey Gables seniors complex in
Markdale. Grey County is renovating
14,000 square feet of space there for
some of its own departments as well
as the local Grey Highlands
amalgamated municipality, and the
Agricultural Centre. That will mean
not just new office space to replace
the temporary office space, but a
board room that will accommodate
40-50 people as well as another large
committee room.
Early in the new year the Centre
will be busy as the co-ordination
point for the Grey -Bruce Farmers'
Week. The Centre took over much of
the organizational function the
OMAFRA staff previously supplied
for the educational event which is
celebrating its 35th year of bringing
the latestin information to farmers of
different commodities.
The event is run by a committee
representing all the commodity
groups which elects an
executive committee. It was this
group that, when they realized
OMAFRA staff would no longer be
available, advertised for someone to
co-ordinate the project.
The event will operate much the
same as in the past, Robertson says.
The commodity groups chose the
Grey -Bruce Farmers' Week
still going in its 35th year
For 35 years the Grey -Bruce Farmers' Week has started
the year off right for farmers in the two counties with
discussions and seminars on latest developments in the
various commodities grown in the two counties.
Each of the major commodities has a session, either all
day or in the evening, dealing with its own issues. A
committee of representatives from the commodity plans the
session.
Beef Day starts off the 2001 Farmers' Week which takes
place at the Elmwood Community Centre, just west of
Elmwood. Beef Day begins at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday,
January 3 and continues until 3:00 p.m. and will include the
Grey and Bruce Cattlemen's Annual Meeting. Other topics
to be discussed include the Canadian Cattle Identification
Agency tags, nutrient management and the latest on the
medicated feeds controversy.
Dairy Day, on Thursday, January 4 begins at 9:30 a.m.
and includes information on Dairy Farmers of Ontario
matters, stress on the farm, nutrient management, balancing
rations, cost of production and a panel of producers.
Thursday evening will be Swine Evening, from 6:30
p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Topics include: what an Ontario Pork
Field Rep can do for you, nutrient management, carcass
quality, how nutrition affects the carcass and forward
contracting.
Crops Day is Friday, January 5 beginning at 9 a.m.
Among the topics are stress on the farm, a commodity
outlook, identity preserved production, a wheat outlook, the
future of white beans, what's new with cereals, managing
upland woods, nutrient management and a panel on tillage.
Friday night will include programs for both rabbits and
horses. The rabbit program includes discussions on results
of a producer survey and issues in animal agriculture. The
horse program will discuss marketing your equine business
or product, and recreational riding.
Saturday, January 6 will be Sheep Day beginning at
9:15 a.m. Topics include, the challenge of sheep nutrition,
where do your lambs fit, which ram is the right one for the
ewe flock and a producer panel.
On Saturday, January 13 a Goat Day will be held at the
Grey County Agricultural Services Centre in Markdale
from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Topics include: feeding kids, meat
goats, pygmy goats, dairy goats, and general conformation of
goats.° •
16 THE RURAL VOICE