The Ontario Meat Goat Symposium will be held in Lindsay, Ontario on August 13, 2022, at the Lindsay Fairgrounds from 9 am to 3:30 pm. The event will feature guest speakers on topics such as nutrition and parasites. There will also be live goat demonstrations and a tradeshow which will include goat equipment, supplies and industry partners. Although the event is focused on meat goats, dairy goat producers are also welcome. Plan on attending to network with fellow goat producers! The event is free to attend, and lunch will be available for purchase. A full agenda will be posted shortly. The event is hosted by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) in partnership with Ontario Goat…
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The Sheep and Goat Production Blog has moved!
Welcome to the new web address for the Sheep and Goat Production blog. Be sure to update your bookmarks to the new web address sheepandgoatproduction.ca In addition to being an email subscriber you can also follow the blog on Twitter @SheepProdn for the latest sheep content and @GProdn for the latest goat content. All the blog content from our old website has moved to the new web address. You will notice a few changes to the menus of the blog. Do you want to know more about the contributing authors? Check out the current authors list by clicking the tab above. Browse our previous content through the blog menus found above. If you find any content that is missing or…
Participants Needed Dairy Goat Cost of Production Project in Ontario
The goal of the Cost of Production project is to compile relevant data and analytics, from 2019-2021, for the dairy goat industry. The results can be used for producer self-assessment, industry benchmarking, maximizing efficiencies, evaluation of expansion and start-up opportunities, and developing industry strategies. Participating producers will be contacted by MNP to discuss the project and what is to be expected from them. In addition to data collection, participants in this project may be asked to test a benchmarking tool to help refine and improve a COP and Benchmarking tool. Participants will be asked to share: 2019, 2020, and 2021 financial statements 2019, 2020, and 2021 production information Management practices and data Participants in the project will: receive an individual…
Sign-up for the Producer Information Session on the Ontario Dairy Goat Cost of Production Project
Next Producer Information Session is on July 7, 2021 11:15 am EDT. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is working with the Ontario dairy goat industry to develop better statistics and information to help move the sector forward. To gather this information, we need your help. The goal of the Ontario Dairy Goat Cost of Production project is to compile relevant data and analytics from 2019-2021. Come and hear about the Ontario Dairy Goat Cost of Production Project. In this information session, OMAFRA and MNP LLP will review how to participate in the project and the outcomes for the project. Questions that will be answered at this session include: how is my data being handled? How much time…
CAP Special Provisions and Farmer Mental Health Resources
Article: Owning a farm is much more than a business; it is a way of life. As with most businesses, there are some very stressful times that can weigh you down. During busy seasons or critical production periods, it is normal to be faced with time constraints and pressures and facing major financial issues can multiply these pressures many times. During these times, and with the added reality of COVID-19, these demands can put anyone involved in the business of agriculture under a great deal of stress, often impacting one’s mental health. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) cares about the well-being of farmers and farm families and recognizes the unique challenges that can lead to mental…
Goat Kid Management Webinar Series February 2021
Join us in February for a webinar series focused on goat kid management. Topics of focus for this webinar series includes management considerations for kidding and kid management. The webinars will take place from 10:00am to 12:00pm on February 16, 18, 23, 25, 2021. This series is being hosted online and over the teleconference. Registration is required. You can register online (see below) or by calling the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300. Schedule of webinars February 16 – Successful Doe Transition with Dr. Robert Van Saun (Pennsylvania State University). This webinar will cover pre-partum nutrition for dairy does and considerations for diet formulations. February 18 – Caring for Goat Kids in the First 48 Hours with Dr. Cathy Bauman…
COVID-19 Information and Resources
Information and Resources about COVID-19 from the Ontario government.
Continuous Corn Growers Should Check Fields for Rootworm Resistance to Bt Hybrids
Reblogged from Field Crop News: Continuous corn growers should check fields for rootworm resistance to bt hybrids Canadian Corn Pest Coalition News Release: Corn rootworm (CRW) has historically been one of the most important pests of corn in Canada and can cause extreme economic loss and increased management costs. High CRW pressure in Ontario in 2020 is challenging current Bt corn rootworm hybrids and several growers of Bt rootworm hybrids are reporting unexpected injury by CRW to trait providers and research and extension scientists. Specifically, several fields in Huron, Perth and Durham Counties have been identified with injury to various Bt rootworm traits, providing an early warning of possible resistance development by CRW to some Bt traits. There is the…
Introduction to Small Ruminant Production Courses
To help facilitate education and knowledge transfer, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF) offers Introduction to Small Ruminant Production Courses. Each course covers both sheep and goats, providing an overview of each of the sectors and introductory concepts. These courses are designed for individuals who are thinking about starting a sheep and/or goat farm. Each course is a full-day workshop, and the registration fee includes a light lunch, all course materials, and a farm tour. 2020 Date and Locations: April 17th, 2020 – Guelph Ontario. Location T.B.D July 17th, 2020 – Lindsay Ontario. Location T.B.D. September 18th, 2020 – Guelph Ontario. Location T.B.D For more information or to register, visit the OSF website…
Introduction to Small Ruminant Production Course
Looking to Start Your Own Sheep or Goat Farm? OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Food and Agriculture) and OSF (Ontario Sheep Farmers) are hosting an introductory course on small ruminant production. This course will introduce potential producers to the wide range of knowledge that is needed to farm small ruminants. Topics covered in the course include: Overview of Both Sheep and Goat Industries Core Production Concepts Selecting Genetics Infrastructure, Handling, & Labour Reproduction/Production Methods Creating a Good Pasture & Combating This course is directed at potential producers who need basic information and the opportunity to tour a farm.. We encourage anyone interested in becoming a part of the industry to attend this course. If you would like to attend please use…
