Food safety and traceability are the latest best practices on many
Ontario farms. Everyone shares responsibility for the food produced
in Ontario, and a current Growing Forward federal-provincial-territorial
initiative makes it clear that primary producers are ready and eager
to participate.
When the Food Safety and Traceability Initiative was introduced
to encourage safe food practices on-farm and at the food processor
level, the interest was overwhelming in Ontario. Designed to encourage
adoption of voluntary food safety programs and traceability practices,
these two producers saw instant benefits for their farm businesses.
Better Bins Keep Market Options Open
For
John Hordyk, improving food safety practices is a way of securing
markets for his apple and pear crops. He sells his crops through
two local packers, who in turn sell exclusively to the Loblaw grocery
chain.
"We are competing on a global market as orchard growers, and
I'm always upgrading my farm to meet global demands," says
Hordyk, whose GraceView Orchards in Port Burwell, Ontario is home
to 40 acres of apples and 20 acres of pears. "And if I want
to ship to Loblaw, I have to store my apples and pears in plastic
bins."
Hordyk knew the container change was coming, and would require
replacing his existing wooden bins with easier to clean plastic
ones. Food safety was not a new concept for him, so it was an easy
decision when he signed up for a food safety workshop last year
as part of the Food Safety and Traceability Initiative (FSTI) under
Growing Forward.
Through the workshop and resulting action plan, Hordyk focused on
the new container requirements for his apples and pears, and was
able to access cost-share funding to help him purchase 200 of the
estimated 500 bins he'll require for his annual crop.
"I strongly believe Canada is on top of food safety and traceability,
and the products we grow are world-class quality," says John
Hordyk.
“Food safety has always been a practice on the
farm, and now we have the documentation to improve accountability,”
says John Hordyk, whose product appears on Loblaw’s shelves.
Electronic Records Streamline Growing
Flock
Alana
Zadow also knows that food safety starts at the farm level. So when
she learned about the Food Safety and Traceability Initiative, she
jumped at the chance to improve some aspects of the 35-acre sheep
farm she operates with her husband Paul in Eganville, Ontario.
After reviewing the application and guidebook, the Zadows decided
to concentrate on traceability of their growing flock.
“For us, the timing couldn’t have been better,” says
Alana. “We are not a large operation – 51 ewes right now
– but we’re growing and feel it’s important to keep
current on new practices,” she says. One of those practices
is the RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tagging system coming
into effect in 2012.
“We’re still at a scale that allows us to
learn as we go, rather than jumping into new practices with a large
flock,” says Alana. Resources are at a premium for this farm
couple. They both have full-time, off-farm jobs and work hard to
maintain their growing herd. As part of the traceability plan, the
Zadows purchased a RFID-compatible sheep management software program,
an RFID wand to read electronic tags and carry information back
to computer, and a handling chute and tilt table to improve sorting
for tagging and shipping as part of the cost-share element of FSTI.
“The computerized records make life much easier as our flock
grows, producing reports in a moment’s notice, rather than
it being an all-day job,” she says. “The purchase of these
items has made a huge difference in the amount of time we have to
deal with other farm-related issues.”
Traceability wasn’t a new idea for the Zadows. They already
had biosecurity measures in place including a tagging system, signage
and clean footwear. And the health and welfare of their animals
has always been a top priority. The cost-share element with the
food safety and traceability program allowed the Zadows to invest
in larger items they may have otherwise foregone because of budget
constraints. For a relatively small investment (just over $3,000
through the program), the Zadows were also able to reduce the overall
time required to maintain the flock’s health.
“This project has made our farm operation easier
to manage and easier to grow,” says Alana and Paul Zadow, who
operate a 35-acre sheep farm near Eganville, Ontario.
The Hidden Gems in Food Safety
The 228 companies interviewed for a recent evaluation of the impact
and value of food safety and traceability programs reported dual
benefits - improved food safety practices (expected) and a boost
to the business bottom line (unexpected).
Food safety benefits:
improved food safety procedures and practices
a sense of responsibility and pride in all staff involved in
implementing and following a food safety and traceability program
Economic benefits:
returned an average of more than $5 in incremental sales for
every $1 invested in food safety
increased sales through new customers and expanded market reach
- one client was able to secure a $1 .5 million contract with
a major U.S. food service customer as a direct result of implementing
a traceability system.
Industry-led Initiatives Drive Home the
Need for Improved Food Safety and Traceability
When a major Canadian grocery retailer announced in 2009 that all
shippers, packers and producers needed an audited food safety program,
Adrian Huisman, Manager of the Ontario Tender Fruit Producers' Marketing
Board, knew many of his producers were going to need some support
to meet this requirement.
"Approximately 100 tender fruit and grape growers had implemented
the CanadaGAP program and been successfully audited," says
Huisman. "When we surveyed the other 300 tender fruit growers,
who had yet to complete the instruction and audit process, we found
that they needed help."
The CanadaGAP Program is an on-farm food safety program
developed by the horticultural industry. The program is administered
and maintained by the Canadian Horticultural Council. Audit and
certification services are delivered by accredited third parties.
The program was built around the principles of Hazard Analysis and
Critical Control Point (HACCP), the internationally-recognized food
safety management system.
The Ontario Tender Fruit Producers' Marketing Board applied to
the Food Safety and Traceability Education (FSTE) Program for support
in developing member education and outreach initiatives. The FSTE
Program is one of the Best Practices suite of programs under Growing
Forward, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.
"Increasingly having an audited food safety program is just
part of doing business," says Huisman. "Without it, you
lose market access. We have the programs and the materials, now
we need to help get everyone to the same level. It's the right thing
to do."
Building for the Future
The
Ontario Asparagus Grower's Marketing Board is the oldest board in
the province. Ontario's 120 asparagus growers want to make sure
they have a certified food safety and traceability program that
meets the needs of their retail and food service customers as they
develop alternatives to the fresh market.
With support from the Food Safety and Traceability Education Program,
the board is doing the necessary research for a gap analysis. The
information will then be used to develop a comprehensive traceability
template, as well as standard operating procedures and protocols,
which the entire value chain can use, from grower to grading station
to processor.
"The system must be affordable, scalable to the size of grower
and complements other on-farm operations and products. It also has
to be simple to implement for it to be adopted", says Marvin
Karges, Executive Director for the Board.
The Producer to Processors Readiness Program will also support
the development of training and implementation resources for food
safety and traceability.
Improving Training Resources
The Ontario Independent Meat Processors (OIMP) applied to the Food
Safety and Traceability Education Program for support to redevelop
its Food Handler Training Manual as a workshop or as a webinar.
"Attending a full-day workshop or webinar requires a bit more
commitment," says Laurie Nicol, OIMP Executive Director, "but
participant interaction reinforces and intensifies learning."
The food industry is a multi-ethnic industry. The OIMP is translating
the workshop training resources and examinations into eight languages
- French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Polish, Punjabi,
Mandarin and Cantonese. "There is a critical need to make training
accessible to non-English-speaking workers," she says. "We
can improve overall food safety if we provide the information to
workers in the language in which they are most comfortable."
Environmental Farm Plan
A Sound Investment
EFP Drives Continuous Improvements
Allan
Beehler's first step to improving environmental practices on his
farm was easy. He opened his mailbox.
About 10 years ago, this Crysler, Ontario dairy farmer responded
to an invitation in the mail to attend a meeting about a grant program
for manure storage. And what started as manure management improvements
grew over the years to include energy conservation practices, erosion
control measures and fuel storage upgrades.
Beehler is a big advocate for the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)
program. He participated in some of the earliest EFP workshops in
the province, designed to help farmers identify the potential impacts
of their current farming practices.
"You don't realize your practices could have an environmental
impact before going through the workshop," says Beehler, who
operates Nine Mile Farms with his wife Angela, their three children
and his father. They milk 220 cows, farm about 750 acres and employ
two full-time employees.
After completing the initial EFP workshop, Beehler quickly identified
key areas for improvement on his farm. "There were a lot of
things that I learned through the EFP process that I could be doing
better," he says. "And as soon as you are made aware of
them - and there is a financial support - you get it done."
Improvements identified through the EFP process may be eligible
for a cost-share funding through the associated Canada-Ontario Farm
Stewardship Program (COFSP). Records for COFSP show that for every
$1 invested by the program, producers spend an average of $2 of
their own money.
High-efficiency Lighting, Better Barn Fans
More efficient lighting has translated into improved efficiencies
in Beehler's herd and a significant reduction in energy consumption.
"We're using 50 per cent less power for lighting."
Installing bigger, more efficient fans in his dairy barn has also
brought big energy savings and improved the efficiency of the herd
in the heat stress of summer. "The cows aren't losing any productivity
or fat from heat stress, and the new fans use 75 per cent less power
than our older box fans to do the same job."
Manure Storage, Improved Nutrient Management
Managing manure storage can be an expensive proposition,
but one that can represent one of the biggest potential liabilities
on a farm from the standpoint of environmental impact. Through the
EFP process, Beehler recognized the potential environmental risks
his manure storage practices posed. He received cost-share funding
support to build a concrete manure storage and has reduced the farm's
use of earthen lagoons from three to one. "Manure storage is
a big concern and the environmental risk is much less now."
The plan never ends for Beehler. He regularly consults his EFP
workbook and can't say enough good things about the opportunities
the program has made possible on his farm.
The Island of Opportunity
The
EFP is a risk assessment tool that encourages farmers to incorporate
best environmental practices in all their farming activities. They
develop an individualized plan of action to address potential concerns
identified through the EFP process, and may elect to have their
plan reviewed confidentially by a peer review committee. Farmers
with peer-reviewed plans that are deemed appropriate may be eligible
to apply for cost-share funding from the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship
Program (COFSP). Funding helps support the adoption of best management
practices that are new to the farm business, and contribute to water
and air quality, improved soil productivity, enhanced wildlife habitat
or result in energy conservation.
“Safe, clean water is a priority in any livestock operation,”
says Stan Osawamick (right) pictured here with Margaret Manitowabi
and OSCIA representative Mary Scott (left). The EFP workshop was
an excellent opportunity to look at the water sources on the farm
to make sure they were managed properly.
Biosecurity
Getting the Biosecurity Message to Avian
Hobbyists
Although
Ron Downey was involved in developing the national biosecurity standard
for poultry operations in Canada - and has implemented a comprehensive
program at his family's King Cole Ducks in Aurora, Ontario - he
knows biosecurity is a tough sell to non-regulated producers and
backyard enthusiasts.
"It's easy to get the regulated producers involved because
they are organized and identifiable," he says. But the non-regulated
group is as diverse as the types of birds they raise, including
commercial operations like King Cole Ducks, pheasants, racing pigeons
and bird fanciers.
Making biosecurity matter may be the biggest hurdle. But Downey
has some ideas about where to start. There's the obvious economic
angle. "Contagious, infectious disease is a real threat to
our economy," says Downey. And that disease threat can be spread
just as easily from large supply managed operations as from a small
hobby flock. "You shouldn't be raising birds outside, it's
a risk and they may be vulnerable to contagious disease from wild
birds."
According to Downey, adding some simple and basic measures to help
smaller operations and hobbyists implement biosecurity measures
doesn't have to be complicated. "Keeping flocks under cover
in a wire enclosure, isolated from the outside, is an easy start.
And limiting direct access to birds will reduce the chance of disease
spread," says Downey.
If backyard operations need extra incentive to adopt even the simplest
of biosecurity measures, Ron Downey has some ideas for what might
help make it matter. "We've all chosen to be involved with
birds because of what they do for us", says Downey. "Whether
it's an emotional connection as a fancier or a business operation,
we are responsible for the welfare and well being of the creatures
we raise, and I believe that the national standards is in the best
interests of the animal."
Biosecurity Without Borders: The case
for implementing standards on all poultry operations across Canada
From
Bill Woods' perspective, the appeal of biosecurity measures for
non supply managed operations also comes down to economics. Woods
is a broiler producer from Belwood, Ontario, past chair of the Chicken
Farmers of Ontario and was an active participant on the avian biosecurity
advisory council in the early days of developing biosecurity standards.
"There is an economic return to biosecurity for non supply
managed operations too, it just may be on a smaller scale. It comes
down to the amount of time and energy operators are willing to spend
on biosecurity," he says.
Even so, Woods cites simple biosecurity procedures, like changing
boots and coveralls before going into barns, are almost as effective
as showering in and out. "For non supply managed flocks, there
are a lot of low cost or no cost procedural changes that have a
huge benefit that may affect the economics of their operation."
Through Growing Forward, poultry producers in Ontario (large, small
supply managed and non) can attend a farm biosecurity workshop to
help identify on-farm risks, develop an action plan and may be eligible
for cost-share opportunities. More information is available at www.omafra.gov.on.ca
under Growing Forward programs.
Business Development Workshops Help Families Evaluate Their Farm
Businesses
The McLartys
Sue
and Ken McLarty are like many other baby boomer farmers. Retirement
is coming closer, and their 20-something kids are firmly on the
fence about whether they want to carry on the farm's family tradition.
The McLartys operate a mixed field crop operation near Ridgetown,
Ontario. They own 600 acres, custom farm another 300 acres and farm
an additional 500 acres with a business partner. White beans, corn,
soybeans and wheat make up their crop rotation.
"We took over the farm from Ken's father, who hadn't expected
anyone in the family to farm, so the operation was not kept as current
as it could have been," says Sue.
An important step for the McLarty's farm business plans was attending
a Grow Your Farm Profits (GYFP) workshop in December 2009. After
the workshop, Sue and Ken developed an action plan for their farm,
reviewed it with the OSCIA workshop leader, and with an approved
plan were then eligible to apply for cost-share funding.
The McLartys identified three goals in their action plan to help
strengthen their farm business - update computer records, explore
opportunities for alternative energy on the farm and develop an
exit strategy for retirement.
Sue wanted to update the computer record with a new accounting
package. They applied for cost-share funding to have a trainer come
to the farm for one day to quickly teach Sue the ins and outs of
the program. "Our books are now aligned with the program our
accountant uses, and having the trainer come to the farm eliminated
a lot of stress and frustration in learning a new program."
Sue and Ken had been thinking about the advantages of green energy
for a number of years and now are building a free standing solar
panel on their farm. "It's created a new income stream for
the farm," says Sue. "We'll be paid more for the energy
we create and sell back to the grid, than what we pay for the energy
we use on the farm."
Succession planning can be a touchy subject for any farm family.
"The workshop really brought issues out into the open for us,
and started the dialogue with our family," says Sue. And while
they haven't done a lot with it, their "exit strategy"
is on the table and they have a goal to retire by 2019.
"Although we don't know if any of our three children
want to be involved, we want to keep the farm as a viable and profitable
business," say the McLartys.
The Ackroyds
Before
the GYFP workshop, Glen Ackroyd admits that farm business management
basically meant paying the bills and having some left over. "I
always knew there was more to it, but the lingo and time and ability
to look at the bigger picture was just not a possibility for a small
operation like mine," says Ackroyd, who owns and operates Ackroyd's
Honey in Tara, Ontario.
"I always thought I had to do it all," says Ackroyd. "The
program inspired me to me build a circle of professionals to help
me organize my business and then grow it in a logical direction."
For Ackroyd, success means having goals and prioritizing them.
Once he had gone through the workshop and developed an action plan
for his honey operation, he quickly identified three goals - documenting
the strengths and weaknesses of his business, attending a North
American industry-specific event and hiring a business specialist.
"Beekeepers have had serious challenges keeping their hives
alive for the past several years, and attending an event with industry
specialists from around the world with a single focus of 'keeping
the hives alive' was invaluable to my business," says Ackroyd.
He's also hired a specialist to advise him on where he should take
his business.
Through the process of building an action plan for his farm business,
Ackroyd realized his operation has created some high risk situations.
"The program helps us ask the 'what if' questions. Too much
of my business is in my head and not communicated to those around
me. I've opened up the communication channels between key parties
that will help take my business to the next level, including my
spouse, financial advisor, employees, customers and suppliers."
By stepping back and seeing his operation from a different perspective,
Ackroyd has diversified his business to ride out fluctuating prices
and focus on profitability. "To be successful, I know now we
must start with a goal," says Ackroyd. "This program helped
us build our own unique goals."
There's no question in Glen Ackroyd's mind that attending
the Grow Your Farm Profits workshop has helped his business and
his outlook.
The Halls
When
Kim and Chris Hall bought his father's apple farm in 1996, they
had a plan geared towards getting financing, but that's where the
plan's usefulness ended. Their 80-acre apple orchard near Brockville,
Ontario got a great boost when they took the Grow Your Farm Profits
workshop.
Aside from the content, the drive to and from the two-day workshop
gave them uninterrupted time to get a lot of issues on the table.
"We knew that our bookkeeping was our weak area going into
the workshop, but this course highlighted how we could be more profitable
by having up-to-date records that would also give us better knowledge
leading up to a decision," says Chris.
"I learned in black and white what our problem areas were
as well as our strengths," he says. Through role-playing and
team-based work, the Halls also got a glimpse into the situations
other participants were facing. They were reassured to know that
other producers, regardless of the type of business, had some of
the same problems. "Even though there were 20 different types
of farm operations in the class, the course was broad enough to
make it relevant for everyone."
Chris and Kim, along with their four children, operate a year-
round farm market with a scratch bakery. They also sell apples wholesale
to chain stores within a 100-mile radius of their farm. Business
has changed tremendously since Chris's grandfather began the family
apple business in 1947. The business model his father built has
completely changed, and Chris and Kim are always seeking new products
and ways to market their apple crop profitably. "We're not
finished the whole business planning process yet, but we have defined
timelines and attainable goals that are measurable and realistic,"
says Chris.
Ontario Farmers Urged to "Take a New
Approach"
"More
prosperous farmers across Ontario" - that's the goal of Dr.
Peter Vander Zaag, a potato producer from Alliston, Ontario. It's
a vision he believes can become a reality with the help of the newly
launched Agricultural Management Institute (AMI) and its mandate
to champion farm business management.
Vander Zaag is chair of the not-for-profit organization that stepped
out on its own as a stand-alone institute. Part of AMI's mandate
is to use Growing Forward funds to support projects to develop business
management and risk management tools, products, information, resources
and training for farm families, farm managers and farm business
advisors.
"The big-picture plan is that we have much to
do as far as helping Ontario farmers deal with the issues that are
out there," says Vander Zaag. "The main thing is creating
the awareness of the resources that are available and linking those
resources to farmers - whether it's a resource from OMAFRA or Missouri
State University or information about what they do with food labelling
in England - whatever it is, we can help farmers by connecting them."
Agri-Technology Commercialization Centre
Delivers Expertise and Connections to Growing Ag-based Businesses
If you have an entrepreneurial idea, are looking for startup capital
or an expanded network to grow your business, the new Agri-Technology
Commercialization Centre (ATCC) could be the best first call you
make. The centre serves as a single point of contact for entrepreneurs,
researchers and companies who are growing businesses in the cutting
edge fields of agriculture and biotechnology.
Located in the University of Guelph Research Park, ATCC was initially
formed in 2009 with three organizations - BioEnterprise Corporation,
Soy 20/20 and Ontario Agri-Food Technologies (OAFT). Each ATCC organization
offers specialized knowledge, market expertise and connections to
help entrepreneurs find capital and increase their profitability.
"I'm able to offer expertise and advice to expansion
companies, Dave is able to offer advice on the financing and start-up
side, and Gord is able to offer it at 30,000 feet. We thought it
was a logical fit to put us al together," says Jeff Schmalz,
President, Soy 20/20.
Opening Doors to New Markets
With a profitable business already in place, bio-based polymer
company Ecosynthetix needed new connections to expand its customer
base to international locations. In the fall of 2008, CEO John van
Leeuwen made an important first connection with the Agri-Technology
Commercialization Centre (ATCC), and specifically Ontario Agri-Food
Technologies (OAFT), an organization focused on business to business
market retention and expansion.
"Our work with ATCC and OAFT helped us gain three large customers
in three different countries," says van Leeuwen. "We were
able to access direct financial assistance and in-kind services
such as introductions to government agencies and speaking engagements
at a number of different conferences."
At OAFT, van Leeuwen was quickly connected with Gord Surgeoner
who introduced him to the Rapid Response to Business Opportunities
(RRBO) program after learning about inquiries for Ecosynthetix's
biolatex products from prospects in Brazil. van Leeuwen quickly
wrote a two-page business case and submitted it to ATCC. "Within
10 days we received approval and financial assistance to help us
send two people to Brazil to conduct business meetings and product
qualification trials," says van Leeuwen.
This quick turnaround successfully landed the Burlington- based
Ecosynthetix a large customer in Brazil, and identified opportunities
to deal with subsidiaries of the same company in other countries.
"The biggest benefit for our business of the RRBO program
was speed," says van Leeuwen. "The approval for money
was completed in time for us to respond to opportunities."
They applied again to the RRBO assistance program to help defray
the high costs of overseas travel to successfully pursue projects
in Indonesia and China.
"Without the RRBO program, it would have been significantly
more difficult to land customers in Brazil, Indonesia and China,"
says van Leeuwen. Based on this experience, he expects an ongoing
relationship with ATCC to evaluate where else they may be able to
help Ecosynthetix grow its business.
"We're all here in the same place and can work
things out for you very quickly. We are constantly passing off opportunities
to each other," says Gord Surgeoner, President, Ontario Agri-Food
Technologies.
Building Exposure to Drive New Business
It's still early days for Don Marentette's DM's Bio-Based Fluid
Supply Inc. His Bolton, Ontario company sells a broad range of biodegradable,
environmentally friendly lubricants to manufacturers and consumers,
produced from oils including soy and canola. He's looking into options
for manufacturing his line of biodegradable lubricants from Ontario-produced
oilseeds, and building sales and exposure for his distribution company.
Marentette first connected with Soy 20/20 a few years ago because
his products were made from soybean oil. Recently, he's developed
a working relationship with Soy 20/20 to help build business connections
and exposure for his bio-based lubricants.
"Agri-Technology Commercialization Centre (ATCC) has linked
me to various groups such as the University of Guelph and the Bio-Auto
Council, and arranged opportunities for me to make presentations
to groups including OMAFRA," says Marentette. And since exposure
and sales can be influenced by more than just business connections,
ATCC also helped secure media coverage for Marentette in the automotive
section of a national newspaper.
Marentette's connections with ATCC are ongoing, and have helped
move his business further along the development continuum. He knows
the funding required to take his manufacturing business to the next
level will be his biggest hurdle.
"ATCC has given me exposure, which in turn has generated new
business. However we still have a long way to go."
“In business, the way to maintain a leadership
position is to be more innovative, reduce costs and do things smarter.
That’s what we’re all about here,” says Dave Smardon,
President and CEO, Bioenterprise Corporation.
Marketing a New "Butter"
Thousands
of Canadians suffer from life-threatening nut allergies and consumers
are demanding more peanut-free products. Hilton Soy Foods is answering
the call, creating a soy product that tastes like peanut butter.
Their innovation made the Mahon family regional winners of the Premier's
Award for Agri-Food Innovation in 2008. When they needed a go-to-market
strategy for their soy butter, the Agri-Technology Commercialization
Centre (ATCC) and Soy 20/20 was a natural next step.
Mike Williams was contracted by Soy 20/20 to help the Staffa, Ontario
company develop and execute a pricing, marketing and retail business
building strategy initially for their Ontario business.
Williams helped the Mahons expand their distribution from a handful
of contacts to a significant number of key retail outlets. "This
is a great product so it wasn't hard for the Mahons to get going,
but the next step was getting contracts from major distributors,"
says Williams, a retail marketing expert.
He focused on making retail presentations, and using mini samplers
of soy butter as a merchandising tool. The Mahons created their
own marketing, but through Soy 20/20 and Williams they received
both expert advice and hands-on retail execution that helped them
increase their chances of success. "I consulted on the type
of in-store displays that are relevant to the retail industry, and
acted as their eyes and ears in Ontario to link them with the retail
trade," says Williams.
Soy 20/20 will lead some summer 2010 initiatives on the business
including an aggressive plan to make sure that strong retail distribution
is in place and subsequently to run a number of in-store sampling
events. It is believed that trial-inducing opportunities on this
excellent product will be key to its success - once consumers try
it, they will return to buy it again!
The ATCC is part of the Innovation and Science Suite under Growing
Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
Science Clusters
Greening Ontario's Highways
Vineland Research Project Offers Potential Win/Win for Horticulture
Industry and the Environment
Imagine
Ontario's highways lined with thriving, mature trees - removing
heavy metals from the air and producing oxygen. Today's reality
is that with the stressful environment along provincial highways,
the average life of planted trees is virtually zero, but Dr. Hannah
Mathers, Senior Research Fellow at the Vineland Research and Innovation
Centre (VRIC) is working to change that.
Two Toronto interchanges - Highway 401 and the Allen Expressway
as well as Highways 401 and 427 - were planted in April 2010 with
hardy trees grown at VRIC. The survival of the plants will be evaluated
throughout the next five years. The outcome could mean new methods
for landscaping Ontario's highways and deliver profoundly positive
effects on the horticultural industry for generations to come.
Traditionally, the bulk of the trees used along Ontario's highways
have been produced out west in a completely different climactic
zone. "To be able to source and advocate Ontario-grown material
will have a huge impact on survival," Mathers says." It's
also good to stimulate the industry, which is a major employer in
Ontario."
Greening Ontario's Highways is just one of the many research projects
being conducted at VRIC, an independent, not-for-profit, world-class
centre for horticultural science and innovation located in Ontario's
Niagara region. Through consultation with industry groups such as
Landscape Ontario, the team at Vineland identifies industry priorities
in the different commodity areas and sets about building research
programs to address those priorities. Outcomes are focused on the
growth of the entire horticulture industry.
The unique project - titled "Greening Ontario's Highways"
- is being conducted by VRIC, with support from the federal-provincial-territorial
initiative Growing Forward, Landscape Ontario and the Ministry of
Transportation, in an effort to increase the survival of trees planted
along highways.
Growing Forward is a commitment by Canada's federal,
provincial and territorial governments to support the development
of a profitable, innovative agri-food sector that is adept at managing
risk and responsive to market demands.
For more information on Growing Forward, please call 1-888-479-3931
or e-mail growingforward@ontario.ca
For
John Hordyk, improving food safety practices is a way of securing
markets for his apple and pear crops. He sells his crops through
two local packers, who in turn sell exclusively to the Loblaw grocery
chain. 
Alana
Zadow also knows that food safety starts at the farm level. So when
she learned about the Food Safety and Traceability Initiative, she
jumped at the chance to improve some aspects of the 35-acre sheep
farm she operates with her husband Paul in Eganville, Ontario. 
The
Ontario Asparagus Grower's Marketing Board is the oldest board in
the province. Ontario's 120 asparagus growers want to make sure
they have a certified food safety and traceability program that
meets the needs of their retail and food service customers as they
develop alternatives to the fresh market.
Allan
Beehler's first step to improving environmental practices on his
farm was easy. He opened his mailbox.
The
EFP is a risk assessment tool that encourages farmers to incorporate
best environmental practices in all their farming activities. They
develop an individualized plan of action to address potential concerns
identified through the EFP process, and may elect to have their
plan reviewed confidentially by a peer review committee. Farmers
with peer-reviewed plans that are deemed appropriate may be eligible
to apply for cost-share funding from the Canada-Ontario Farm Stewardship
Program (COFSP). Funding helps support the adoption of best management
practices that are new to the farm business, and contribute to water
and air quality, improved soil productivity, enhanced wildlife habitat
or result in energy conservation.
Although
Ron Downey was involved in developing the national biosecurity standard
for poultry operations in Canada - and has implemented a comprehensive
program at his family's King Cole Ducks in Aurora, Ontario - he
knows biosecurity is a tough sell to non-regulated producers and
backyard enthusiasts. 
From
Bill Woods' perspective, the appeal of biosecurity measures for
non supply managed operations also comes down to economics. Woods
is a broiler producer from Belwood, Ontario, past chair of the Chicken
Farmers of Ontario and was an active participant on the avian biosecurity
advisory council in the early days of developing biosecurity standards.
Sue
and Ken McLarty are like many other baby boomer farmers. Retirement
is coming closer, and their 20-something kids are firmly on the
fence about whether they want to carry on the farm's family tradition.
Before
the GYFP workshop, Glen Ackroyd admits that farm business management
basically meant paying the bills and having some left over. "I
always knew there was more to it, but the lingo and time and ability
to look at the bigger picture was just not a possibility for a small
operation like mine," says Ackroyd, who owns and operates Ackroyd's
Honey in Tara, Ontario. 
When
Kim and Chris Hall bought his father's apple farm in 1996, they
had a plan geared towards getting financing, but that's where the
plan's usefulness ended. Their 80-acre apple orchard near Brockville,
Ontario got a great boost when they took the Grow Your Farm Profits
workshop. 
"More
prosperous farmers across Ontario" - that's the goal of Dr.
Peter Vander Zaag, a potato producer from Alliston, Ontario. It's
a vision he believes can become a reality with the help of the newly
launched Agricultural Management Institute (AMI) and its mandate
to champion farm business management. 
Thousands
of Canadians suffer from life-threatening nut allergies and consumers
are demanding more peanut-free products. Hilton Soy Foods is answering
the call, creating a soy product that tastes like peanut butter.
Their innovation made the Mahon family regional winners of the Premier's
Award for Agri-Food Innovation in 2008. When they needed a go-to-market
strategy for their soy butter, the Agri-Technology Commercialization
Centre (ATCC) and Soy 20/20 was a natural next step. 
Imagine
Ontario's highways lined with thriving, mature trees - removing
heavy metals from the air and producing oxygen. Today's reality
is that with the stressful environment along provincial highways,
the average life of planted trees is virtually zero, but Dr. Hannah
Mathers, Senior Research Fellow at the Vineland Research and Innovation
Centre (VRIC) is working to change that.