Farming can be a uniquely stressful situation, and many farmers don’t know where to turn when they are experiencing workplace, financial, or family stress.
Ontario is now offering a new service that caters to the unique concerns of farmers.
Read on for more information about Ontario’s Farmer Wellness Initiative, as well as for other farmer-centric mental health resources.
It’s never too soon or too late to ask for help.
Continue reading “Free Access to Mental Health Counselling for Farmers”If you employ Temporary Foreign Workers in your greenhouse this post is for you! Read on for important information and resources.
Firstly, OMAFRA has established a voluntary registry to distribute important COVID-19 information to employers. You can register here to get direct updates regarding Temporary Foreign Worker and COVID-19 issues to your email inbox.
Continue reading “COVID-19 Information for Employers”This guest blog post was written by Dr. Rita Sterne, Project Manager with the Greenhouse Technology Network. Read on for important information about this funding opportunity.
Success for a greenhouse business comes from many things including balancing systems, constant vigilance, and the use of technologies across complex production activities. From tools, equipment, and machines, to methods, systems, and techniques, new and improved technologies must help growers run a profitable businesses in a world where there are increasing demands from society, environment, and economy.
Technological advancements often develop in response to a challenge, but research and development is a costly undertaking for many small and medium sized businesses and some persistent challenges require research expertise that is hard to access. This is where the Greenhouse Technology Network can help!
The need for new and improved technologies is the driver behind the Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN), a consortium of three research-focused institutions. GTN members leverage their research expertise in greenhouse technologies with greenhouse and related technology businesses to help grow innovation in Ontario’s greenhouse industry.
Powered by funding from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, GTN members help businesses de-risk innovation activities and help new and improved technologies get to greenhouse growers faster where they will help business thrive and grow.
Continue reading “Funding Opportunity: The Greenhouse Technology Network”The next application intake for cost-share funding under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) will be November 15 to December 6, 2021. This is good timing if you are looking to implement improvements in your greenhouse for the 2022 season.
Ontario continues to make tremendous progress in its vaccine rollout. Keeping your greenhouse safe during reopening is a priority for the sector, and having a vaccinated workforce is a key measure in this effort. Receiving a vaccine is a voluntary and personal choice: read on for resources to enable your greenhouse staff to make informed decisions.
Continue reading “Safely transitioning your greenhouse operation into Step 3”
It will soon be that time of year again, when Japanese beetle adults begin to fly!
However, the cooler spring means pupation may take longer. So what does that mean for timing of control products?
This post answers those questions and provides current infographics for JB control for those exporting to non-JB areas.
Continue reading “Japanese Beetle Control: 2021 Considerations”
This post was contributed to by Drs. Sarah Jandricic, Andrew C. Wylie and Chevonne Dayboll.
Summer is getting underway, and so too are garden mums! Although generally an easy crop, there several tweaks you can make to help save headaches AND money.
This post has updated information to help you optimize your irrigation, fertilizer and pest management programs in garden mums.
Hit your exact ship size on your ship date using Graphical Tracking
Track and even out the growth of your mums using a graphical tracking tool with a few easy steps:
Continue reading “Garden Mums – 2021 Production and Protection Tips”
As I mentioned in my last post, it’s incredible how fast the sector is evolving when it comes to Covid-19 and mitigating its effects in agriculture.
OMAFRA is pleased to announce the new Agri-Tech Innovation Program, with $22M in funding to help farms adopt innovative technologies that protect workers against Covid-19.
To learn more about this program, see the details below for the information webinar on Thursday at 9 am.
Continue reading “New Covid-19 Funding Alert! Agri-tech Innovation Program webinar on May 20th”
With information on Covid-19 changing over time, and funding programs evolving to keep up with grower needs, it can be hard to keep track of what’s happening week-to-week regarding Covid and agriculture.
To help deliver up-to-date information to stakeholders, OMAFRA will be delivering a COVID-19 OMAFRA Monthly Webinar Series.
The series will be an opportunity to provide information, address concerns and promote tools and resources offered by OMAFRA. The first webinar in the series is TOMORROW (May 18th) at noon, and will cover changes to the Enhanced Agri-Food Workplace Protection Program. Be sure to keep reading for how to access it!
Continue reading “Confused About Covid Programing? Introducing OMAFRA’s COVID-19 Webinar Series!”
Are you aware Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) offers consulting to look at your farm’s safety practices and COVID-19 risks? Ontario is providing funding for up to $2000 in these services until March 31st. To take advantage of this program before it ends, check out the links provided below!
Continue reading “Funding Available for Farm COVID Safety Assessment and Training Until March 31st!”
