Category Archives: About GHSCIA

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NEW: “Crop Year 2013″ added to the Photo Albums at www.ghscia.com

Farmers like to take pictures. The “Farm Scene” pages are popular in the Ontario Farmer newspaper, and many of our more tech-savvy producers are sharing cropping pictures of the 2013 planting season on Twitter.

Here’s your chance to share them with your fellow Golden Horseshoe members!

A new “Photo Album” page has been added to our website, “Crop Year 2013″. If you have photos you want to share, please email them along with caption details to goldenhorseshoe.scia@rogers.com with the subject line, “Crop Year 2013″. Submission implies permission to use the photos on the website and/or in the newsletter, as space permits.

Three photos from this week are now available on this new page. One from Peel, in the northern most end of our region, with two from Norfolk in our far south. To check them out, click here.

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OSCIA members may want to consider email subscription to stay up to date

Technology developments and advancements continue to change the way we can find and access information. If you are a regular visitor to our http://www.ghscia.com website, you may want to think about subscribing to our handy subscription service.

It’s easy to register:

  1. On any page of our website you will see a box called “Email Subscription” in the upper right-hand corner. Enter your email address in the text box provided and hit “follow”.
  2. You will receive an automatic email from the system. Please reply to the email as per the instructions to confirm your subscription and complete the process.
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GHSCIA members recognized with OSCIA 2012 Awards

Members of our Golden Horseshoe Soil and Crop Improvement Association were named as recipients of Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) Awards for 2012.

Jake & Janet Ringelberg – OSCIA Soil and Water Conservation Farm Award

  • This award is provided to farmers with a commitment to good soil management on their farms. These practices include controlling soil erosion, maintaining crop productivity and protecting water resources.

Andrew Spoelstra – OSCIA Recognition Certificates

  • This award is to acknowledge the contribution of the recipient to the advancement of crop production.

Congratulations to each Jake, Janet and Andrew on these special recognitions.

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Complete details on all eight GHSCIA county annual meetings

County meeting AGM agendas have now been finalized for all eight counties in our Golden Horseshoe region. Be sure to review the agenda and mark the date on your calendar for your local AGM.

NOTE: On Thurs. Jan. 17 one of the FarmSmart Conference guest speakers is making a sneak-peek preview appearance at each the Halton (morning) and Brant (afternoon) meetings. Members from other counties are invited to attend these meetings. Please observe any pre-registration requires as requested by the counties for meals.

WED. JAN. 16 – Wentworth SCIA AGM at the Ancaster Fairgrounds, 630 Trinity Road, Ancaster.  Coffee & Registration: 9 am, program begins at 9:45 am. Guest panel includes representatives from Pearson Dunn Insurance, The Cooperators General Insurance Company and Wabisa Mutual Insurance Company. Hot lunch at noon sponsored by the Vansickle family of Normelean Farms. Click Wentworth SCIA AGM 2013 for a printable copy of the program agenda. For information: Michelle Spoelstra at 905-692-5751 or royalea@pathcom.com.

THURS. JAN. 17 – Halton SCIA AGM at Hillcrest United Church, 8958 Trafalgar Road, Georgetown, 9:30 am. Feature speaker (morning): Jack Rabin, Associate Director of Farm Programs, Rutgers University, New Jersey on “The Future of the mid-sized family farm.” The Ontario Beekeepers’ Association Technology Transfer Team will be making a presentation, “Is farming affecting the Ontario bee population?” Click Halton SCIA AGM 2013 for a downloadable printable agenda PDF. Cost: $30 per person, includes a hot lunch and 2013 Halton SCIA membership. For information: Cecil Patterson, Halton SCIA secretary at 905-875-0167 or cpatterson8@sympatico.ca

THURS. JAN. 17 – Brant SCIA AGM at the South Dumfries Community Centre Banquet Hall, 7 Gaukel Drive, St. George. Registration starts at 8:30 am, program begins at 9 am. Feature speaker (afternoon): Jack Rabin from Rutgers University on the Future of Mid-Sized Farms & Wildlife Crop Damage. Click Brant SCIA AGM 2013 for a printable PDF of the AGM flyer. Click here to access an online tool allowing you to automatically add this event to your online calendar. All welcome. OSCIA members from outside Brant who wish to attend are asked to pre-register. Click here for online registration. For information, registration or trade show space inquiries: Tricia Henderson at 519-448-1000 or tshenderson00@gmail.com.

TUES. JAN. 22 – Haldimand, Niagara North & Niagara South SCIA AGMat the Brethren of Christ Church, 10641 Highway 3 West, Port Colborne. Registration at 9 am, program starts at 9:30 am. Featuring presentations by guest speakers Horst Bohner, OMAFRA: How to do tillage right; and Steve Kell of Parrish & Heimbecker with a 2013 Market Outlook. Please note new location for 2013.  Lunch: $10 per person. Click Niagara & Haldimand AGM 2013 to view AGM agenda. To reserve your meal please call or email one of the following (Reservation deadline: January 15, 2013): Haldimand: Dianne Booker at cwdibooker@gmail.com or 905-899-3748; Niagara North: John Sikkens at 1bigpigfamily@gmail.com or 905-386-6507); or Niagara South: Lisa Haegens at lisakylehaegens@sympatico.ca or 905-788-2956

WED. JAN. 30 – Peel SCIA AGM at the Brampton Fairgrounds, 12942 Heart Lake Road (between Old School and Mayfield Roads), 10 am to 3 pm. Featured Speakers: Adam Hayes, OMAFRA on “Cover Crops”; Dave Reid, Lynn Bishop and Karen Hutchinson, ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services). Lunch – $15, plus membership – $30. All welcome. Click Peel SCIA AGM 2013 for a downloadable meeting notice. RSVP to by January 25 2013 to Abbie Brander at abbiebrander@yahoo.ca or Ed Russell at 905-843-2076. If you are unavailable to attend, members may send their $30 membership renewal to Abbie Brander, 1318 17th sideroad Moffat, ON L0P 1J0. Cheque should be made payable to “Peel Soil and Crop Improvement Association”.

WED. FEB. 6 – Norfolk SCIA AGM at the Delhi District German Home, 443 James Street, Delhi, 3 pm. Guest speaker: Steve Peters, Executive Director of the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors, formerly an Ontario Agriculture minister and Speaker of the House, Queen’s Park. Agenda also includes business meeting, guest speakers on sub-terrain irrigation and new soil testing methods, a social hour, trade show and a door prize draw for a  BlackBerry PlayBook. Tickets: $30 per person available from any of the Norfolk SCIA Directors. For information: Frank Van De Slyke at 519-842-3329 or vandeslyke@kwic.com.