ISSUE # 138 – November 2017
This update is designed to provide you with concise, up to date agricultural business information with links to where you can find the details.
This Issue:
- Business Strategy / Business Planning
- Financial Management
- Human Resources
- Marketing
- Production Management
- Sustainability Tools and Resources
- Conferences, Workshops and Seminars
Business Strategy / Business Planning
Manure and Biosolids Management Program Launched
A new funding program being delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) aims to improve soil health through investments in nutrient application equipment. With 60 per cent cost-share support, up to a maximum of $25,000 per business, this is a significant opportunity for Ontario’s nutrient applicators.
Financial Management
Product and Rate List
Agricultural Credit Corporation
2018-2019 Advance Payments Program & 2018 Commodity Loan Program
Tax Support for Farming
The Government supports family farming businesses in their succession planning through the tax system. In particular, the Income Tax Act has a number of rules that help farming businesses to accumulate capital for retirement and facilitate the intergenerational transfer of property used in a farming business.
In response to concerns raised by stakeholders during the consultation:
- The Government will not be moving forward with measures that would limit access to the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption.
- The Government will not be moving forward with measures relating to the conversion of income into capital gains.
In addition, the proposed measures related to income sprinkling will be simplified with the aim of providing greater certainty for family members who contribute to a family business, including a family farm.
Human Resources
It’s Easy to File Your Accessibility Compliance Report
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was passed in 2005, with the goal of making Ontario accessible by 2025.
Public Sector Organizations with 1 or more employees and Businesses or Non Profits with 20 or more employees are legally required to file a 2017 accessibility compliance report by December 31, 2017.
The compliance report is a series of yes or no questions. You are asked to download a quick and easy accessibility compliance reporting form at ontario.ca/AccessibilityReport.
We can help
There are additional resources to assist organizations in meeting Ontario’s accessibility laws. For a complete list of your requirements, tools, resources and templates, visit ontario.ca/accessibility. Organizations can find help by phone or email, or login to a series of online Q&A sessions.
CTEAM (Canadian Total Excellence in Agricultural Management)
CTEAM (Canadian Total Excellence in Agricultural Management) is Canada’s only national Executive Management course for farm managers, and continues to gain popularity. The program takes place in four sessions over 16 months.
The next course will start in December 2017 in Abbottsford BC. More information is available on the AME website www.agrifoodtraining.com.
Social Media Interns
Partners are requested to act as Social Media Interns to Tweet and Post before the event and live at #FarmSmart18
Submit an application that includes your handles on Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms, number of followers, and 150 words how you will promote FarmSmart.
10 Applicants (5 students) will be accepted and given FREE admission to FarmSmart at Univ. of Guelph on Jan 20, 2018.
Send to: farmsmartadm@gmail.com by Dec 15, 2017
For more info on the event visit FarmSmartConference.com
Marketing
2017 Partners in Production Program
The Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network (GBFMN) is now accepting applications from farmers in and around Ontario’s Greenbelt for the 2017 Partners in Production Program. The Program provides funding for farmers to invest in equipment to bring new or improved products to market. The GBFMN offers cost-sharing for up to 50% of the cost of the project, to a limit of $2,250 per farm. A $35,000 investment from the Greenbelt Fund, in partnership with the Government of Ontario through the Local Food Investment Fund, made the Project possible and will support between 16-20 farms. The GBFMN program builds on the success of the 2016 Production Opportunities program, which assisted 32 farmers in increasing capacity and launching new products.
World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates
USDA Economic Research Service
- This month’s 2017/18 U.S. corn outlook is for larger production, increased feed and residual use and exports, and greater ending stocks.
- Soybean production is forecast at 4,425 million bushels, down 5 million due to a fractionally lower yield.
- Projected U.S. 2017/18 ending wheat stocks are lowered 25 million bushels due to increased exports.
Production Managment
Soil Health in Ontario
New! OMAFRA has just released ‘New Horizons: Ontario’s Draft Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy’ for public input. Click here to access the document and for more information.
Soil is a vital natural resource and the foundation of agricultural production. The many benefits of a healthy soil are important – underpinning the long-term sustainability of the farm operation, our agri-food sector and our environment.
Sustainability Tools and Resources
Provision Coalition
Sustainability Management Tools
Designed for food and beverage manufacturers to assess, monitor and improve your sustainability performance.
- Self Assessment
- Enviromental Benchmarking
- Food Loss + Waste Reduction Tookit
- Sustainability Reporting Toolkit
- KPI Scorecard
- Technical Checklist
BLOOM
Bring together public and private sector stakeholders to achieve sustainable outcomes that manage risk and deliver economic, environmental and social benefit.
Conferences, Workshops and Seminars
| OMAFRA Dateline:
OMAFRA Dateline is an online resource for use by interested individuals and organizations across Ontario. Events may be hosted by OMAFRA or other groups. The events posted on this site are aimed at sharing information of interest to agriculture and regional economic development clients. Please check the calendar regularly for upcoming events, workshops, conferences and meetings. |
| Growing Forward 2 Educational Workshops
Register on-line for Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) and Growing Your Farm Profits (GYFP) workshops by clicking on the link below to find dates and locations that suit you. |
Farm Transition Advisor Meeting
November 21, 2017
Ottawa, Ontario
9:00am – 4:30pm
A group of farm transition advisors met in Ottawa in March 2017 to start a discussion on how we can best meet industry needs when it comes to farm transfer and succession. The meeting resulted in 14 Key Result Areas (KRAs), which have been categorized into 4 Priority Action Areas.
Now, we are looking for input, advice and guidance from the larger advisory community to reflect on this preliminary thinking to see how we can improve the farm transition process and planning in Canada.
As farm advisors, working directly with the farming community, your input is vital.
Please join us as we present our findings and look to ways to ensure advisors and farmers have the resources they need to succeed.
For any questions regarding the Farm Transition Advisors Focus Group, please contact:
Heather Watson
Executive Director, Farm Management Canada
Investing in Farm Machinery and Equipment Course
The major objective is to give farmers the tools needed to construct and implement the optimum machinery management strategy for their farms, based on sound management decisions. A machinery management strategy includes how much equipment to have, how to choose the most favorable equipment option, whether it is owned and financed or leased, rented, and for how long it is held.
This program is planned as a hands on workshop. Participants will receive a spread sheet to support their ongoing investment decisions.
Locations:
Ottawa, ON – November 21, 2017 (mini course) FREE
Guelph, ON – March 5-6, 2018
For more information please visit: http://www.agrifoodtraining.com/investing-in-machinery-and-equipment-course
2017 AgEx Conference
AgEx Conference will be held in Ottawa!
Farming For Our Future: Canada’s 150th
November 21-23, 2017!
For a limited time, BUY ONE GET ONE 50% OFF!
Bring a friend, colleague, or client at half the price!
Select an “Early Bird – BOGO” Ticket to buy two registrations (one at 50% off).
This offer is available as an early bird incentive, so don’t delay!
In addition to expert plenary speakers, AgEx offers a number of unique, interactive features:
* The Great Debate
* Bridging the Gap: Young Farmers’ Bear Pit & Young at Heart Forum
* Discussion Panel: Farmers vs Industry vs Government
* National Farm Business Management Roundtable
* Farm Management Initiatives Showcase
* Concurrent Workshops
More information: http://www.fmc-gac.com/content/agricultural-excellence-conference
CAFA presents: Focus on Farm Women – Practical Tools and Information
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Arden Park Inn, Stratford, ON
Agenda:
- Demystifying Financial Literacy
- How to Sell the Family Farm
- Legal Terminology
- Who has Your Power of Attorney & When do You Give it to Them?
- Advancing Wellness & Resilience on the Farm
- Gender Influences
- Don’t See Your Banker Without This
- What You Need to Know About Health Care Decision-Making in Ontario
- Tax Considerations for Farmers
- The “Everchanging Need” for Life Insurance in Farm Business Planning and Farm Continuation Planning
New Business Opportunities Workshops
New Business Opportunities Workshops – In partnership with Farm and Food Care, AMI is hosting two, one-day sessions for producers on topics focused on business planning, communicating with the public, planning for new crops and more. (December 6th North Grenville, December 7thBethany). Registration is free through eventbrite: http://takeanewapproach.ca/calendar/
Bridging the Gap: Succession & Transition Planning Workshop for Farm Families!
Is your family farm in a state of transition? Are you looking to start the succession conversation?
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