Farm Credit Canada Learning Tour

"Let's talk about the effects of inflation"

October 26 to 29, 2009
Locations listed below

Presented by Dr. Maurice Doyon.

Today's turbulent economy has serious repercussions on Canada's business sectors, especially in agri-food and agribusiness. This session looks at the big picture - what variables are at work and how will they affect agriculture now and in the years to come.

We'll explore diverse factors including the impact of the Chinese markets, grain versus ethanol production, demands on natural resources, and how Canadian consumers are reacting to these variables. Learn about inflation, deflation and stagflation, what's happening now, and what will happen in the future.

Attend a tour near you:

Monday, October 26
Vernon
10 a.m. - noon
The Prestige Hotel & Conference Centre

Salmon Arm
7 - 9 p.m.
The Prestige Harbourfront Resort & Convention Centre

Tuesday, October 27
Kamloops
10 a.m. - noon
Executive Inn

Wednesday, October 28
Williams Lake
10 a.m. - noon
Pioneer Complex

Quesnel
7 - 9 p.m.
Best Western Tower Inn

Thursday, October 29
Prince George
1 - 3 p.m.
Four Points by Sheraton Prince George

If you have any questions about FCC Learning Tours or other events, contact Tracy Seida at 306-780-7506 or tracy.seida@fcc-fac.ca


To register for an FCC Learning event, visit www.fcc.ca/learning

Canadian Forest Communities Conference is Cancelled

The Forest Communities Program and its partners regret to announce that the Canadian Forest Communities Conference 2009: Trends and Opportunities, planned for Nanaimo, BC in early November, has been cancelled.

The Non-Timber Resources Forum is proceeding as planned on Friday, November 6, 2009.

Food Safety Workshops for Small Scale Processors

Food Safety Planning Workshops - Fall 2009

Thursday, October 8 - Prince George; Fort St. John (video conference)

Thursday, October 15 - Courtenay

Thursday, October 29 - Creston

Friday, November 6 - Vernon

Friday, November 13 - 100-Mile House

Friday, November 20 - Burnaby

Thursday, November 26th - Victoria

Friday, November 27 - Nanaimo; Nelson (video conference)

Thursday, December 3 - Abbotsford

Friday, December 11 - Kamloops

Visit www.ssfpa.net/foodsafety for more information on the workshops and registration

All food processors are welcome to attend the introductory food safety workshops to learn basic food safety for food manufacturing using food safety systems such as GMPs and HACCP. The sessions will include the latest information on employee hygiene and practices plus hands-on demonstrations including measuring and recording temperatures, and testing sanitizer solutions strengths. These workshops are a valuable education tool (if a company has participated in a workshop before, this might be a good experience for other employees). What's more, they offer an opportunity to network and access information that can help enhance the bottom line in these challenging economic times.

Workshops begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m.

Cost $20, includes lunch and coffee breaks (includes GST).

Each Company participating will receive a FREE VWR TraceableR Waterproof Food Thermometer and a Record of Participation.

BC Wood Residue Conference

8th Biennial Wood Residue Conference
October 28 - 30, 2009
Richmond, BC

Educational and informative sessions including:

1. The Fibre Market: Supply and Demand
2. Logging Residuals: From Landing to End-Use
3. Legislation and Tenure: Who’s Fibre is it Anyway?
4. Sourcing Capital in a Down Market
5. The Truth About Carbon Credits

For more information please contact Christina Ferreira, Christina@forestnet.com

Or visit: www.forestnet.com/rwc/index.htm

Blueberry Disease Alert: Godronia Canker

From Mark Sweeney, BCMAL:
"Godronia has become a devastating problem on many 'Duke' fields particularly in the Pitt Meadows area. Severe dieback has been going on over several years. Many of these fields have been misdiagnosed as frost/winter damage or bacterial blight. Cankers are most easily seen on new wood in spring – dead buds encircled by red lesions (see photo above), clearly visible fungal fruiting bodies. Most active infection period seems to be during the early fall, a time when fungicide use for other diseases is not typically done. Preliminary trials have shown that fruit rot fungicides (Bravo, Captan, Pristine) can reduce the number of fall infections. It would be advisable in fields affected with Godronia to prune out and remove as much inoculum as possible before fall rains and, when the latest summer dry spell ends, apply 2 or more fungicides through September and early October. The key is to protect the current season’s growth from the spore release and infection that will invariably come with the fall rains. Siva Sabaratnam, BCMAL plant pathologist, is studying this disease and, hopefully, there will be more information coming."

For more information email:

Siva Sabaratnam, siva.sabaratnam@gov.bc.ca

or

Mark Sweeney, Mark.Sweeney@gems6.gov.bc.ca

2009 GrowCanada Conference

December 1 - 3, 2009
Calgary, Alberta

The theme of this year’s conference is sustainability, stewardship and innovation. The future of Canada relies on the success of agriculture and its supporting foundation of sustainability, stewardship and innovation.

Through innovation and new technologies global agriculture is being transformed. Innovation is providing farmers with additional tools to build upon their commitment to sustainability and stewardship. Agriculture is continuing to evolve to address today’s challenges and to minimize agriculture’s footprint on the environment. From increasing yields, to using less water, to ensuring crops are disease and drought resistant, agriculture is providing sustainable benefits to Canadians, the environment and the overall Canadian economy. In order to be truly successful, agriculture, government and industry must work together to create an innovative, prosperous, sustainable agriculture sector to benefit the millions of consumers and the environment in which we live. This year’s conference will remind us that our future prosperity depends on the entire agricultural value chain working together to establish Canada as a world leader in developing new products and new solutions to challenges in the production of food, energy, and industrial products; both here in Canada and around the world.

For more information visit: www.growcanadaconference.ca/2009/about.php

Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods Conference

October 21 - 22, 2009
London, United Kingdom

This two day conference will focus on legislation and legal issues, techonology and new developments, marketing and the consumer, developments with established products and diseases, clinical trials, and the future of nutraceuticals and functional foods.

For more information email: amalick@smi-online.co.uk

Association for Temperate Agroforestry Volunteers Needed

AFTA is seeking volunteers for the following:

1. President-elect of the AFTA board: If you are interested in please email Mike Jacobson (mgj2@psu.edu)

2. Editor for the Temperate Agroforester newsletter. If you are interested please contact Lisa Zabek (lmzabek@telus.net) or Mike Jacobson (mgj2@psu.edu)

Pest Alert for Cherry, Blueberry and Raspberry producers

New Pest Alert: Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii), potential economic pest for all Pacific Northwest berry crops.

It has been identified in the lower mainland of BC.

Males have a spot on the wing and females have rasp-like ovipositors. This species attacks firm fruit (unlike other vinegar flies).
www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/drosophila_suzukii.html

Given the present confirmed distribution of the pest in the US, it's too late to consider quarantine tactics.

Monitoring technique:

1. Use a half-litre glass 'mason-type' jar. Drill 4-8 standard sized nail holes in the lid.

2. In it put the following mixture:
* 1 package yeast (12 ml)
* 20 ml sugar
* 350 ml water

3. Let the trap sit in the field (in more shady areas) for 24 hours. You'll probably catch a variety of fruit fly species. The distinctive spot on the SWD's male wing is pretty diagnostic. Since only the males have the spot, estimate a 50/50 male to female ratio when estimating population size.

For more information please contact Canadian Food Inspection Agency or BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands reps.

Natural Products Northwest 2009

October 16-18, 2009
Seattle, Washington

This festive trade show boasts international exhibitors as well as an informative educational conference providing you with the latest information on new products, health, industry legislation, business success and more.

For more information please visit: www.nnfa-northwest.com

Ag Sector Information Sessions

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, ARDCorp, the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, the Investment Agriculture Foundation and the Small Scale Food Processors Association will offer a series of free presentations about the latest programs and services for environmental farm planning, marketing, innovation, food safety and more. They will also be available to answer questions at information kiosks.

EVENT DETAILS

• Delta - Delta Town & Country Inn, Hwy 17 at Hwy 99, October 6, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
• Duncan - Travelodge Silver Bridge Inn, 140 Trans Canada Hwy, October 7, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
• Kelowna - Coast Capri Hotel, 1171 Harvey Ave, October 9, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

PRESENTATIONS

Environmental Farm Plans and Beneficial Management Practices - this program encourages producers to develop environmental farm plans and to implement beneficial management practices.

Agri-Business Management - support for enhanced farm business management.

Enterprise Traceability Program - support for facility based traceability systems across the primary and secondary agri-food production chains.

Food Safety (producer) - support to implement on-farm food safety programs.

Food Safety (processor) - support for processors to implement GMP and/or HACCP-based food safety systems.

Agri-Innovation - programs available to increase competitiveness across the sector.

Agri-Flexibility - sector investments to promote environmental sustainability and value chain innovation and to reduce production costs.

Investment Agriculture Foundation - wide range of programming focused on helping industry seize opportunities, respond to emerging issues and pilot new solutions to new and ongoing issues.

AgriMarketing, Agriculture Trade Services and Brand Canada - range of programs and services to support agrifood and seafood companies grow their export capacity and capture new markets.

Shop the Wild Public Market, Nanaimo - November 5

Shop the Wild Public Market
Thursday, November 5, 2009, 4 - 9 pm
Vancouver Island Conference Centre - New Castle Lobby

Free Admission

'Shop the Wild' offers a unique opportunity for producers to showcase their goods and services and educate consumers on the benefits of going wild.

For more information visit: buybcwild.com/shop-wild-public-market-nov-5th-nanaimo-bc

Funding Workshop with Investment Agriculture Foundation

Join the Investment Agriculture Foundation this October for an afternoon funding workshop.

These free workshops will take place following Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Innovation and Competitiveness Programming information sessions in Delta, Duncan and Kelowna on October 6, 7 and 9, 2009. Topics will include writing a high-quality application for funding, the approval process and what to expect after your project has been approved.

Why attend this workshop?

- Find out about the different funding programs IAF administers

- Hear about successful IAF-funded projects

- Learn tips from our staff on how to give your project the best chance of success, from the application to approval and beyond

This workshop is ideal for potential Foundation applicants (such as industry associations, local government, First Nations communities, academic institutions and others) and those who work with and advise our clients. If you are unsure if this workshop is for you, please contact Coreen Moroziuk at cmoroziuk@iafbc.ca.

Business of Climate Change Conference

September 29, 2009
Toronto

Businesses all over the world are looking to transition to a low carbon economy in order to manage increasing regulatory, investor, physical and reputational risks. Unlike previous recessions where the environment was put on the back burner, governments around the globe are forging ahead with green stimulus investments and carbon constraining legislation.

At this year's conference you'll hear from public policy experts on the probable domestic and international regulatory context, short and medium term scenarios and implications for Canadian business. Learn from leading corporate executives about their strategies, successes and challenges in analyzing climate change across business units, reducing risks, increasing value and realizing positive bottom line results.

For more information, visit the conference website.

World Congress of Agroforestry Presentations Available

Many of the presentations from the recently completed Second World Congress of Agroforestry in Nairobi, Kenya, are available online from the Congress website:

Presentation summaries and some slide show graphics are available in the detailed program section arranged by day of the presentation.

Interesting features and information are also highlighted in many postings on the Congress's official blog site.

Investment Agriculture Foundation Seeks Nominations for Innovation Award

The Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC is now accepting nominations for the 2010 Award of Excellence for Innovation in Agriculture and Agri-Food. This award celebrates innovative ideas, products, projects or programs generated by the agriculture, agri-food and bioproducts sector that deliver economic, environmental or social benefits to British Columbia.

Nominations close November 30, 2009. More information and nomination forms are available at www.iafbc.ca/about_us/awards.htm

Poplar & Willow Conference: Registration and Program Information

Poplar and Willow Conference: Challenge & Change is being held September 28th to 30th, 2009. This event is hosted by the AAFC Agroforestry Division in partnership with the Poplar Council of Canada.

Registration Form, Preliminary Technical Session Program and Field Tour Program are now available for the conference.

The early registration deadline is September 9th, 2009. The Poplar and Willow technical sessions will be held on September 28th and 30th at the Regina Inn in Regina, Saskatchewan. The field tour will be held on September 29th in Indian Head, Saskatchewan. Transportation to Indian Head will be provided.

Upcomming Gaia College Programs

The Organic Master Gardener Course - by far the most popular Gaia College course - students have called it "life changing". ISA Certified Arborists earn 36 CECs!
www.gaiacollege.ca/gardener

Now offered in 10 locations
- Burnaby
- Maple Ridge
- Nanaimo
- Parksville
- Port Alberni
- Stony Plain, AB
- Surrey
- Tofino
- Tsawwassen
- Victoria

The Certificate in Ecological Landscape Design - ever more popular, and now fully integrated into the other 3 courses that make up the Diploma in Organic Land Care to minimize repetition of curriculum. ISA Certified Arborists earn 3.5 CECs!
www.gaiacollege.ca/design

Offered in
- Burnaby
- Victoria

3-Day Intensive Organic Soil Management for Landscape Professionals - for those who don't have the time to take the Organic Master Gardener course. Ideal for staff training - there is no better (and cheaper!) opportunity to bring all your staff to the same level of education. Due to its compact format we can take this course on the road - please contact us if this is of interest to you. ISA Certified Arborists earn 21 CECs!
www.gaiacollege.ca/soil

Offered in
- Burnaby
- Victoria

1-Day Intensive Organic Turf Management for Professionals - for those with a narrower focus and who don't have the time to take any of the other courses. Many of our students start with this, and then become inspired to learn more. Whatever works for you is fine with us. Also ideal for staff training - and yes, we can take this course on the road as well. ISA Certified Arborists earn 3.5 CECs!
www.gaiacollege.ca/turf

Offered in
- Burnaby
- Victoria

Rounding out the Diploma in Organic Land Care the following courses start again in the Spring of 2010

- Growing Food in the City http://www.gaiacollege.ca/food

- Plant Knowledge for Organic Gardeners www.gaiacollege.ca/plants

Agroforestry Workshop Series Survey of Community Needs

Resources North Association, FORREX and the University of Northern BC are co-hosting a series of workshops on bioenergy and agroforestry funded by the Western Economic Diversification Canada Mountain Pine Beetle program. The workshops will be held in Prince George, Vanderhoof/Fort St. James and Burns Lake. The purpose of the workshops is to assist First Nations and rural communities learn about opportunities in biomass energy and agroforestry. Travel, accommodations and meals will be covered for participants attending the workshops.

Your responses to a survey will be used to assist the organizers to ensure all participants get as much relevant information from the workshops as possible.

If you are a community member from Prince George, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James or Burns Lake, please participate in this survey at Survey Monkey.