OFA was pleased to host their third annual Research Day virtual event on March 31, 2023.
This event was to allow members to learn more about some of the current agricultural research projects that OFA supports.
Session Summaries and Videos:
9:40 am – Thinking about Ag Robots & Automation
Guest speaker Ian McDonald, a Crop Innovation Specialist from OMAFRA, brings his knowledge and expertise on Robots and Automation in the Agriculture Industry.
10:45 am – State of Ontario Tourism & Direct Farm Marketing
Guest speaker Dr Jessica Ng, the Director of Policy & Government Affairs at Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, brings her knowledge on the 2022 State of the Ontario Tourism Industry Report.
Last year, OFA partnered with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) on the 2022 State of the Ontario Tourism Industry Report.
We also conducted a local food and agritourism survey, and overall, we learned that the Ontario farms engaged in direct-to-consumer sales range in size and scope as well as offer a diverse range of products – and that agritourism is an industry ripe for growth and economic opportunity.
11:30 am – On-Farm Mortality Management: an LRIC Study
Guest speaker Jenn MacTavish brings her knowledge and expertise on the ongoing report on Farm Mortality and the day to day management of fallen stock.
An issue the livestock sector grapples with is finding solutions to what the industry calls deadstock – properly handling and disposing of animals that die unexpectedly on the farm. A new look at the issue from an international and innovation perspective, in hopes of uncovering practical new solutions the Ontario industry might be able to adopt. A final report is to be released soon.
1:00 pm – Food for Hackers: Battling Cyberattacks on Canada’s Vital Ag System
Guest speaker Abbas Yazdinejad, from the Cyber Science Lab, brings his knowledge and expertise on Cybersecurity, Cyberattacks and how to prevent them in the Agricultural sector.
As farm businesses adopt more smart technology and connected systems, they also increase their exposure to cyber security risks.
Abbas Yzadinejad of the University of Guelph’s Cyber Science lab explained three common threats:
- data breaches – a system is hacked and information is stolen.
- Phishing – fake messages that look like they are from a trusted entity (like a bank) to trick a user into giving out credit card information or login credentials.
- ransomware – attacks where a system is frozen and held for ransom.
Best practices for farmers to protect themselves include keeping software up to date, using strong passwords that are changed regularly, backing up data, and educating your staff on where threats come from.
1:45 pm – Determinants of the adoption of environmental best management practices on farms of south-central Ontario
Guest speaker Dr. Michael Drescher of the University of Waterloo brings his knowledge and expertise on determinants of the adoption of the environmental best management practices on farms of south-central Ontario.
Dr. Michael Drescher from University of Waterloo has been studying environmental best management practices – windbreaks, on-farm forests and buffer strips – and what motivates farmers or hinders farmers from adopting these practices.
He found that over 70% of farmers maintain forests or wooded areas on their farms, 64% have planted windbreaks and just under half maintain riparian buffer strips. Leading motivators for these decisions were their own convictions, social pressures, and government.
2:30 pm – Northern Ontario Economic Impact Study
Guest speaker Ben LeFort, Senior Policy Analyst at OFA, brings his knowledge and expertise on the results of a recent study done on the economic contribution of farming in Northern Ontario.
OFA has been a strong advocate for supporting agriculture in northern Ontario and OFA senior farm policy analyst Ben Lefort gave an overview of agriculture’s economic footprint in the north and how that has changed in the last decade.
The number of farms has increased, and the revenue per acre of farmland has almost doubled, with much of the growth coming from field crop production.
Funding for tile drainage and land clearing has played a key role in supporting this growth, but northern Ontario also needs infrastructure investments like roads and high-speed internet, as well as more access to farming support services like veterinarians.
3:15 pm – OFA Updates
- The Slow Moving Vehicle: Safe Driving Awareness Presented by: Ian Nokes, Policy Analyst with the OFA
- Soil Health Benchmarking Program Presented by: Megan Sipos, Manager of Research & Policy for the Greenbelt Foundation
- Farmer Mental Health Research Presented by: Peter Sykanda, Policy Analyst with the OFA
- Fertilizer Use Survey Results Presented by: Nicole Menheere, Program Coordinator with Fertilizer Canada
3:45 pm – Discussion panel: 4R Nutrient Stewardship & Fertilizer Emissions
This discussion panel is an OSCIA-recognized Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE) for farmers with On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) projects in the Cover Cropping category.
Panelists include:
- Janice Janiec from OFA
- Nicole Menheere from Fertilizer Canada
- Deb Campbell from Agronomy Advantage
- Christine Brown from OMAFRA
