A week of all things farming

farming Grey Bruce Farmers' Week (#GBFW18), in its 52nd year, will run from Wednesday, January 3rd to Tuesday, January 9th, starting with Beef Day, and ending with Crops Day. It is a 7 day Agricultural Conference packed with a most impressive and informative line-up of speakers! The coordinators for this event, Grey County Ag Services, in conjunction with agricultural commodity leaders from Grey and Bruce Counties, have attempted to feature at least one high profile speaker for each day, targeting the issues and challenges facing the farming community today.

The Committee is delighted to announce that this year, all days of #GBFW18 will be Live Streamed. So, if producers live further afield, they can still participate in this amazing conference! Of course, the best way to experience GBFW is in person, so that attendees can chat with the speakers during breaks, visit the tradeshow booths, and network with fellow producers over a delicious hot roast beef dinner. If that is just not possible, this new online viewing option will allow producers from far and wide to learn from our spectacular speakers.

As always, exciting Panels have been developed for 2018. These panels include:

· On Beef Day, various speakers from the day's roster, plus the Vice President of BFO, and two producers, will tease out The Quest for Greater Stability in the Beef Sector.

· On Dairy Day, three producers, will share their perspective on Calf Rearing.

· On Goat Day, we have asked two goat milk producers, and a nutritionist, to provide their perspectives on Finding Efficiencies and Productivity.

· On Sheep Day, two fencing companies, and the OMAFRA Forage and Grazier Specialist, will provide their perspectives on Fencing Options.

· On Ecological Day, two Ontario pork producers, and the farm manager from the Rodale Institute Pig Project in Pennsylvania (via video conferencing), will discuss their Pastured Pork operations.

· On Crops Day, four OMAFRA Field Crop Specialists, will be on the stage for an Ask the Experts session.

Here's a glimpse of some of the featured keynote speakers and presentations:

· Come early on Beef Day to get a seat! Presentations will focus on the "cow, and the consumer". Andrew Campbell, is well-known in the agriculture community as the Fresh Air Farmer. He will join us to present The Good and Bad of Reaching Out to Consumers. Michael Von Massow, Associate Professor, Food Agriculture and Resource Economics, University of Guelph, will delve into Changing Consumer Trends. Two "cow" focused topics will include: Alternative Feed Sources for Cows and Determining an Effective Vaccination Protocol.

· Dr. Alan Vaage, Ruminant Nutritionist, Jaylor, will join us on Dairy Day. He will present, Optimizing TMR Mixes for Lactating Dairy Cattle. Dr. Robert Tremblay, DVM, DVSc, Dipl ACVIM, Bovine/Equine Specialist, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, joins us on Dairy Day to provide an informative and dynamic review of Simple Tips to Help Make Raising Calves a Little Easier.

· Goat Day will continue to share information for both the milk and meat producer. Dr. Travis Hoffman, Extension Sheep Specialist, Department of Animal Science, North Dakota State University/University of Minnesota, will provide an abundance of information regarding Cost of Production and Marketing Strategies for Goat Producers. Bruce Vandenberg, Owner, Mariposa Dairy Ltd., will join us to share, Dairy Goat: CETA Impact, World Markets & Potential Growth.

· On Sheep Day, Dr. Travis Hoffman returns for his second day, to deliver two presentations. He will dig into Lamb Quality and the Consumer and the Producer's Role to Ensure Quality Lamb.

· Horse Day will deliver an abundance of practical tips and information regarding: The Horse Health Check: An Important Tool for the Horse Owner; Draft Horses Today; An Interactive Journey Through the Gut of

the Horse; How To Resolve Common Behaviour Issues In Horses; and Hunting With Hounds; An Alternative To Walkers.

· The Youth Horse Program will not be offered in 2018. However, new this year, after the afternoon break, Downstairs Demos will be offered in the lower level of the Elmwood Community Centre. Lawrence Cannon will share an interactive program about Preparing For the Long Ride. He will provide an introduction to the Decker Pack Saddle and show how the horse wears it. He will introduce participants to the basic load equipment, panniers, lash ropes and how to tie the diamond hitch, (with audience participation). He will also demonstrate how to basket hitch a regular saddle.

· Ecological Day has something for everyone. Learn about Understanding the Basics of Food Regulation; delve into Strategies for On-Farm Carbon Storage; and take some notes about Pollination Biology and Beekeeping. Don't miss Mike Dorion, Owner/Operator of Living Soil Solutions, Calgary, who will enlighten the audience with his knowledge of The Life in the Soil.

· Crops Day is always a full house, so come early to get a chair. Mike Dorion will return for a second day to present The Life in the Soil to the Crop producers. Stephen Kell, Business Manager Branch Grain, Parrish and Heimbecker Limited, will share Finding the Marketing Opportunities in the 2018 Commodities Market. Perennial favourite, Peter Johnson, Agronomist with RealAgriculture returns to divulge his insights into Conquering Compaction.

And There will be Much Much More..................

For more details on the speakers planned for each day, please refer to the Grey Bruce Farmers' Week pages on the Grey Ag website. If you need detailed information about any of the presentations, or complete bios, that information is also available on the website (www.greyagservices.ca).

We would like to thank all of our generous sponsors!!

Grey Bruce Farmers' Week would like to acknowledge the Premier and Platinum Sponsors: Farm Credit Canada (Event sponsor); BDO Canada LLP (Brochure sponsor and Major Live Streaming sponsor); Trillium Mutual Insurance Company (Major Live Streaming sponsor); Country 93 (Media sponsor); Howick Mutual Insurance Company and CMR Insurance (Media sponsors); and Bruce County Federation of Agriculture (Daily sponsors).

During the course of the week, the Tradeshow will include over 100 trade show exhibitors from across the province.

Grey Bruce Farmers' Week will be held at the Elmwood Community Centre

(# 38 Queen St. W.), 8 km north of Hanover on County Road #10. The Community Centre is 1.6 km west of the Amber flashing beacon.

Registration Price (at door): Beef, Dairy, Goat, Sheep, Ecological, and Crops Days — $25 (includes hot roast beef dinner. Goat and Lamb are also served on those respective days).

Horse Day — $20 (includes hot beef on a bun lunch). No Youth Horse program in 2018.

Cash or Cheque only please. No Pre-registration is required.

New this year, join us by Live Streaming. Go to Evenbrite.ca to pre-register for this online viewing option. $10/day or $50/week

source: media release, Grey County Agricultural Services