Each winter, Grey Ag Services offers Winter Courses of interest to producers and rural residents of Grey and Bruce Counties and beyond. Please find all the courses we are offering listed below. Courses are filling quickly, so please act fast. Pre-registration is required, so please promote these in advance of the courses to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to attend.

Please call 519-986-3756, or email [email protected], to pre-register. There are more details for all of these courses on our website. Certified Crop Advisors will be able to obtain CEU credits for some of these courses.

Sheep Body Condition Scoring

Learn a simple body condition score technique that will help you make decisions to improve sheep health and farm profitability. Using body condition scoring on your farm can improve lamb survival, litter size and lamb weights as well as increasing ewe longevity. Facilitated by Delma Kennedy, Sheep Specialist, OMAFRA, and Marlene Paibomesai, Dairy Specialist, OMAFRA

Mon. Jan. 28th, 2019, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
$15.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Wed. Jan. 23rd, 2019

Planning for the Future: A Focus on Replacement Heifers

This short course explores key considerations for selecting and managing replacement heifers and setting them up for a successful first calving. Topics will include: replacement heifer selection criteria; economic aspects of replacement heifer rearing; and body condition and feeding considerations. Facilitated by Beef Cattle Specialists at OMAFRA— Megan Van Schaik, and James Byrne.

And / Or

Beef/Sheep/Paddock Design for Rotational Grazing

This short course covers practical information on how to develop a rotational grazing system that will work on your farm. Learn how to decide on a fence layout that suits your operation, where to site gates, handling facilities, and other infrastructure. Attendees should bring an aerial photograph of their farm (printout from AgMaps, Google Earth, or similar). Facilitated by Christine O’Reilly, Forage and Grazing Specialist, OMAFRA, and James Byrne, Beef Cattle Specialist, OMAFRA.

Wed. Jan. 30th, 2019
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
Heifer Course from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Paddock Course from 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm
$15.00 per person for each course, or attend both with a hot lunch for $35.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Fri. Jan. 25th, 2019

An Evening with the Beekeeper - All Things Bees, Beekeeping and Honey

Join us for a Q&A discussion on any and all related topics of interest. Hugh Simpson, Grey County Commercial Beekeeper Osprey Bluffs Honey Co., will bring his experience to lead an informative and interactive session designed to cover the subjects of most interest to you.

Thurs. Jan. 31st, 2019, 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
$15.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Mon. Jan. 28th, 2019

Tax Planning Tips & Farm Support Programs

This course will share insightful tips that you need to know as you prepare for filing your farm taxes. Neil McCutcheon and Brandee Ceaser MacDonald, from BDO Canada LLP, will provide insights about: HST; payroll; WSIB; common tax mistakes; tips on keeping records; what your accountant needs to receive (preferred formats); and much more. An update on Farm Support Programs will also be shared.

And / Or

Financing Strategies/What Information Bankers Need to Know

This course will provide information about: different financing strategies; debt suitability; types of debt (short term and long term); provide information about how bankers make their decisions; and what information they need to make those decisions, and why. Representatives from FCC will facilitate this course.

Thurs. Feb. 7th, 2019
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
Tax Course from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Finance Course from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
$15.00 per person for each course, or attend both with a hot lunch for $35.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Fri. Feb. 1st, 2019

Farm Implements on the Roadway

Each year we hear of a number of traffic incidents involving farm equipment. This course, facilitated by Brian Welsh of MTO, and Constable James Hunter, will provide an overview of the key requirements for farm vehicles (tractors, combines, towed implements) driven on the roadway. The Rules of the Road will also be discussed in detail. There will be an extensive opportunity for questions.

Wed. Feb. 13th, 2019, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
$15.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Fri. Feb. 8th, 2019

Maximizing Your Social Media Results

This workshop will provide an introduction to the major social media platforms and will provide strategies for how to be successful with each. Topics covered will include gearing your message to the appropriate audience, ways to automate your marketing, optimizing posting frequency, tips and tricks for content development, mitigating trolling and understanding the available options for paid support. Course facilitator will be Kelly Ward, Supervisor of Brand Services for Foodland Ontario.

Wed. Feb. 27th, 2019, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
$15.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Fri. Feb. 22nd, 2019

Cover Crops Mentor Group

Have you been trying to/ working with cover crops? We all know the benefits – now let’s make the system work better! Join a like-minded group of farmers, and others to show and share what’s working, what’s not, and the tweaks to improve. Bring your pictures, data and questions. Anne Verhallen, Tori Waugh. and reps from Seed Companies will be on hand.

Thurs. Feb. 28th, 2019, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
$15.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Mon. Feb. 25th, 2019

Dealing with Family Farm Stress – A One Day Course on Mental Health

From unpredictable weather to heavy debt loads to working with family members, farming is stressful. This course will cover the role stress plays on the family farm and its impact on farmer mental health. During the day you’ll hear local farmers tell their mental health story, learn ways to deal with farm related stress, and find out about local resources you can turn to for support. Farmers of all ages are welcome, including teenagers. Sponsored By: Steacy Den Haan, Sales Rep. Royal LePage RCR Realty.

Mon. Mar. 4th, 2019, 9:15 am – 4:30 pm
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
$25.00 per person Hot Lunch Provided
Pre-Register By: Wed. Feb. 27th, 2019

Making Sense of Weed Management

Participants will be given the tools to differentiate between the various crop protection products for corn, soybean, dry bean, forages/pastures and cereals so that they can determine what is best for their own operation. With hundreds of products on the market it can be difficult to identify which ones are truly new and unique and which ones are just recycled brands. Participants will also have an opportunity to develop strategies to manage their worst yield limiting weeds. Facilitated by Mike Cowbrough, Weed Management Specialist, OMAFRA

Thurs. Mar. 7th, 2019, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
$25.00 per person Hot Lunch Provided
Pre-Register By: Fri. Mar. 1st, 2019

Why Are More and More Cash Croppers Switching to Organic?

A farmer-to-farmer conversation about the advantages of going organic and how they do it successfully, featuring: Fiete Suhr of Riverbend Farms; Terry Good of Good Family Farms/Tek-Mac Inc.; and other organic farmers in the area. Session will cover: Premiums for organics; yields; input costs; weed control, and how to start transition. Eric Payseur from Ecocert Canada will facilitate this course.

Thurs. Mar. 7th, 2019, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
$15.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Mon. Mar. 4th, 2019

Home Canning Demonstration

Have you aspired to preserve local fruits and vegetables, but don’t know where to start? Want to learn tips from the experts? Our facilitator for this course will be Martha Rogers (Master Food Preservation Certificate, Cornell University). Learn about the techniques of safe and healthy home canning using the water-bath method. Martha will prepare grape jam, and pomegranate-cherry jelly, and herb jelly recipes. Come, learn, ask questions, taste the prepared recipes and meet with fellow canning enthusiasts.

Tues. Mar. 19th, 2019, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
**Markdale Community Centre and Arena** 75 Walker St, Markdale
$20.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Thurs. Mar. 14th, 2019

Fences and Property Boundaries – What You Need to Know!

Join Ray Robertson (fence viewer), Bob Scriven (lawyer), and Andy Macdonald (Highland Electric Fence Systems) for a dynamic discussion. Topics to be covered will include: the Line Fences Act; minimum fence standards; the legalities of sharing a fence with your neighbor, including case studies; and adverse possession/prescriptive easement/ other boundary concerns. There will be an extensive opportunity for questions.

Thurs. Mar. 21st, 2019, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
$15.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Mon. Mar. 18th, 2019

Fresh From the Garden

This course is for all gardeners, whatever their level of experience, who would like to grow their own vegetables and herbs using organic practices. It will include soil preparation, making compost, crop choices, crop rotation, and pest management. Presenters from Grey County Master Gardeners will facilitate this course.

Thurs. Mar. 21st, 2019, 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
$15.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Mon. Mar. 18th, 2019

Horse Health Night

Dr. Tee Fox’s topic will be Equine Skin Conditions - “Scratching the Surface of Equine Skin Diseases”. Come network with other like-minded individuals for a highly entertaining evening. Jointly sponsored by Grey Ag Services and Markdale Veterinary Services.

Thurs. Mar. 28th, 2019, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
$15.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Mon. Mar. 25th, 2019

Raising Amazing Chicks: The First Seven Days

This course is co-sponsored by Grey Ag Services and Jones Feed Mills Ltd. The facilitator for this course is Dr Scott Gillingham. Dr Scott has traveled the globe teaching farmers and corporations how to solve the biggest challenges of the world’s fastest growing source of protein. Dr. Scott created iChicken to bring his vast experience of both commercial farming and personal farm to fork living to Backyard Farmers everywhere. The first seven days of a chick’s life can make or break your chicken raising success! Whether you’ve raised a dozen small flocks of poultry or you’re just getting started with your first, you will yield far better results when you fully understand the importance of the first seven days of a chick’s life. These first seven days are a critical neonate stage when the smallest mistake can have catastrophic results. This is the focus of the book, and this course. All participants will receive this book, courtesy of Jones Feed Mills Ltd. Do not miss this opportunity to gain from Dr. Scott’s expertise! Sponsored by Jones Feed Mills Ltd.

Mon. Mar. 25th, 2019, 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Grey Ag Services, Lower Level of Grey Gables. 206 Toronto St. S.
$15.00 per person
Pre-Register By: Wed. Mar. 20th, 2019

For more information please contact Grey Ag Services: 519-986-3756, [email protected] or go to www.greyagservices.ca

source: media release, Grey Ag Services