County of Lambton Agricultural Advisory Committee

The CLAAC met April 7, 2016 and reviewed the Agricultural policies, Chapter 4, of the Draft County Official Plan. It also discussed potential concerns with proposed Federal legislation - Bill C-246 relating to laws regarding the rights and killing of animals. The CLAAC directed staff to provide a letter to County Council and local MPs and MPPs drawing attention to this legislation and the potential implications to the agricultural and livestock industry.

From the County of Lambton:

Point Edward, ON - The arrival of warm weather brings the arrival of active ticks. Lambton Public Health would like to remind area residents to protect themselves and their family against ticks when going outdoors as some ticks can be transmitters of Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is spread by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Adult blacklegged ticks are tiny, slow-moving bugs, about the size of a sesame seed. Ticks live in wooded areas and fields and attach when a person or animal brushes against plants, bushes or tall grass. Once attached, ticks feed on blood; most people will not feel the bite.

Lambton Public Health saw a significant increase in the number of ticks collected and submitted in 2015. 380 were received in 2015, up from 162 in 2014.  Of the 380 identified by both active and passive surveillance, 44 (11.5%) were blacklegged ticks. The American dog tick is the most common tick in Lambton and is not an efficient transmitter of Lyme disease. Dog ticks are larger in size, about the size of a pencil eraser.

In Lambton County, Pinery Provincial Park has a confirmed established population of blacklegged ticks. To date, two of the ticks submitted have tested positive for the Lyme disease bacterium.

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2016 Show Dates: June 22 and 23

Cost of Admission: $15.00 per adult admission, children under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult.

Location the Congress : Stratford Rotary Complex, 353 McCarthy Road Stratford Ontario

For more information visit www.ontarioporkcongress.on.ca

Students! The Sarnia – Lambton Economic Partnership is here to make your entrepreneurial dreams come true with the Ontario #SummerCompany program. You can receive up to $3000 to start up your own business, and we are here to help you every step of the way.
Student Sign Business
We will sit with you and develop a business plan that works with your ideas, abilities and budget.

Learning how to run your own student business is one of the best summer jobs you can have. You get to be your own boss while learning what it takes to manage a business. Sales, marketing, bookkeeping, customer relationship management and networking are just a few of the highly useful skills you’ll develop.

To be eligible for this opportunity, you must currently be a student (high school, college or university) between 15-29 years old, you must live in Ontario with a Canadian citizenship or be a permanent resident, and must be returning to school at the end of the program.

If you are looking to get a taste of entrepreneurship, this is an excellent opportunity to meet with industry professionals and gain valuable life-long experience.

To learn more about the Summer Company program, call SLEP today and speak with Dave Moody at (519)332-1820.

The 7th annual Tire Take Back event will be held from May 25 to June 4, 2016. OFA members can drop off their used tires for free at any participating Tire Take Back location. In 2015, there were over 60 participating Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association (OARA) locations across the province.
 
OARA will donate tire collection allowances from each tire to the Sunshine Foundation of Canada - an organization helping to make dreams come true for children living with severe, physical disabilities and life threatening illnesses.

OFA is encouraging members to support this initiative:
• Start stockpiling your used tires
• Find a participating OARA location near you
• Drop off your tires for free from May 24 - June 4, 2016

Scroll down to the map for a complete list of all participating locations where you can drop off used tires and support the Sunshine Foundation of Canada. This program is supported by Ontario Tire Stewardship.

For more details, visit rethinktires.ca/tiretakeback.

The Lambton Federation of Agriculture is organinzing a group  to attend AWC East in October! If you are a woman in Agriculture, and would like to join our group to get the discount and get in touch with others, and enjoy an amazing conference, email Christina at info@lambtonfederation.ca.
This conference is a fantastic learning and networking opportunity for producers, government and professionals in Ag Business!

Visit http://www.advancingwomenconference.ca/ for more information, and contact us ASAP to join our group for the discount!
 

Rural Ontario Summit 2016 – Building the Future
June 29, 2016
Stratford Rotary Complex in Stratford, Ontario
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Registration will begin at 8:00 AM the day of the Summit but be sure to register online in advance)

On June 29, youth ages 15-29 from across Ontario will gather in Stratford with leaders from municipal government, First Nations and Metis communities, rural businesses and community organizations. This day-long summit will give you the chance to share ideas and strategies on how to build a strong rural Ontario.

Over a day of speakers and interactive sessions, we will explore four essential ingredients for attracting young Ontarians to rural communities whether they grew up there or not:

 Opportunities for Education and Training
 Creating Jobs and Entrepreneurship
 Building Strong Social Infrastructure
 Engaging Youth in Civic Leadership

On June 29, speakers of various ages, backgrounds and experiences will share their stories and expertise. You’ll have the chance to do the same, meeting fellow youth, employers and elected leaders from across the province who share your enthusiasm for making a positive difference in their communities. We’ll be capping the day with a reception to build on the special connections you’ll make at the Summit.

The Summit is free to attend, but space is limited, so please register as soon as possible. For more information and to register, click here (ruralontariosummit.eventbrite.com).

Once you have registered, further details will be sent to you about the Summit. If you have immediate questions or are having difficulty registering, please contact karla.uliana@ontario.ca or call 519-826-3650.

When it comes to international trade and investment, Sarnia-Lambton is competing with much larger markets. That is why the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce joined forces with the City of Sarnia, City of London and London Chamber of Commerce to promote the Highway 402 region as a place to invest and to explore overseas export opportunities.

To lead the initiative, a Global Business Opportunities Committee (GBOC) was formed. Though still in its early stages, the committee is a mix of private and public sector representatives that are working together to help move Sarnia-Lambton businesses along the “exporter continuum”. Their task is to generate interest in exporting opportunities by facilitating education, communication and networking opportunities.

Ultimately, the committee wants to generate new business, new investment or economic development in the region.

To find out more: contact John Wood, GBOC Chair at jkwood_99@yahoo.com. You may also contact the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce at 519-336-2400

Lambton’s breakfast on the Farm will be June 18th , from 9-12 at Pelleboer farms. Along with several seating’s for breakfast served in a tent, there will be tours of Goat dairy operation, children's activities, an equipment display, and the chance for visitors to speak with local farmers about the food they produce.

The breakfast and the event are free, but tickets are required. Tickets will be available online at Eventbrite.ca. They sell out fast to make sure you get yours early!

Volunteers are required for the 3rd Annual ‘Breakfast on the Farm’ on Saturday, June 18th.  We require an energetic group of volunteers to assist with everything from food preparation and serving, parking, event set up and tear down0, keeping the eating tent well maintained and more!   Some roles are suited for youth and we can provide volunteer hours for high school students.  Email botflambton@gmail.com  for your application.   The event runs from 9am-Noon, with volunteers required for many roles at 7:30am.

From ofa.on.ca

By Don McCabe, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture

Extending natural gas throughout rural Ontario is the single best investment Ontario can make to our rural economy. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has been working hard to make sure every level of government understands the urgency and importance of this message. The expansion of Ontario’s natural gas infrastructure to rural and farming communities supports economic development, job creation and a more affordable cost of living for rural Ontario. It is needed infrastructure for long term goals in this province, and ability to harness new opportunities like renewable natural gas in the future.

There are recent references to phasing out natural gas, leaked in an Ontario government report as part of the Climate Change Action Plan. OFA continues to advocate for vital natural gas infrastructure expansion to rural Ontario in spite of this leak. This includes working closely with Union Gas and Enbridge to explore opportunities to expand gas lines throughout rural Ontario, and engaging with ministries and with the current Ontario Energy Board (OEB) hearings.

Click here to read the full article.