Flock Talk

Dr. Amy Gaw is a mixed animal veterinarian from Temiskaming Veterinary Services and joins Flock Talk to discuss Cache Valley Virus. Dr. Gaw shares how she got started in veterinary medicine, why she chose Northern Ontario and how her and her husband got into sheep farming. Amy recalls seeing Cache Valley Virus in Northern Ontario for the first time and takes the opportunity to tell Ontario Sheep Farmers how ewes are infected by the virus and the effects it has on unborn lambs. Amy also gives producers advice on how to avoid infection, plus much more!

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We are delighted to have the owner of J. Underhill Canadian Wool Agency, Jane Underhill join us on Flock Talk. Jane shares how she got into the industry, the work her company does, and gives a global perspective on wool, its largest competitors, and how Canadian wool compares. Jane also discusses market opportunities for Canadian wool, what quality specifications customers are looking for and provides advice when it comes to maintaining wool quality, shearing and working with shearers plus much much more!

For more information about The Canadian Wool Agency or to connect with Jane Underhill, visit her website: JUWOOL.com.

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and Visit our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ontariosheep.org⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week we’re pleased to have the Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity, Lisa Bishop-Spencer join us on Flock Talk. Lisa gives a brief overview of CCFI and their mission and breaks down how they communicates with the public, track Canadians perceptions of the food and agricultural industries, understand their expectations and concerns and how they use this data help the Canadian food system earn the public’s trust. Lisa shares some surprising findings and talks about the difference between the public’s perception of the Canadian food system versus their perception of individual Canadian farmers. Also, with the ongoing talks of tariffs, Lisa addresses the opportunity for the Canadian government and national organizations to do more to promote "Produced In Canada” or “Made in Canada” products plus much much more!

For more OSF content, follow us on Social Media

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X : @OntarioSheep

and Visit our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ontariosheep.org⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kelly Somerville, the CEO of the Livestock Research and Innovation Corporation (LRIC) shares how she joined the organization and gives an overview of what LRIC does, who its members are and how these groups work together to set goals to meet the needs of Ontario’s livestock sector. Kelly explains how LRIC works with smaller commodity organizations such as OSF to support their research and development and advises where to go to get the most from their research budget. Looking ahead from a “big picture” perspective, Kelly also shares the potential opportunities for research and innovation in the livestock industry in Ontario if LRIC and OSF collaborate plus much more!

For more OSF content, follow us on Social Media

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and Visit our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ontariosheep.org⁠⁠⁠⁠

We are joined by Michael Keegan and Shakiba Shayani to discuss the international research project initiated by OSF in 2024, their partnership in this project and their main objectives. They also talk about community engagement, consumer behaviour and market trends and share how their insights from this research translate into real-world benefits for Ontario’s lamb industry plus much more!

For more OSF content, follow us on Social Media

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and Visit our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ontariosheep.org⁠⁠⁠⁠

Tyler McCann is the Managing Director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) and has many, many years of experience in agriculture and federal politics. Tyler shares CAPI’s mission, their current priorities and their 2024 survey highlighting producers' concerns regarding a Trump Government. Tyler also discusses trade diversification, domestic risk management and shares his thoughts on mitigating the impacts of tariffs plus much much more!

For more OSF content, follow us on Social Media

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X : @OntarioSheep

and Visit our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ontariosheep.org⁠⁠⁠⁠

This episode features Christoph Wand, a Livestock Sustainability Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Ago-Business. Christoph shares his insights and discusses his contributions to livestock sustainability in Ontario. Christoph talks about the challenges that sheep producers face when adopting sustainability practices and how to overcome these challenges. He touches on the role that education and innovation play in promoting sustainable practices and so much more!

For more OSF content, follow us on Social Media

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X : @OntarioSheep

and Visit our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ontariosheep.org⁠⁠⁠⁠

President of the University of Guelph's Ontario Agriculture College Sheep & Goat Club, Delaney Hopkins shares her background with sheep along with the clubs journey, key goals, building connections, and challenges students face when trying to break into the industry. Delaney also discusses the clubs involvement in College Royal, farm tours, guest speakers and much more.

For more OSF content, follow us on Social Media

Instagram & Facebook: @OntarioSheepFarmers

X : @OntarioSheep

and Visit our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ontariosheep.org⁠⁠⁠⁠

Senior Director of Government Relations and Farm Policy at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), Brodie Berrigan talks all about tariffs between the US and Canada and what that could mean for farmers in Ontario and across Canada. Brodie also reveals who the real winners are in a tariff war between the US and Canada and much much more!

For information and updates on the situation, visit www.cfa-fca.ca/canada-us-agriculture

For more OSF content, follow us on Social Media

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X : @OntarioSheep

and Visit our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ontariosheep.org

Paula Menzies brings a wealth of knowledge to Flock Talk on the topic of coccidiosis in sheep. Paula shares the most common symptoms of coccidiosis in ruminants, how to identify the symptom and how she diagnoses the problem. Paual also talks about her approach to treating or controlling coccisiosis in sheep and gives tips to producers to better manage the environment in their barn to avoid outbreaks plus so much more!

Here is a link to the Parasite Handbook: https://www.ontariosheep.org/media/zwcd2sxg/parasite-handbook_april_2019-updated_reduced.pdf

For more OSF content, follow us on Social Media

Instagram & Facebook: @OntarioSheepFarmers

X : @OntarioSheep

and Visit our Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ontariosheep.org⁠⁠⁠⁠