Taste Real is an innovative local food and farming initiative of the County of Wellington and many other partners. In this episode, Christina Mann, the Taste Real coordinator for the County, talks with Paul Smith. Taste Real started out as a branding initiative “to support local businesses, farms and producers who are passionate about the way local food is grown, prepared, presented and enjoyed, and how real it tastes”! Taste Real supports “local small businesses and farms to build stronger rural communities and grow one of the most vibrant, local food economies and food tourism destinations in Ontario”. The local food map is well known to residents and tourists as a go-to way to find local food. The local food fest held each year at Ignatius Centre on June 21 is a celebration of local food and community for the whole family. The spring and fall Rural Romp events get people to visit local farms and businesses to gain authentic experiences of agriculture and food.

More information is available at:

http://www.tastereal.ca

https://www.youtube.com/user/tasterealGW

In this episode, Abdul talks about some of the stories making headlines in Canadian Agriculture in the week. The rail blockade, labour shortages, and discussions a potential seed royalty in Canada are some of the issues talked about. 

Ralph Martin’s new book is an evocative mix of science, philosophy, memoir, reflection and manifesto for change. And food and farming tie it all together. Food security is certainly a focus, but the book ranges far beyond a narrow view of that phrase. Ralph is a retired professor of plant agriculture at Guelph with an emphasis on organic agriculture and forage crops. The book promo says the following. “Canadians are failing to balance reasonable food consumption with sufficient and sustainable production. The modern agricultural system is producing more and more food. Too much food. The cost is enormous: excess nutrients are contaminating the air and water; soil is being depleted; species loss is plunging us toward the sixth extinction; and farmers, racking up debt, are increasingly vulnerable to economic and climatic shifts. And then there is the waste — householders, food processors, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers collectively waste 40 percent of the food produced. A radical rethink is required. We need to move from excess to enough.” Listen to his discussion with Paul Smith.

More information is available at:

https://www.dundurn.com/books/Food-Security

https://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/rcmartin

This episode provides highlights of the 2020 Farms.com Precision Agriculture Conference, held in London, Ontario on the 29th and 30th of January 2020. An overview of the main activities at the conference is provided alongside interviews with organizers and digital technology exhibiters.

Sustainable farming is about the people and organizations working daily to that end. Stuart Wright, a dairy and cash crop farmer from Kenilworth, Wellington County, is the new President of Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. Both Stuart and the Soil and Crop organization work hard on farm sustainability. Stuart describes his family’s work building soil health and sustainability using crop rotation, no till, strip till, cover crops, and the 4Rs of nutrient management. Since 1939, Soil and Crop has been innovating new ways of growing crops to improve both production and conservation. Stuart’s discussion with Paul Smith illustrates the complexity of juggling crops, livestock and changing practices. He also reflects about how farmers learn from other farmers, advisors and researchers, and then try new things on their farms—illustrating the importance of the network of organizations collaborating on sustainable agriculture.

More information is available at:

https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/

https://wellingtonsoilcrop.org/

https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/association/the-soil-fixers/

https://www.farms.com/videos/rural-lifestyle/stuart-wright-138455.aspx

https://www.todaysfarmer.ca/livestock/wellington-county-dairy-farmer-acclaimed-as-oscia-president-elect

Have you ever wanted to make your own maple syrup but were unsure where to start or how to do it? Urban sugaring provides the answer. The Urban Sugaring Project allows tree owners in the City of Guelph to work together to create maple syrup. And in this episode, Emily Duncan interviews organizers on the specifics of the program this year, which is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2020. Listen to this episode to learn more about Urban sugaring and how to participate.

Conservation Authorities work with Ontario farmers and other landowners to assist in conservation work like tree planting, erosion control, water quality improvement and soil health. Conservation authorities undertake many other activities to fulfill their watershed management mandate. The Ontario government’s Bill 108 amended the Conservation Authorities Act as well as many other statutes for the stated purpose of “increasing housing supply”. Then in August 2019 the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks sent a letter to all conservation authorities telling them to “wind down” programs not within the “core mandate” of conservation authorities. Farm and conservation organizations are concerned that important stewardship programs of conservation authorities are not lost to farmers and landowners. Paul Smith discusses these issues with Kim Gavine, General Manager of Conservation Ontario and Joanne Rzadki, Business Development & Partnerships Coordinator also of Conservation Ontario.

More information is available at:

https://conservationontario.ca/

https://voiceofniagara.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/yurek_letter.jpg

https://conservationontario.ca/fileadmin/pdf/latest-news/Media_Release_CO_Media_Release_Response_to_Provincial_Letter_Aug_2019.pdf

https://www.ontario.ca/page/more-homes-more-choice-ontarios-housing-supply-action-plan

https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-108

https://environmentaldefence.ca/2019/05/31/analysis-shows-that-ontarios-bill-108-gives-the-development-industry-most-of-what-it-asked-for/

Emily Duncan and Abdul-Rahim talk about the top stories on the show and main ag issues in Candian and global level in 2019. The show presents the top ten picks of our year. Issues discussed include;

Main ag issues this year:

In this episode, we talk about the 2019 Arrell Food Summit which took place on 3rd December at the Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto. Abdul and Emily participated in the summit and they reflect on the packed day of presentations and discussions. Snippets from key guests, organizers, researchers, and student participants are presented to reflect on strategies for feeding the globe, a central theme at the summit.