The Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF) board has announced that license fees, sometimes called the check-off, will increase from $1.80 to $2.20, plus applicable taxes, per live animal sale effective October 1, 2023. The increase in fee is the first in 13 years. OSF says the change is important for “the future success of the organization,”… Read More
Tag: Ontario Sheep Farmers
If your dog is outside, unattended for more than 60 minutes at a time, the province of Ontario considers your dog one that lives outside. That matters because as of July 1 there are new rules regarding the care of dogs that live outside. The new rules, under the PAWS Act, include requirements for housing,… Read More
For those with two years of experience or more, Scotiabank is offering a new finance option for sheep farmers to expand the ewe flock. The Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF) and Scotiabank have partnered on a new short-term financing option to add ewes through the Scotiabank Yield More Financing program. Ontario Sheep members may access funds to purchase… Read More
Ontario heads to the polls June 2, 2022, to select its next government. We’ve heard from the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), on the six priority areas the organization is focused on. But what does the livestock sector need? For the dairy, beef, and lamb sectors, there are common asks surrounding infrastructure needs and risk… Read More
Jennifer MacTavish has announced her departure from Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF), happening sometime before August 31, 2022. MacTavish has served in the role for the last nine years. OSF chair John Hemsted has named a transition committee of the board to oversee the recruitment of a qualified individual for the general manager position. MacTavish is recognized… Read More
Anyone who owns and moves livestock needs to get up close and personal with the latest transportation regulations. The rules encompass all animal movement, including that done by farmers themselves, and has been law for two years. The “for two years” part has caught some producers by surprise, and that’s because the Canadian Food Inspection… Read More
The Ontario Research Centres at Elora is set to begin construction on an $18 million hog research facility, with $3.6 million from Ontario Pork and $14.4 million from the Government of Ontario The new facility will build capacity and expertise at the centre to support research to drive innovation in the swine sector and contribute to the… Read More
Ontario Sheep Farmers recently updated several online resources for its membership, including a new version of the price and profit predictability tools. OSF created this farm management tool in partnership with the University of Guelph and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and recently assumed ownership and administrative duties of the resource to ensure… Read More
After a goodwill request to meet to build trust and discuss the re-establishment of a Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF) that represents all provinces at a national level, the CSF has responded with a resounding no. Marc Carere, chair of Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF), committed to the membership an open and transparent process regarding any discussion… Read More
The Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF) held its annual general meeting October 23, via Zoom, and the chair’s opening report directly addressed the ongoing issue of dissension within the membership and the Canadian sheep industry as a whole. “I am frustrated by the distrust in our industry that has led to too many acrimonious and hostile… Read More