Farm News and Events

Register now for tomorrow's meeting!

You are invited to a discussion about the future use of farmland in Peterborough County.  

Peterborough County is reviewing what types of uses should be permitted on Agricultural and Rural lands throughout the County, and under what circumstances “On-Farm Diversified Uses” should be permitted in the new County Official Plan. The farm community is being invited to participate. 

Please pre-register here (event is free): https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/peterborough-agricultural-land-use-meeting-tickets-162486767295. A Zoom link will be emailed closer to the date of the meeting to all registered attendees.

To read background for the discussion in advance, visit https://ptboagnews.com/land-use-policy-and-planning

Jointly organized by the Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture, Peterborough Alliance for Food and Farming, and the Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable in support of all farmers in Peterborough County

You are invited to a discussion about the future use of farmland in Peterborough County.  

Peterborough County is reviewing what types of uses should be permitted on Agricultural and Rural lands throughout the County, and under what circumstances “On-Farm Diversified Uses” should be permitted in the new County Official Plan. The farm community is being invited to participate. 

On July 14, Margaret Walton, Senior Associate at Planscape, will bring her 30 years of experience in agricultural land use planning across Ontario to the discussion. She will help us to understand the purpose of “On-Farm Diversified Uses” and how to ensure that new policies (the permitted uses and the permitting process) benefit the agricultural sector and protect farmland. There will be opportunities for participants to ask questions. 

If you are serious about the future of farmland in Peterborough County, be a part of the process!

Please pre-register here (event is free): https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/peterborough-agricultural-land-use-meeting-tickets-162486767295. A Zoom link will be emailed closer to the date of the meeting to all registered attendees.

To read background for the discussion in advance, visit https://ptboagnews.com/land-use-policy-and-planning

Jointly organized by the Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture, Peterborough Alliance for Food and Farming, and the Peterborough Agricultural Roundtable in support of all farmers in Peterborough County

This is your opportunity to complete the final of three surveys created by the County to obtain input on the impending updates to the County Official Plan. The OP will affect the use of land in all townships in the County. 

 https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/a4f0a17ece154f028bcbe5255252002c

The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and will close at 4:30 PM on Friday, June 25.

You’re Invited to the 2021 Seniors Showcase

The largest seniors-focused event in the region is now available for viewing online, featuring a whole series of free workshops, a panel discussion, and a variety of local exhibitors.

The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Age Friendly Peterborough, is presenting the 2021 Seniors Showcase virtually, running for the entire month of June on www.peterboroughchamber.ca/seniors-showcase and the Chamber’s social media channels.

Access is FREE! All month long, the Chamber will be posting a collection of free videos, available for streaming on demand:

• Exhibitor presentations (shopping, healthcare, finances, recreation, and more!)
• Panel discussion on Transportation – Getting You from A to B
• 9 Workshops
  • Dealing with Isolation
  • How Well Do You Know Dementia?
  • 211, Who Can Help - Connecting You to Your Community
  • Nutrition: Eat Well, Age Well
  • Decluttering Tips and Tricks
  • The Grass is Greener - Lawn Maintenance 
  • Yoga + Mindful Movement
  • New Rules for Estates and Executors in Ontario?
  • Understanding Consent and Capacity
• Not-for-Profit showcases: watch community organizations showcase and update us on their current projects, opportunities, products, and services

Exclusive Offers will also be posted from exhibitors! Be sure to check out these great deals!

The 2021 Seniors Showcase runs June 1st-30th at www.peterboroughchamber.ca/seniors-showcase and on the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. 

The County of Peterborough is seeking input on how you live, work, and play in the County of Peterborough as part of official plan development. It is the first of three surveys.

The current survey takes about 10 minutes and you do not need to be a resident of the County to complete it. For those interested in filling it out, the survey closes May 13th and is available on the new County OP webpage.

Update from Peterborough Public Health:

This is an update to the news item sent earlier today announcing availability of booking for farm workers and farmers. 

We just received notice that the province has opened a ‘trust model’ for appointment booking. This means that all eligible groups can book online (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/) or over the phone (1-833-943-3900) and proof of eligibility is not needed when booking or at the appointment.

Farms will not need to bring their tax stub, FBRN, or write letters of proof for employees.

From Peterborough Public Health:

On Thursday May 6th at 8am, agriculture and farm workers will be eligible to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment as part of essential workers who cannot work from home Group 1. This eligibility will open across the province.

Further details are provided in Ontario’s Guidance for Prioritization of Phase 2 Populations for COVID-19 Vaccination  (p.18 -22).

Appointments can be booked through the Provincial Online Booking System (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/) and Provincial Vaccine Booking Line (1-833-943-3900:  open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. seven days a week).   

Essential workers will need to attest that they work in agriculture. They are also required to bring proof of employment to the vaccine appointment (pay stub,  name badge, Farm Business Registration Number etc…).

Group One workers who are eligible to book their vaccine appointment on May 6th are asked to be patient, as it could take time for an appointment to be available. Keep checking regularly, as more appointments are added on an on-going basis.

The Census happens every 5 years and is the only source of information on agriculture in Peterborough. It is important that every farm fully participate so we as farmers have accurate information about our sector! Canadian farm operators will receive a letter in May 2021 with instructions on how to complete the census questionnaire online quickly and easily.

Please help others if they have limited ability to participate online.

For more information: https://census.gc.ca/resources-ressources/cst-tsc/agriculture/horizon-eng.htm

Did you know the County of Peterborough's new Official Plan will address "on-farm diversified uses"?

What is an "on farm diversified use"? They are defined as “uses that are secondary to the principal agricultural use of the property and are limited in area. On-farm diversified uses include, but are not limited to, home occupations, home industries, agri-tourism uses, and uses that produce value-added agricultural products.”  

The University of Guelph is looking for farmers interested in establishing on-farm diversified uses to complete a survey. It is intended that the outcomes of this project will contribute to the creation of best practices, policy and assist in preserving the long-term sustainability of agriculture while balancing opportunities for family farm entrepreneurs in Ontario.

Results will be available in the fall and could help to inform decision-making in our County!

Take the survey here:  https://uoguelph.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3q6i9UCqWwJbAeq

Thank you to everyone who attended Farm Safety: Working Alone on the Farm on Wednesday. Thank you especially to Fred Young of the Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) for leading the discussion.

A key takeaway from this discussion was the Stop Think Act Program:

Stop – What could go wrong? How bad could it be? Has anything changed?

Think – Do I clearly understand the task? Am I physically and mentally ready? Do I have the right tools & equipment?

Act – Make it safe. Use the right tools & equipment. Reduce risks.

It is also important to have a communication plan in place so that people know where you are and roughly how long you will be.

For more information and resources, visit WSPS.ca/farmsafety