Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week (#GBFW20), in its 54th year, will run from Friday, January 3rd to Thursday, January 9th, starting with Goat Day, and ending with Crops Day. The Day Order has changed this year. The order is Goat, Sheep, Horse, Dairy, Beef, Ecological and Crops Days. It is a 7-day Agricultural Conference packed with a most impressive and informative line-up of speakers! The coordinators for this event, Grey County Ag Services, in conjunction with agricultural commodity leaders from Grey and Bruce Counties, have attempted to feature at least one high profile speaker for each day, targeting the issues and challenges facing the farming community today. Of note, reflecting a deep concern for the wellness of our farmers, at GBFW20 there will be three presentations about Mental Health in Agriculture.
The Committee is delighted to announce that once again this year, all days of #GBFW20 will be Live Streamed. So, if producers live further afield, they can still participate in this amazing conference! Of course, the best way to experience GBFW is in person, so that attendees can chat with the speakers during breaks, visit the tradeshow booths, and network with fellow producers over a delicious hot roast beef dinner. However, if that is just not possible, this online viewing option will allow producers from far and wide to learn from our spectacular speakers. Of note, for your viewing convenience, live stream ticket holders will be able to access the conference content for one month following the event.
As always, exciting Panels have been developed for 2020. These panels include:
- On Goat Day, we have asked one goat milk producer, and a Dairy Equipment Salesman, to provide a Virtual Tour of Dairy Goat Operations.
- On Sheep Day, three producers will discuss their tips and insights about The Advancement of Technology Tools on the Farm.
- On Dairy Day, two producers, and a Business Management Specialist from OMAFRA, will share their perspectives on Farm Labour Management and Engagement.
- On Beef Day, three producers will tease out Cover Crop Grazing.
- On Ecological Day, three producers will share their thoughts about Transitioning to No-Till Vegetables – 1st Year Experiences.
- On Crops Day, two producers and an Agronomy Advisor, will be on the stage for a session about Precision Ag - Turning Field Data into Results/$.
Here’s a glimpse of some of the featured keynote speakers and presentations:
On Sheep Day, Dr. Cindy Wolf returns for her second day, to deliver two presentations. She will dig into Management Practices That Result in Productive Lambing and Why do Lambs Die, and How Can We Learn from That? Dr. Cindy Wolf is sponsored by Floradale Feed Mill Limited, Stonehill Sheep, and Xplornet/GlobalVu.
- Goat Day will target the milk and meat goat producer. Dr. Cindy Wolf, Wolf Veterinary Services, and O’Neill Family Farm, Rushford, Minnesota, USA, will provide an abundance of information to attendees. In the morning she will share Practices to Promote and Sustain Udder Health. In the afternoon she will deliver a presentation entitled, Kid Health and Wellness.
- Horse Day will deliver an abundance of practical tips and information regarding: The Bugs We Share With Our Animals; Showing and Raising Clydesdale Horses; Starting Horses Under Saddle; and Scientific Equine Communication – What Is Your Horse Trying to Tell You?
- Following the afternoon break on Horse Day, there will be interactive Demos focusing on First Aid, on both the upper and lower levels of the Community Centre. Dr. Tee Fox, Markdale Veterinary Clinic, will share tips via interactive demos about Equine First Aid. Lawrence (Chuck) Cannon and Vickie Bruce, will share an interactive program about Rider First Aid.
- On Dairy Day, producers will glean significant “nuggets” to take back to their operations. GBFW welcomes Lloyd Holterman to the Grey Bruce area. Lloyd Holterman is a partner with Rosy-Lane Holsteins, Wisconsin, USA. He will join us to present Breeding and Managing for Healthy, Drug-Free Cows – A Long Term Investment. Lloyd will review the strategy behind being drug free in the milking herd for the past 6 years. Lloyd Holterman is sponsored by: Scotiabank; B&L Farm Services Ltd. and Walters Falls Milling Co. Ltd.; Silo - King (Forage Treatment); and BMO.
- Come early on Beef Day to get a seat! Presentations will focus on the “cow, and the markets”. John McKinnon, Ph.D. Owner/Nutritionist, JJM Nutrition Services Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, will delve into Meeting the Mineral Needs of Your Cows is a Year Round Task. John McKinnon is sponsored by Zoetis; Elanco Animal Health – Canada, and BMO.
- Wednesday is Ecological Day, and has something for everyone. Starting us off in the morning will be an interesting discussion regarding Farming Cannabis in Canada, from Dr. Lesley Campbell, Associate Professor at Ryerson University. Michael Freiesleben, TLC Animal Husbandry Inc., will turn the focus on The Power of Beneficial Bacteria in Agriculture. Producers Fiete Suhr and Brett Israel, will dig into Profitable Organic Cash Crops. In the afternoon, Dr. Scott Gillingham, poultry flock consultant, author, and creator of ichicken.ca, will share his poultry expertise when he presents, Raising Amazing Chicks. The First Seven Days.
- GBFW20 ends with Crops Day on Thursday. It is always a full house, so come early to get a chair. Dylan Sher, Producer of the film, Before the Plate, will share The Farmers’ Story – From the Urban Perspective. He is sponsored by Scotiabank; Huron Tractor; Sprucedale Agromart: and SeCan.
- Perennial favourite, Peter Johnson, will wrap-up the week with, Managing in a Crazy Climate!. Peter is sponsored by Clifford Precision.
And There will be Much Much More.
For more details on the speakers planned for each day, please refer to the Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week website www.gbfw.ca. If you need detailed information about any of the presentations, or complete bios, that information is also available on the website.
The GBFW planning committee would like to thank all of the generous sponsors!! The full list is on our brochure, or on our website (www.gbfw.ca)
Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week would like to acknowledge the Premier and Platinum Sponsors: Farm Credit Canada (Event sponsor); BDO Canada LLP (Brochure sponsor); Hydro One (Major Live Streaming sponsor); Trillium Mutual Insurance Company (Major Live Streaming sponsor); Country 93 (Media sponsor); Howick Mutual Insurance Company and CMR Insurance (Media sponsors); Scotiabank (Daily sponsors); Bruce County Federation of Agriculture (Daily sponsors); and Ontario Federation of Agriculture (Daily Sponsors).
During the course of the week, the Tradeshow will include over 100 trade show exhibitors from across the province.
Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week will be held at the Elmwood Community Centre
(# 38 Queen St. W.), 8 km north of Hanover on County Road #10. The Community Centre is 1.6 km west of the Amber flashing beacon.
Registration Price (at door, cash/cheque/debit):
Goat, Sheep, Dairy, Beef, Ecological and Crops Days — $30 Includes HST
Horse Day — $25 Includes HST
(Includes hot roast beef dinner. Goat and Lamb are also served on those respective days).
No pre-registration is required.
Join us by Live Streaming. Go to www.gbfw.ca and click on the Live Streaming tab to pre-register for this online viewing option. $20/day or $100/week (Plus HST and Transaction Fees). Conference content will be available to live stream ticket holders for one month following the event. Live Streaming Sponsors include Hydro One, Trillium Mutual Insurance and Bruce Power.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @GBFarmersWeek #GBFW20.
source: media release