BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE 2009-2010 May 19 Conference Call June 23 Face-to-Face July 21 Conference Call August 24, 25 District 4 (alternate District 5) October 13 Face-to-Face Board Meeting – April 14 At the April Board meeting Directors covered the following OSMA business:

• Approved the financial statements year to date to February 28 - Less income has come in due to breeding stock retention. Expenses are on average on budget.

• Approved 2010 Action Plan and Communication Plan

• Approved additional budget expense items associated with duties taken over from OMAFRA (SFIP and Genetic Evaluations) and dues for Ontario AG-Sustainability Coalition

• Set policy for Director’s Discretionary Grants • Named representatives to various events

including Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame Annual meeting, and 2020 Agricultural Challenges & Opportunities Conference

• Other topics discussed included: Predation; report to producers on follow-up AGM resolutions, and write plan for OMAFRA-OSMA agreement

OSMA’s 25TH ANNIVERSARY This year marks The Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency's 25th Anniversary Year. We will be highlighting all four Ontario Sheep News throughout this year with articles and reminisces of the past. We will also be focusing on the event at our Annual General Meeting in October. If you have any information or memories you would like to share, please contact us at the office by email general@ontariosheep.org or calling the office at 519-836-0043 Ext. 27. OSMA STRATEGIC PLAN Copies of the Strategic Plan and Direction can be obtained by contacting Jennifer Johanson – 519-836-0043 or email - admin@ontariosheep.org OSMA INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Fifteen committee members met on March 2 to discuss “Traceability – Farm to Fork and Here To Stay”. Committee members provided many ideas for OSMA and the industry to consider over the next two years in producer awareness, education and buy in from all Industry Stakeholders. The Board received the report at the April Board Meeting. OSMA will be leading in discussions with OMAFRA on developing a pilot study for across industry traceability systems.

Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency, 130 Malcolm Road, Guelph, ON, N1K 1B1 www.ontariosheep.org Tel: 519-836-0043

BOARD DECISIONS / ACTIONS

The Messenger April 2010

GENERAL REPORTING

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger Page 2 April 2010

BUSINESS RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OSMA is working with its partners in the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Coalition to inform MPP’s and MP’s of the need for a revised Agri Stability Program and assistance for commodities in financial need. Watch the Farm Press or OFA new releases for more, next moves by OASC. . BENCHMARKING PROJECT UPDATE All participating producers on the Benchmarking study are in the process of completing the financial and production management surveys. Felix Weber and Gordon Hawley from the FCC are planning and carrying out group training sessions to further explore the software. Shannon Meadows is in the process of collecting the production management surveys from participants. Shannon will be moving on from OSMA to pursue a master’s degree as of April 30th, but will continue to wrap up any outstanding production management surveys. Everyone at OSMA wishes Shannon all the best in her future endeavours. Please see the March issue of Ontario Sheep News on page 32 for an update on what OSMA is doing for Producers. OSMA staff have completed District Binders. Each District have received two binders with one going to the District Chair and one to the District Secretary. April 27, 2010 - Christian Farmers Sheep Producers Committee – Murray Hunt Guest Speaker

OSMA AGM This year's Producer Education Day and AGM will be held at the Holiday Inn in Guelph on October 29th and 30th. More details will be coming out soon. In addition to our regular program, we will be celebrating OSMA's 25th Anniversary Year. We hope many of you decide to attend. ETHNIC HOLIDAY INFORMATION August 11: Islamic Holiday – Start of Ramadan – Weaned market lambs 60-80 lbs. are preferred. Not older than 12 months September 9: Jewish Holiday – Rosh Hashana - Forequarters from weaned lambs 60-110 lbs September 10: Islamic Holiday – Eid ul Fitr – Lambs between 60-80 lbs. live weight and goats are young weighing between 50-70 lbs. Males preferred and it is important that the animal be without blemishes Look for more information in the OSN March Issue And on OSMA website SHEARING SCHOOL May 7, 8, and 9th Sutton West, ON Cost $400 Limited space available For more information contact: Phil Smith Phone: Day - (905) 478-2016 or Evenings - (905) 478-4280

UPCOMING EVENTS

OSMA WORKING FOR YOU

PROJECTS

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger Page 3 April 2010

CANADIAN CLASSIC May 21 - 23rd, 2010 All Canada Classic / Classique Canadienne - Richmond (Québec) Join us for the largest annual event of the Canadian sheep industry

May 21 - Fleece Competition – Contact CCWG for details – 613-257-2714 May 22 - Sheep Show Banquet May 23 – Sheep Sale

Contact Information:

Daniel Dion - Tél: 418-856-1200; Fax: 418-856-6247 Email: semrpq@cepoq.com

David Mastine - Tél: 819-848-2538; Fax: 819-848-2538 Email: fermemaplestar@b2b2c.ca

www.sheepbreeders.ca www.agneauduquebec.com/semrp

1st Annual JAN-LAN-RO FARMS SHEEP EXCHANGE June 5: 8 – 4 pm Location: Jan-Lan-Ro Farm; Fire #103925 10th Concession, RR 2; Mount Forest, ON This is not an auction… Come one, come all to meet producers of a wide variety and buy, sell, or trade your stock. This is your chance to meet with fellow producers, make connections, share tips and have access to stock from all over Ontario. For more information: Rob Lamont at 519-323-1769 or robelamont@yahoo.ca Visit the website for the registration form at: www.sheepexchange.ca

LAMBS DOWN PARK FESTIVAL June 12th, 2010 Lambs Down Park Festival 2010 Rural themed festival with petting zoo, sheep shearing, sheep dog demo's, food venders etc Contact Information: CCWG Head Office - Carleton Place, ON Call 613-257-2714 or Cathie McOrmond - CP BIA 613-257-8049 cmcormond@carletonplace.ca ALL BREEDS, ALL COLORS WOOL SHOW June 27 – Judging at 10:00 am Olds College Fiber Week Fleeces can be dropped off at the College Ag Mech Bay on June 26 or send them to: Donna M. Rudd; RR #3; Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1R3 Judging will be based on traits such as cleanliness, uniformity & soundness, staple style, length and fiber diameter, handle and brightness. Classes are fine wools, down type wools, long wool and specialty fleeces. Ribbons given for each class up to 3rd place, and also a Spinners Choice award for both colored and white fleeces. For further information contact: Donna Rudd at 403-783-3292 or dexters@telusplanet.net SHEEP SALE August 21. 2010 at 1 pm Hoard’s Station Sales Barn (near Campbellford) Supported by OSMA District 8 Auctioneer : Brad Denure Purebred and Commercial Mature/Yearlings/Lambs

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger Page 4 April 2010

Entry forms available from: Elwood Palmateer : 613-968-8698 or Chris Byford : 613-476-2380 Forms are to be completed and sent to Elwood by July 24 with the catalogue available August 7. Lunch available on day of sale Plenty of room for campers on premises 2010 CANADIAN NATIONAL SHEEPDOG TRIALS August 26 to 29th, 2010 Daily from 9 am to 5 pm Shepherd’s Crook Farm on Lorneville Road just outside of town, Woodville, Ontario Over a hundred Border Collies and their owners. The team’s task is to negotiate a small flock of sheep through and around a pre-determined set of gates, then separate selected sheep from the group and place them in a holding pen. For more information visit www.cbca-championships.com WESTERN ONTARIO LAMB PRODUCERS ASSOC. (WOLPA) SHEEP SEMINAR DAY August 28, 2010: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Location: Walkerton Community Centre (Arena). Cost: $30.00 per person includes a catered lunch. Western Ontario Lamb Producers Association (WOLPA) with support from Grey-Bruce Sheep Farm Business Management Association are having a sheep seminar day Featured keynote speaker will be Janet McNally from Hinckley, Minnesota (www.tamaracksheep.com). Topics: her pasture lambing experiences, managing ewes and pastures during the lambing period, cutting $16.00 per ewe from the budget, 6 things to stop depredation NOW!!, using long pasture rotations to beat the parasite cycle and finishing lambs on turnips. Featured also is Phil Smith from Sutton, Ontario (www.rideausheep.com) along with Jack Kyle

(OMAFRA). They will be presenting Phil's experiences with pasturing his dry ewes on corn silage plants for extended fall grazing and a rest period for his permanent pastures. Limited space available, the cut off date for ticket purchases will be August 1st 2010 or when sold out. Advance ticket sales available only by Phone: Steven or Lisa Ernewein (519) 392-8624 SHEEP INFRASTRUCTURE WORKSHOPS September 1 & 2, 2010 – Grand Valley Two day Course sponsored by the Large Flock Operators and OMAFRA – limited to 20 participants. NOTE: This program targets people in the planning cycle for an expansion plan in their sheep enterprise to large scale, commercial scale infrastructure. Workshop is intended to give ideas, show latest concepts, test out participant’s ideas and examine relative costs. For more information and to register: Call: 877-424-1300 or visit www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/sheep/20081211.htm OUTDOOR FARM SHOW September 14 – 16, 2010 Woodstock, ON Please take time to visit the OSMA booth in the Sheep Coverall. INTERNATIONAL PLOW MATCH September 21 – 25, 2010 Location: St. Thomas, ON For more information: www.plowingmatch.org (t) 519-631-1234 or 866-976-2010 Email: admin@plowingmatch.org

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger Page 5 April 2010

District 1: May 6: Next meeting at Coldstream Community Centre Meetings are usually held the first Thursday of every month at Coldstream Community Centre, just north west of London, Ontario at 8:00 PM. For further details or a full list of upcoming events please see our website OSMA_district_1.tripod.com Or phone Marlene Raymond at 519-683-6635 District 3: Regular Meetings: Third Thursday of each month in Rostock at the Perth Agricultural Building District 4: May 18 : Ultrasounding your ewes for efficient flock management with Len Hilderley District 5: May 26: 8 to 10 pm at Holmes Agro Board Room, County Rd. 11, Dufferin August 15 : 6:30 to 9:30 pm BBQ Social & AGM, Thatcher Farms, 5727 5th Line, Eramosa District 7: May 4 & 5: Sheep shearing beginners course: Contact Phil Smith May 21-23: Sheep Classic in Richmond QC; Spring: Sheep 101 Taught by Rebecca Parker – New producers can participate in ongoing sessions to start their journey into sheep farming August 6–8: Market lamb class at Fenelon Falls – Leslie Dyment is arranging Aug 26-29: CBCA Championships (Canadian Border Collie Assoc. Championships)

Victoria County Sheep Producers. May 19: Doug Plaunt presenting on organic farming June - date TBA - farm tour of local sheep producer July - BBQ at farm TBA August - no meeting September - tentative tour to Orangeville large flock operators. Evening meetings start at 7:30 in the lower boardroom, OMAFRA Lindsay. Membership is $20 per farm per year. Contact: Rebecca Parker Phone: 705-277-1711 Email: middlekingdom@sympatico.ca District 8: June 12: Pasture Walk at 570 Front Rd. on Amherst Island (home of Mark Ritchie) with Jack Kyle – Pasture Specialist with OMAFRA. Ferry leaving mainland at 9:30 am, Begin walk at 10 am. Bring lunch. District 9: June 12: Lambs Down Park Festival at Canadian Cooperative Wool Growers (CCWG) Carleton Place District 10: For more information on activities in District 10, please contact Colleen Acres, District 10 Prov. Director at 613-826-2330. Anyone with questions or ideas for OSMA to consider are encouraged to send an email to admin@ontariosheep.org. Staff will acknowledge receipt and attempt, in a timely fashion, to provide an answer or comment.

OSMA REACHING OUT

DISTRICT EVENTS

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger Page 6 April 2010

DIRECTOR CONTACTS FOR OSMA STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS Advocacy Chris Kennedy & Markus Wand

Education Judy Dening & Fraser Hodgson

Research/ Colleen Acres, Chris Kyle, & Development Mark Lenover

Organization Allan Burn & Neil Mesman

Promotion Dennis Fischer & Andrew Gordanier

DISTRICT COMMITTEE’S To see a complete list of your district committee’s please visit OSMA website: www.ontariosheep.org

Creating value is important to

everyone – producers, processors, consumers, service providers and

staff working for the dynamic Ontario Sheep Industry.

If you have ideas for OSMA to consider for initiatives to create value for sheep farmers please send them to: Ruth Gilmour 519-836-0043 ext. 27 or general@ontariosheep.org

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION It is important for Ontario Sheep to have current contact information for all sheep producers in order to keep you up to date on current events.

• Do you have a new email address • Have you moved

Please contact us by calling 519-836-0043 or emailing: admin@ontariosheep.org

Ontario Sheep 519-836-0043 admin@ontariosheep.org Invitation – Producers, industry partners and anyone or organization interested in serving the Ontario Sheep Industry are encouraged to contact either OSMA Directors or the office with ideas, comments, questions or suggestions that may be beneficial to Ontario Sheep as it carries out its mandates.

THOUGHTS FROM STAFFOTHER

OSMA and the Industry – Messenger Page 7 April 2010

Internal and External Committees 2009/2010

Standing Committees

Governance Committee: Andrew Gordanier *, Chris Kyle, Judy Dening, Murray Hunt Audit Committee: Fraser Hodgson *, Colleen Acres, Neil Mesman, Members at Large – Jason Emke, Jennifer Peel Research Committee: Chris Kennedy *, Mark Lenover, Fraser Hodgson, Colleen Acres By-Law and Regulations: Allan Burn *, Neil Mesman, Chris Kyle, Murray Hunt __________________________________________________________________________________________

External Representatives 2009 – 2011 President Council: Markus Wand CFFO: Dennis Fischer OLPC: Murray Hunt OFPMC Sheep Advisory Committee: Will be determined at a future date Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF): Andrew Gordanier *, Mark Lenover, Dennis Fischer Ontario Agricultural Commodity Council (OACC): Andrew Gordanier, Murray Hunt Farm Innovation Program: Murray Hunt Predation Leaders: Chris Kennedy (OFA), Dick Kuiperij (CFFO) Toronto Stock Yard & Land Development Board: Allan Burn

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (Sheep Committee): – Chris Kyle, Lene Band (elected 2009 - 2011) Environmental Representative: Chris Kennedy National On-Farm Food Safety Working Group: Murray Hunt Provincial On-Farm Food Safety: Murray Hunt Sheep Flock Improvement Program Advisory (SFIP) Committee: John Steele, Rebecca Parker, Scott Prudom Ontario Federation of Agriculture: Chris Kennedy, alternate Judy Dening HomeGrown Ontario Steering Committee: Murray Hunt OSMA 4H Ontario Scholarship Committee: To be determined Agricultural Adaptation Committee, Red Meat Seat: (shared with Ont. Veal on a 2 year rotation): Judy Dirksen from OVA for the term Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2010. * Lead Director