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Beef farmers take great pride in their animals, their operations, the environment, and the product they raise. The Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) program allows beef farmers to prove to consumers, retailers, and industry stakeholders that their operations adhere to the highest standards for food safety, animal care, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. Modern consumers are looking to make responsible food choices, and retailers are looking to source beef from sustainable supply chains. VBP+ helps producers prove that they are doing the right things by offering both training and third-party auditing to certify operations under the program standard. On-farm assessments and training are available for operations in the cow-calf, backgrounding, and feedlot sectors from coast to coast. Getting certified qualifies your cattle for marketing in sustainable supply chains sought after by retailers. VBP+ training isn’t just for producers who want to get certified. Yes, the VBP+ training is designed to set producers up for successful certification, but it also includes a wealth of information on current best management practices that can help any operation with continuous improvement. Upcoming VBP+ Virtual Training Date Monday, December 8, 2025 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. To register for this event, follow the link below: https://www.ontariobeef.com/communications/news-media/vbpplus-training-date-on-december-8/ delete

This is a one-day symposium of talks and poster presentations lead by graduate students in animal biosciences. The goal of this event is to bring graduate students, OMAFA staff, and UoG faculty together. Follow the link below to register or to submit your abstract: https://sites.google.com/view/abrgss2024/registrationabstract-submission?authuser=0 delete

For beef, sheep, goat and dairy producers. A Veterinarian will show you the benefits of having a biosecurity program and identify key practices to help you enhance biosecurity for your farm. You will have the opportunity to learn from knowledgeable OSCIA staff about cost-share opportunities and network with fellow farmers. For webinars, participation in BOTH sessions is required and you must have a reliable internet connection and a laptop or desktop computer to participate (no smartphones). To learn more and to register, visit the link below: https://workshops.osciaportal.org/workshop/registration/41?workshopEventId=2104 delete

The Indigenous Food Forest Program equips Indigenous farmers, growers and communities across Ontario with the funding, knowledge, and mentorship needed to design, establish, and care for resilient food forests that strengthen ecological health, food sovereignty, and cultural continuity. What is a food forest? A food forest is a perennial growing system where food-producing trees, shrubs, herbs, and medicines grow together in layered relationships supported by healthy soil, water, wildlife, and people. Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island have long cultivated food forest systems as part of ongoing land stewardship and food cultivation practices that sustain both people and ecosystems. This program supports those living knowledge systems by resourcing Indigenous growers and communities to begin new food forest projects rooted in these ways of knowing and caring for the land. Food forests often include a mix of native species and cultivated garden varieties that are locally appropriate, culturally significant, and ecologically supportive. Each food forest is unique to its place and people, guided by local knowledge, community or family goals, and long-term stewardship. If you are an Indigenous grower, farmer, or land steward interested in establishing a food forest and connecting with a knowledge-sharing community around food forest stewardship, apply today! Application Deadline Please complete and submit the application form by midnight on December 12th, 2025. Successful applicants will be notified in early January 2026. We are here to help! Please reach out to Rachel Lachance, Food Forest Program Manager, at rachel@efao.ca if you have any questions about completing the application form. https://efao.ca/food-forests/ delete

Discover the RAIN Incubator Kitchen, meet local food entrepreneurs, and connect with partners supporting a growing food economy. The RAIN Incubator Kitchen at Harvest Algoma is officially open, and we’re marking the launch with a one-hour networking event for food entrepreneurs and the partners who support them. This production-ready commercial kitchen is built for makers, bakers, caterers, small-scale processors, and new food startups who want to grow without the cost of building their own facility. What to Expect? Tour the kitchen and explore the new commercial space Learn how kitchen rentals work and what’s included Meet the team who will help you get started You’ll also have the chance to connect with others in the local food sector, including entrepreneurs, service providers, lenders, funders, business support organizations, and community partners. Our goal is to bring people together, spark new collaborations, and build a stronger local food economy. To learn more or to get tickets, follow the link below: https://tinyurl.com/rainincubatorkitchen delete