R.A.I.N.

The Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) is a collaborative organization for improved producer success and business growth. It has been formed with support from local associations, producers, businesses and municipalities as well as funding programs to improve the capacity of Algoma producers for rural based crops, commodities, value-added products and services.

RAIN was created through a collaborative approach in developing a terms of reference (or framework) through consultations with the Algoma agricultural community. The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre and NORDIK Institute (Algoma University) played a lead role in gaining support from the project’s partners, including the agricultural community, the private sector (farmers and businesses e.g. Penokean Hills Farms), and funding partners (Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, FedNor and Ontario Trillium Foundation) to undertake this three-year pilot project.

RAIN project staff will be hired to carry out project goals identified in the terms of reference alongside local producers, businesses and organizations. With direction from a RAIN Advisory Committee (made up of the ag-community), project staff will undertake the following activities over the three-year pilot:

• Build relationships (between producers, businesses and project staff) through networking and priority setting exercises to reinforce involvement from the agricultural community
• Build capacity of local producers, agri-business/entrepreneurs in agriculture and food through hosting practical workshops, sharing information, assisting with market development and facilitating the development of research projects
• Undertake research that is linked with the needs of local producers through conducting crop trials and sharing research that is accessible
• Establish a pan-Northern policy network in the agriculture and food sector that is made in the North, for the North.

RAIN aims to benefit partners through:

• Research that is tailored to local farmers, providing measurable results
• Market development for products in local and global value chains
• Knowledge transfer; sharing resources and research
• Fostering innovation and improvements to the sector
• Networking, collaboration and partnership development
• Job creation and retention; economic development

RAIN needs your support to move forward. In order to conduct research and grow opportunities for agriculture in Algoma, it will take a rigorous effort from everyone involved in the agriculture & food system (producers, processors and retailers) and its support systems (government, volunteers, nonprofits, investors, coops and consumers). RAIN project staff will be undertaking a series of community meetings throughout Algoma’s agriculture community to identify priorities for research & training, to recruit project volunteers and to further explore the RAIN concept.

For more information, please contact: David Thompson, RAIN Research Project Coordinator

At 705-942-7927 x3027
dthompson@ssmic.com

The Annual Meeting held at Bruce Station Hall on Wednesday, January 18th from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. will feature:

• Brian Bell from OMAFRA will speak on pros/cons of various feedstuffs and how they would fit a typical cattle ration, and talk about grain “matches” for those forages
• Q&A with Bill Reich, a Manitoulin grain & corn grower
• There will be a discussion on the local trials with Barley and Sorghum from the past year
• Mack Emiry from Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association OSCIA
• Jody Tait from the saveONenergy program
• Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) will present an update on research and development

Sponsors include the Algoma Ag Centre, Lock City Dairy, Algoma Mutual Insurance and Cook’s Station.

Door’s open at 9:30 a.m. $15 includes lunch, coffee breaks and membership in ASCIA.

Attached poster for distribution.

Please RSVP or for more information to Tim Harris at 705-248-2891 or timharrisarts@icloud.com