Office Hours Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm
The Landfill SUMMER Hours
APRIL 1 – SEPTEMBER 30: Tuesday 12-8, Thursday 12-5, Saturday 8-5
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:
RAIN aims to benefit partners through:
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:
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
Saturday January 28th – 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
$20+HST = $22.60 – includes lunch.
9:30 – 12:00 Assessing Market Feasibility with Peggy Baillie (Local Food Coops Network) Market research, feasibility, customer demographics and pricing.
Peggy will cover how to analyze where your product fits in the market, what your demand is, and how to shape your marketing approach to help your product stand out.
1:00 – 3:30 Better Sales Strategies with Brian Bell (OMAFRA)
Brian will cover customer needs, features and benefits, trends, competition, handling objections and indifference, and the art of the ask.
Peggy Baillie is the Executive Director of the Local Organic Food Coops Network, linking over 90 food and farming co-ops to training, peer connections and food system transformation through co-operation. Before joining the LOFC, Peggy was instrumental in the growth of Eat Local Sudbury Co-operative, a leading local food co-op in Ontario. With over 15 years experience working with the food sector, Peggy’s has a unique expertise in the field of local food production, marketing and distribution. Peggy also operates a mixed organic farm with her partner Eric in Warren Ontario.
Contact David Thompson to process your registration. dthompson@ssmic.com 705-942-7927 x3027. Register by Jan 20th
Powerpoint slides from Jan 12th Season Extension Workshop with Collin Thompson are available at www.rainalgoma.ca/ngn
For more upcoming events and workshops, visit rainalgoma.ca/events
As of August 31, 2016, under Ontario Regulation 63/09 of the Pesticides Act (O. Reg. 63/09), one of the requirements to buy and use Class 12 pesticides is that a person must successfully complete the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Course for Corn and Soybeans and become certified.
Upcoming Algoma course
Saturday February 4th
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Desbarats
Anyone can register by calling 1-866-225-9020 or online at this website: www.IPMcertified.ca
Township of Macdonald, Meredith & Aberdeen Additional
208 Church Street P.O. Box 10
Echo Bay, Ontario P0S 1CO
T: (705) 248-2441 | F: (705) 248-3091