On-farm intern program available
People looking to gain hands-on farming and ranching experience can apply for the FARRMS Intern Program in North Dakota.
Canadians are eligible, providing they meet U.S. immigration regulations.
The co-operative education program combines hands-on training, classroom learning and farm-based education on family farms in that state.
Interns can choose what type of farm or area of farming in which they want to learn. They live and work full time on a host farm for a growing season.
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A limited number of positions are available. Selected interns should be placed by May 15 and the season runs until the end of November.
Room and board, tuition and a $200 a week stipend will be provided. Farms can host up to three interns.
Farm owners and operators looking to share their skills and knowledge can become a host farm.
Applications can be downloaded at www.farrms.org/farrms-intern-program.html.
For more information, email info@farrms.org or call 701-486-3569.
New members join canola producers board
Lee Markert of Vulcan has been elected chair of the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.
Greg Sears of Sexsmith is vice-chair.
Three new directors include Steve Marshman of Strathmore, Dale Uglem of Bawlf and John Guelly of Westlock.
A full list of committee chairs and directors with their contact information can be found at albertacanola.com.
Agritourism safety website upgraded
Website updates at www.safeagritourism.com provide new information activities and safety resources for integrating safety in agritourism.
The updates were made as a result of a national survey of agritourism operators by the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety.
It found that safety strategies can increase fun and minimize liability.
The most common agritourism activities are farm markets, tours-educational activities, hay-sleigh rides, pumpkin patches, U-pick produce and play areas.
Other topics of interest were insurance, emergency planning, employee training and supervision of visitors.
Most of those who participated in the survey listed the internet as their preferred method of accessing information, followed by conferences-meetings (62 percent), print (52 percent) and mobile apps (15 percent).
Most operators want ready-to-print signs such as directional, hand-washing and do not enter.
Grain Farmers of Ontario get new chair
Mark Brock is the new chair of Grain Farmers of Ontario. He replaces Henry Van Ankum.
Brock has been vice-chair since 2012.
Mark Huston and Markus Haerle are vice-chairs, while Scott Persall will be an executive member.
Crop insurance deadline near
March 31 is the interim application deadline for crop insurance from the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp.
This includes applying, reinstating, canceling or making changes to the 2015 crop insurance contract, as well as all crops to be insured and coverage levels.
Producers also need to report added or deleted land from their contract.
Customers with outstanding balances who want insurance for 2015 have until March 31 to make payment arrangements.
