The latest version of the AAC Newsletter for Summer 2010 is now available on the AAC website. Click on the following link to find the Summer Newsletter.

STRATFORD, Ontario, August 11^th, 2010 - The Government of Canada is helping to increase profitability and access new markets for Ontario’s goat industry. Today, Member of Parliament Gary Schellenberger (Perth-Wellington), on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, was pleased to announce an investment of over $700,000 to establish an integrated dairy goat genetic improvement program.

The GoGen pilot project, which will be overseen by Ontario Goat, will help the goat industry make genetic improvements to increase milk production and improve meat quality through superior genetics.  The funds will also be used to update, modify and bring efficiencies to current goat genetic tools already provided by the goat industry.

The latest version of the AAC Newsflash is now available on the AAC website. Click on the following link to find the July Newsflash.

Peterborough, Ontario, June 29th, 2010 – The Government of Canada is helping to create valuable new markets and increase profitability for Ontario famers by investing in research that will determine the economic opportunities for growing biomass as an alternative energy source.  Member of Parliament Barry Devolin (Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock) announced the $2.4 million investment to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) today on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.

“Today’s announcement will help farmers in my riding and across Ontario gain the knowledge they need to remain strong and competitive,” said MP Devolin. “The research will help Ontario agriculture lead the way to an entirely new family of crops, a new stable market and a new industry for purpose-grown crops used for energy sources.”

We have changed the deadline for CAAP applications from Friday, June 25, 2010 to Friday, July 9, 2010 to provide you with more time to complete your applications.

The Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) Board of Directors is pleased to announce Terry Thompson as their new Executive Director.

Terry joined the AAC in 1998, after working for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Agricorp. Terry was the AAC Operations and Finance Manager, until December 2009 when the AAC Board appointed him to the role of Interim Executive Director.

June 3, 2010 - Soybeans are helping to make industrial epoxy resins used in construction, automotive and furniture production hardier, greener and less expensive.

Researchers at the University of Guelph are working on a new soy-oil based bio-resin that, when mixed with soy stalks and soybean meal, can create new biodegradable “green composites”. Traditional epoxy resins used in composite products are petroleum-based and can be brittle. Epoxidized soybean oil - a stabilizer made from soybeans - is a lower cost, renewable material that can be used as an additive to enhance the toughness of conventional epoxy resins.

May 21, 2010- The AAC has issued the second ABP Call for Proposals. For further program information please click on the following link http://www.adaptcouncil.org/e/current-programs/abp.php.

May 12, 2010 - Ontario consumers want protein that is lean and low in saturated fat – but still tender and flavourful. This was the finding of a market research survey conducted recently by the Ontario Veal Association (OVA) in order to determine consumer perceptions and knowledge of veal and its health benefits. The study also showed that although most consumers are unaware of veal as a lean source of protein, the majority is more inclined to purchase it in the future once they heard of its health benefits.

“Food plays a key role in our health and well-being,” says Judy Dirksen, a veal farmer and President of the Ontario Veal Association. “Veal is a healthy menu choice that still meets consumer demand for tenderness and flavour.”

(Guelph, ON - May 6, 2010) - There is a growing demand for Ontario rabbit meat, which means opportunity for Ontario farmers. But there is very little research to help farmers improve and increase their production, according to a literature review commissioned by Ontario Rabbit. In fact, there are North America-wide gaps in meat rabbit research and resources.

“Our farmers are asking for research but we need to determine what’s already been done so we don’t duplicate efforts,” says rabbit grower Dave Kabbes, President of Ontario Rabbit. “This will help us be more strategic and focused in how we allocate our research dollars to address the gaps we’ve identified.”