Please note that the NAMLN project ended on January 31, 2023, but the resources and website will remain available.
Welcome to the Niagara Agriculture Municipal Learning Network (NAMLN) project page. On this site you will find all details about NAMLN as well as network materials.
NAMLN Overview
The NAMLN project is being undertaken by Brock University’s Niagara Community Observatory (NCO). The project is funded by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The objective of the NAMLN is to engage municipal elected officials and staff in a series of activities to share information, knowledge, and resources regarding regional agricultural issues and opportunities, with an end goal of enhancing capacity within municipalities to support and promote Niagara’s agriculture sector.
As many know, agriculture is a significant sector in the Niagara region, contributing to social, environmental, and economic sustainability. With just over 4% of the total farms in the province, but 5.5% of the total value of provincial gross farm receipts ($838m), the Niagara agriculture sector, certainly punches above its weight in its economic contribution to the Region and the Province.
However, a recent Greenbelt Foundation report found that municipalities in the Niagara Region have less than one full-time employee dedicated to agriculture issues. This lack of capacity often limits the ability of municipalities to respond effectively to emerging and evolving agriculture issues, while also hindering their ability to capitalize on new opportunities.
Participating in the NAMLN will provide members with critical resources and information for making evidence-based decisions that support and promote a sustainable agriculture sector in Niagara. Involvement in the network includes several virtual meetings over the next eight months, along with a regional farm tour to showcase the unique capacity and needs of Niagara’s agriculture industry.
NAMLN officially launched in June 2022, below are some introductory meeting materials
NAMLN Team
Dr. Amy Lemay – Project Lead
Bunmi Okuwa – Network Coordinator and Knowledge Broker
Jayne Morrish – Project Knowledge Mobilization Support
NAMLN Farm Tours
Farm tours occurred on September 28, 2022.
NAMLN Materials
NAMLN Briefing Notes
- Facts About Farming Briefing Note #1 – 11 Facts About Farming
- Facts About Farming Briefing Note #2 – 11 Facts About On-Farm Biosecurity
- Facts About Farming Briefing Note #3 – 13 Facts About Agriculture Infrastructure
- Facts About Farming Briefing Note #4 – 10 Facts About Climate Change and Agriculture
- Facts About Farming Briefing Note #5 – 11 Facts About Vertical Farming
NAMLN research summaries
- Accelerating the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices: A case study of how grapevine virus research is shared and used
- Developing Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change Adaptation Solutions
- CLEan plAnt extractioN SEquencing Diagnostics (CLEANSED) for Virus-free Grapevines in Canada
INFORMATION ABOUT BIRD BANGERS
- OMAFRA – Using propane-fired cannons to keep birds away from vineyards
- OMAFRA – Bird Control in Horticultural Crops
- Review of international research literature regarding the effectiveness of auditory bird scaring techniques and potential alternatives
- Efficacy of bird deterrent devices in agricultural areas of the Fraser Valley of British Columbia: a pilot study
NAMLN WEEKLY VIDEOS
Source: Grain Farmers of Ontario – https://gfo.ca/research/farming101/
Source: Farm and Food Care Ontario – https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/farming-and-the-environment/soilhealthvideos/
Source: Farm and Food Care Ontario – https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/farming-and-the-environment/strip-tillage/
Source: Animal Health Emergency Management (AHEM) Project – https://animalhealth.ca/ahem/
Source: OMAFRA – http://omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/hort/videos.htm
Source: Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO) – https://www.farmfoodcareon.org
Source: RealAgriculture – https://www.realagriculture.com/
Source: RealAgriculture – https://www.realagriculture.com
Animal Health Starts on the Farm – Basic principles for protecting animal health on Canadian farms
Video available online here
Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency – https://inspection.canada.ca/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/biosecurity/tools/eng/1344790074044/1344790183249
Source: Government of Ontario – http://media.ontarionewsroom.com/desctxt/why-plant-high-density-apples.html
Source: Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) – https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/
Source: Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) – https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/
Source: Grain Farmers of Ontario – https://gfo.ca/
Source: Ontario Pork Farmers – https://ontariopork.on.ca/
Source: Grape Growers of Ontario – https://grapegrowersofontario.com/
Source: Farm & Food Care Ontario (FFCO – http://www.farmfoodcare.org/
Source: Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) – https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/