Please be advised that the Farm Innovation Program (FIP) is the sole provider of research funding from the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association until FIP comes to an end in 2013. 

THE REQUEST PERIOD FOR PROPOSALS IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

• Request for Proposals Letter from OCA Research Committee Chair

• FIP Information Guide, Application Form and Milestone Performance and Budget Forms

Please note that the OCA Research Committee has identified the following priorities for funding:

1.       Production and Feeding Strategies to Lower Costs of Production.

2.       Safe Product

3.       Marketing Opportunities for Ontario beef - product development

4.       Environmental Sustainability

5.       Improved Animal Health and Welfare

6.       Economic Research and Analysis as it Relates to Ontario beef Production

While submitted projects are required to meet the goals and objectives as outlined in the FIP Information Guide, you are encouraged to submit projects that fit under the above priorities.

Please find three important documents to become familiar with FIP III at http://www.adaptcouncil.org/e/current-programs/fip.php:

1.       FIP Information Guide for Intake of Proposals III

2.       FIP Application Form

3.       FIP Milestone Performance and Budget Forms

PROCESS:

After June 18, the approval process is as follows:

1. OCA Research Committee reviews applications to make recommendations to OCA Board

2. The OCA Board meets to review and approve applications

3. The Livestock Sector Committee of Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) meets August 30, 2010 to review and approve applications

4. The AAC Board of Directors meets after September 6, 2010 to review and approve applications

·    If the application is approved during each of these steps, applicants will be notified and the project and payment will move forward

Please let Lisa Turney know if you have any questions by calling 519-824-0334 or by emailing lisa@cattle.guelph.on.ca

Following is a brief outline of the Farm Innovation Program:

Farm Innovation Program (FIP)

The Farm Innovation Program (FIP) is a $12,000,000 program that is part of Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The FIP is one of the Innovation and Science Suite of programs for Growing Forward in Ontario.

The FIP is aimed at boosting agricultural research, competitiveness, and productivity in Ontario’s agricultural sectors. The FIP will be administered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC) on behalf of Agriculture, Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). OCA will be managing the projects for the beef sector. All applications for beef projects will be submitted through OCA for approval.

Goal and Objectives

The overall goal of FIP is to:

• Increase the development, adaptation, assessment, and adoption of on-farm innovative technologies that help agricultural producers respond to changing demands.

Approved projects will undertake research and innovation to:

• Increase awareness and access to credible, Ontario-based information on applicable innovative on-farm technologies in each sector.

• Provide industry-directed funding to agricultural commodity organizations and to individual farmers or groups of farmers for applied research projects and on-farm demonstrations that focus on innovative technologies for on-farm application.