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Did you know?
That sweet corn should ideally be cooked and eaten the same day it’s harvested? That’s because its natural sugar declines as soon as it’s been picked. If you can’t eat it the same day, you can store it for two or three days in your fridge in a plastic bag.
Did you know?
That while peaches are a popular crop in Ontario today, the fruit is likely native to China, near the Pakistan border, where it still grows wild. Archeologists found that peaches were once considered a symbol of immortality.
Did you know?
That Ontario and Quebec combined account for over 95 per cent of Canada’s pepper production? While most of Ontario’s peppers are grown in greenhouses, the field crop is harvested in August.
Did you know?
That while broccoli needs at least six hours of sunlight each day to thrive, it’s still a good idea to give it some shade during the hottest time of the day.
Did you know?
That while the root system of raspberries and blackberries is perennial, each shoot is only biennial, meaning it survives for two years. During the first year, the shoot will reach its maximum height, and in the second year, it will produce fruit and die soon afterwards.
Did you know?
That it’s important to remove the scape from your hardneck varieties of garlic, because leaving it on can reduce the bulb yields by as much as 30 per cent. Don’t throw them away, though – there are lots of ways to prepare them, including raw, sautéed, and pickled.
Dr. Thomas
Molnar ‘rocks the stage’ at annual hazelnut
symposium
By Jeff Tribe
The Ontario Hazelnut Association was thrilled to have an industry rock star take the stage for its 16th Annual Symposium and AGM Thursday, March 20 at the University of Guelph Arboretum.
Dr. Thomas Molnar is the American equivalent of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Ernie Grimo, godfathers of eastern North American hazelnut breeding in their own right. As the child of a single mother, Molnar lived with his grandfather who retired from Princeton Nurseries in New Jersey, growing up surrounded by plants. Molnar eventually moved to rural Pennsylvania, working for area farmers and spending his free time in the woods, honing his interest in things biological.
“I found plants and a passion.”
Following his freshman at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), Molnar connected with Dr. Reed Funk or Rutgers University through his Aunt Barbara, who worked in the Rutgers Dean’s office at the time, responding to Thomas’s request for a summer job with one of the plant scientists there.
“She picked the best one for sure,” smiled Molnar.
Funk’s successful turfgrass breeding program had earned his university a lot of money, and the professor latitude to pursue projects of his interest. Based in part on the health benefits of nut consumption, the internationally-recognized expert in plant breeding initiated a program featuring several nut varieties. Molnar worked with Funk for three summers before transferring to Rutgers to finish his undergraduate degree, with the specific plan of working with his mentor, ultimately toward a Ph.D.
considerations shifted from possibly becoming a doctor or veterinarian. He quickly became more deeply invested in the breeding program, eventually taking it over upon Funk’s retirement and shifting its focus exclusively to hazelnuts, specifically breeding trees which could form the basis of a viable eastern seaboard industry.
“I was young and that was exciting for me,” said Molnar. “I was at the right place at the right time with the right interests.”
What he may not have recognized at the time was a 30-plus-year commitment that far more than just a job, would at times represent a seven-day-a-week passion, as noted by his wife, a science teacher, and their three children. Molnar’s approach is in part based upon his youthful realization life was short.
“I didn’t want to pass through and not make an impact.”
“For almost 30 years, that wasn’t the case,” said Molnar. “I think we have the plants to do it and the knowhow, we just have to make it come together.”
In broad terms, hazelnut breeders seek to produce vigorous trees yielding large quantities of round, high-quality nuts which blanch well; compatible genes for climate-appropriate pollination; and the number one consideration, Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB) resistance, high levels both in terms of strength and diversity.
“You can see it’s a long process,” said Molnar, describing it as a ‘numbers game.’ The more specimens breeders are able to cycle through, the more likely they are to find ‘those rare individuals’ moving the effort forward.
His approach seeks quantitative resistance, stacking tolerance genes rather than breeding for a single fungal resistance gene, due to the fact EFB has shown the ability to evolve.
An overall EFB battle plan includes factors like nurseries ensuring their material is clean, growers scouting for, removing and destroying affected tissue, orchards being managed as multi-stem trees in order to be able to remove one ‘branch’, diverse plantings encompassing a range of resistance, and if required, a spraying program. However, plant breeding is a crucial first step.
“How do we make it work, long-term?” Molnar asked rhetorically. “How do we help the industry really get started and be sustainable and viable?”
His answer to his own questions is ‘resistance and diversity of resistance sources’, quantitative if you will, a goal certainly not culminating, but celebrating an important milestone in 2020 with the release of four varieties: Raritan, Somerset, Monmouth and Hunterdon. By this year, they are available in sufficient numbers and accessible to growers.
Molnar earned his bachelor’s degree in plant science in 2000, adding a Ph.D. in plant biology in 2006. Inspired through the opportunity to work with and learn from a true master eventually as an assistant, Molnar’s longer-term
The fungal disease is a threat because commercially-viable nut trees are imported from other parts of the world, coming into North America without the generational resistance native hazelnut trees - with nuts too small to build an industry around - have built up over millennia. Accelerating that process through selective breeding is still time-consuming and exhaustive. Choosing the best of the best of the best from thousands of test trees (8,000 annually at Rutgers) exhibiting resistance and positive characteristics, evaluation trials, wider testing in various locations and then propagating the eventual winners into large-enough numbers to make an industry impact takes 17 to 20 years.
“For almost 30 years, that wasn’t the case,” said Molnar. “I think we have the plants to do it and the know-how, we just have to make it come together.”
Five other varieties are also on tap for release in 2026, part of what Molnar describes an ongoing life’s work, visible in growing eastern North American hazelnut acreage. In his home state of New Jersey, for example, from virtually nothing, voluntary respondents to a survey representing only a partial total of what is actually out there, indicate 34 producers have 20,271 trees planted on 101.5 acres. This represents a significant percentage of totals from 20 eastern states (147 producers, 41,672 trees).
“There’s momentum in the east to develop a hazelnut industry,” Molnar said. “We’re close,
Linda Grimo, of Grimo Nut Nursery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, has Rutgers EFB-resistant varieties on offer.
Dr. Thomas Molnar of Rutgers University was the keynote speaker at the 16th Annual Ontario Hazelnut Association symposium.
Hazelnut breeding pioneer speaks at symposium
it’s almost at that commercial level but we’re not there yet so I kind of have to be patient.”
Deeply committed for close to 30 years, Molnar is determined to see a program representing both his reputation and life’s work through.
“If you really care about what you’re doing, you put yourself out there,” he concluded. “How the trees perform, how they’re going to impact other people’s lives.
“It’s very personal.”
Four new EFB-resistant Rutgers University hazelnut varieties available in Canada
Help is on the way for Ontario hazelnut growers in the form of four new Eastern Filbert Blight-resistant varieties developed through Dr. Thomas Molnar’s breeding program at Rutgers University, in New Jersey.
“You can get them into Canada,” said Molnar, of availability both at Grimo Nut Nursery in Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Foggy Bottom Nursery in New Jersey.
First released in 2020, the cultivars became available in 2024. Five more varieties are expected to be released in 2026, with details on each becoming available at that time.
Raritan
Raritan is a high-yielding tree with quantitative Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB) resistance that produces medium-sized round kernels. It is not EFB immune says Molnar, but highly resistant with cankers that tend to be small. It is not expected to need to be sprayed, however regular scouting for infected areas, and their removal, is recommended.
Trees exhibit vigorous upright growth Molnar continued, Raritan being a robust variety that is comparatively easy to grow.
In New Jersey, it blooms early to mid-season, with S-alleles 3 and 22, S3 expressed in its pollen.
Nuts have a dark-brown shell, typically dropping at maturity in the first half of September. Kernels average 1.2 to 1.5 grams and fit Ferrero Roche specifications said Molnar.
A large tree, it takes time to grow, but is considered the highest producer at maturity, one 19-year test specimen producing over 50 pounds of nuts in one year.
Somerset Somerset exhibits compact growth says Molnar, their 15-foot height roughly two-thirds the size of Raritan trees, but far more precocious, bearing heavily while young.
It was free of EFB during trials, and produces thin-shelled, round nuts, 54 per cent of which are considered to be kernels of 1.14 grams in weight. They typically
fall in mid-September, a timeline aligning with Raritan.
Its dark, green leaves are slightly crinkled. Trees bloom in early to mid-season in New Jersey, with S-alleles 3 and 10, emitting S3 S-alleles in its pollen.
Kernels are ‘moderately-good’ at blanching, suitable for confectionary and baked options, along with eating as nuts, particularly when roasted.
Monmouth
Monmouth is considered highly-EFB tolerant says Molnar.
Exhibiting moderately-vigorous growth, it is a ‘wide spreader’ reaching 20 feet and producing 1.19-gram kernels on average from thin shells, at roughly a 50 per cent kernel-to-shell ratio.
Yields are lower in some years than Raritan and Somerset said Molnar. The variety flowers early, which may limit yields because pollenizer schedules may not line up in some years. Monmouth has S-alleles 1 and 12, expressing both in its pollen.
Nuts drop in the first half of September, and while a significant portion do so in the husk, they are comparatively-easily removed either mechanically or by hand.
Hunterdon
Featuring the sweetest kernels of the four hazelnuts, Hunterdon is a moderately high-yielding tree with mostly round, medium to large kernels weighing in at an average of 1.23 grams. Trees show slightly more vigorous growth than Monmouth, spreading more than Raritan and reaching around 20 feet at 15 years of age. It has a high level of EFB tolerance.
Its nuts are brown and shiny, tending to drop in mid-to-late August and onward. This can lead to inconsistent yields due to
Hunterdon has S-alleles 1 and 3, blooming in early to mid-season and emitting S3 in its pollen.
The Beast
The Beast received its nickname for vigorous and productive growth in early research trials, holding up well to EFB testing.
A hybrid developed from an Oregon State University variety crossed with Slate, it originated at Oregon State. It has been tested since 2000 at Rutgers and released in 2020.
Trees grow upright, reaching 20 feet and spreading moderately. Nuts typically fall in the second half of September. The tree is high-yielding, although nuts are smaller and with a high level of fibre, removed during roasting.
predators concentrating on nuts available two weeks ahead of anything else.
Based on longer-term crop studies, Molnar no longer recommends Hunterdon as a main crop producer as yields are lower than Raritan, Somerset and Monmouth.
Although initially suggested as a pollenizer in New Jersey, its high level of production, combined with cold hardiness, have led some producers to consider it a main production variety.
“It’s a decent kernel,” said Molnar. “It is very productive, not as high a yield as Raritan, but a vigorous tree.”
The Beast has S-alleles 8 and 23, expressing S8 during early to mid-season pollination.
Dr. Thomas Molnar speaks on the four Rutgers University EFB-resistant hazelnut varieties and a fifth hybrid varietal now available in Canada, along with five more varieties to be available in 2026.
From butcher’s block to table: local butchers flashed their knives at the “Olympics of Butchery” in France
By Diane Baltaz
Norfolk County has some of the world’s best butchers.
They formed part of Butchery Team Canada in this year’s World Butchers’ Challenge (WBC) and its offshoot -- the Junior Butchers’ Challenge – in Paris, France in late March. They placed fifth among the 15 nations that participated in this year’s WBC, only 1.5 points behind the winning team of France.
“We placed fifth, with 70.59 points,” said team co-captain Peter Baarda, of Port Dover. “If you look at the top five, their scores were very close. The drop in points happens with the sixth country (Italy at 65.73 points).”
Baarda led a core team of six butchers along with alternates and managers from Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta. Local team mates and their positions were as follows: Doug Easterbrook, Waterford (Alternate); Dylan Miedema, Townsend Butchers (Junior Butcher); and Dave VanderVelde, Smithville.
These butchers agree that the event provided excitement and glamour despite its intensive planning and labour. Their enthusiasm sounded obvious as they described their adventure.
unlocked and the overall trade benefiting from an injection of creativity and innovation.”
The competition itself is conducted over an intense three hour and thirty-minute period with each team receiving a side of beef, a side of pork, a whole lamb and five chickens which they must transform into a themed display of value-added products. Teams provide their own flavourings and garnishes to finish products, which remain uncooked and must have retail appeal. Independent judges score each team based on technique and skill, workmanship, product innovation, overall finish and presentation.
Canada chose a four seasons theme, which Baarda said was then laid out in a buffet style.
“It meant bringing a lot of supplies and seasonings from Canada,” he added.
Canada chose a four seasons theme, which Baarda said was then laid out in a buffet style.
Commonly described as “the Olympics of Butchery”, the WBC originated as a friendly professional rivalry between Australia and New Zealand in 2011 before going international.
The World Butchers’ Challenge’s goal, according to its website, “is to develop an environment where butchers strive to exceed current industry practice in the areas of general workmanship, meat cutting, displaying and the creative usage of beef, lamb, pork and chicken product. Through this competition, a global community has been cemented with life-long friendships formed, business opportunities
Menu planning and table presentation occurred during Team Canada’s rehearsals, said Easterbrook. “We chose everything for the product and time of year such as spices, marinades, rubs and sauces to put on for that time of year.”
“We did put some maple syrup in a few products as we’re Canada and it does go into some pork, but we steered away from it this time,” added Easterbrook. “We did the four seasons as Canada is known for that. We created stuffed pork chops with a bread stuffing for fall and winter as any kind of stuffing goes for colder weather; rich filling products in the colder months and smaller products in the warmer months.”
Easterbrook said that lamb had “the traditional” spices of rosemary, thyme, garlic, mint; the steak got “a good spice, sauce and a charcoal rub.” The “summer scene” included stir fry and Korean BBQ.
WBC rules state that only “the core team of six butchers” could work the butchery floor, said Easterbrook. They had defined tasks such as cutting, breaking, trimming, sausage making, and finishing with plating.
The others handled the background labour at the practices and in Paris, said Easterbrook. “We did all the behind the scenes work so that we’d be ready to get set and go. This puts less noise in the core team’s heads -- they can focus on what they are doing.”
At practice sessions the alternates took notes on meat cutting quality, deficiencies, professionalism, and scrutinizing each core member’s role lest someone had to pull out. “Everybody is always trying to get better as individuals and as a team as it is a team effort and it’s not just one person.”
Added Easterbrook: ”We came in really prepared and that’s why you do the run-through. Our processes were in place. It was just like watching a regular practice.”
Miedema, 26, demonstrated his skills on March 30, the day prior to the WBC. He competed in the Young Butcher Challenge along with two other Canadians.
This contest, along with the World Apprentice Butcher match which ran earlier that day, requires that contestants be less than 35 years of age. Judges rate the butchers on technique, professionalism, creativity, food safety and the overall presentation of their final display.
Working individually at separate stations, each “junior” had two hours and thirty minutes to prep a side of lamb, two chickens, bone in bovine, and a pork middle (belly) with bone attached.
“I had to take all that garnish, cut, marinate it and put it on the table,” said Miedema.
Miedema prepared mushroom caps, cutlets, burgers, “frenched” pork, Chipotle chicken wings and crusted rack of lamb.
The teammates had years of experience: Baarda, with approximately 35 years, owns J
The Canadian team in France – Peter Baarda of Port Dover holds the flag.
Second-generation butcher Dave VanderVelde has been with Team Canada since 2018.
Team group huddle prior to the match. Port Dover’s Peter Baarda holds the flag.
Locals amongst Canadian team competing at world butcher challenge
& G Quality Meats in Burlington and competed and judged in past Ontario’s Finest Butcher events. He co-created Butchery Team Canada in 2018, leading them into its first WBC, held in Sacramento in 2022.
Easterbrook, 33, enjoyed assisting his father in local barbecue competitions held by Brantford’s Strodes Meats and showed “an interest in large cuts of meat and cooking them” at the Brantford Farmers’ Market and local butchers’ shops in his teens. He took a high school co-op program where he learned about meat cutting under Brian Witteveen of Strodes, later apprenticing at Townsend Butchers. During his 15 years of butchery, Easterbrook competed in Ontario’s Finest Butcher and the 2022 WBC.
As the third generation of Miedema at Townsend Butchers, Miedema admits that “pretty much from day one I was in or around the shop working for my grandfather (Doug Miedema) making patties.” He competed three times at Ontario’s Finest Butcher, making it to the finals twice.
VanderVelde manages VG Meats’ Stoney Creek store and has more than 25 years of experience including Sacramento. He had been with Butchery Team Canada since 2018.
His family ran a butcher shop in West Lincoln, and like many farm-raised youth, butchery became a vocation.
“As a second generation butcher I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I absolutely love what I do! I have many fond memories working late nights with my dad in our family butcher shop when I was growing up. I’ve tried working in a couple other industries, but working in the meat industry just feels right.”
Selection of Team Canada competitors from six time zones required video tryouts for the far-flung candidates. Then came the practice and planning sessions, which Easterbrook said took place at George Brown College “every two or three months for a year-and-a-half.”
“The logistics weren’t easy as Canada is not a small country,” admitted Easterbrook. “We’d
fly them in on Friday and fly them out Sunday. Team Canada was lucky to have some really big sponsors, and there were fundraisers in a lot of different places and a Go Fund Me account for the practices – and we needed a lot of meat.”
The Junior Butchers had their own coach -Troy Spicer from Fanshawe College, London, added Easterbrook.
Miedema had at least 20 practice sessions at his shop and in a setting that duplicated the WBC layout. “We had full practices at the very end with some fine turning to get our speed up to do everything in 2.5 hours.”
Miedema didn’t find his first solo international challenge nerve-wracking: “For one person it can be, but there was two hours work in all -- you can go through real quickly.”
The Canadian Junior Butchers came in 16th, 17th and with Miedema as the 18th out of 26 competitors. The top three winners were all French, which didn’t surprise him because Europe has a different training system with professional butcher schools, unlike Canada.
The two tonnes of competition meat went to Refuge Food, a non-profit that reworked it into meals for communities in need across France.
While the team never won the grand prize – the Golden Knife Trophy --Easterbrook said that everyone received a gold-plated knife. “The competition just hands them out to the teams.”
Easterbrook and Miedema described the “eye-opening” contrasts between the Canadian and European meat systems, professional butchery training, and the new ideas they absorbed.
“France focused on the small details,” said Miedema. “The guy who won did a fantastic job with creativity and looks beyond what I myself could do. France has butcher schools for that; we don’t in Canada. I ask how I can improve myself.”
“There’s a huge emphasis on apprenticeship and the meat industry in France compared
with Canada,” said Easterbrook. “They focus on apprentices and growing the apprentices. There are 6,000 apprentices in France and they need 10,000. They’ve national schools for butchers. It’s a very high designation to label you as a butcher and as a master butcher; compare that with Canada which maybe has 1,000 apprentices – these stats blew a lot of people’ minds.”
“Europe retained the traditional route,” said Easterbrook. “They have lots of small butchers and an emphasis on smaller shops compared with the North American manufacturing food industry with big plants doing lots of product to feed all of North America. Europe’s more focused on independent shops. Canada is much more industrialized than France or anywhere in Europe in my opinion.”
Butchery Team Canada is keen about future competitions.
“There was good celebrating going on when we found out the standings, “said Easterbrook. “I’d say to other butchers there’s no bigger opportunity in the meat industry to see the world, connect with a lot of people, cultures, and different styles of cutting. Definitely get into the WBC as it opens your eyes to a lot of new things going on in the meat industry and you bring this info back.”
VanderVelde agrees: “Being able to perform on a world stage and travel with individuals who share the same love and passion for the industry is absolutely incredible. The camaraderie between countries is amazing and many new friendships were formed because of one common interest – the love for the meat industry -- and passion to help promote this wonderful trade.”
Being a Junior Butcher is a stepping stone to Butchery Canada Team, said Miedema. “For me, placing 18th in the world is bittersweet, but in the end, competing with the best in the world and just being able to compete in the World Butchers’ Challenge is an honour.”
Some Townsend Butchers staff followed their two former apprentices competing in the WBC to France. From left, Jeff Miedema, Dylan Miedema, Doug Easterbrook and Steve Miedema.
The Team Canada floor setting at the World Butchers’ Challenge in France
The Norfolk Rodeo returns to Timmermans Ranch for eighth year
By Jeff Helsdon
Top-notch rodeo and two top country acts are on tap for the Norfolk Rodeo on July 18, 19 and 20.
About 8,000 people attended the rodeo last year, making it the county’s largest county’s largest agriculture and country themed event outside of the Norfolk County Fair. After selling out on Saturday the past two years, a Friday rodeo presentation was added this year.
“Rodeos are a culturally significant agricultural event, deeply embedded in both the traditions of agriculture and the rural community,” said Lisa Timmermans, who organizes the rodeo with her husband Mike.
Noted Canadian country singer Gord Bamford will take the stage on Saturday night. Andrew Hyatt, who was the winner of the CCMA’s Rising Star of the Year award in 2022, will perform on Friday night.
The Rawhide Rodeo Tour will be bringing in the action-packed sport of rodeo to Norfolk
County, for 3 performances: Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. The Rawhide rodeo is a professional rodeo tour, sanctioned by the International Pro Rodeo Association.
Over the course of the weekend, spectators can expect an unforgettable rodeo show, featuring bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, pole bending, and roping. The event will also include live music, food and merchandise vendors, free kids rodeo and inflatables, and a bar featuring local specialties! The local 4-H clubs also bring a farm animal education area, for people to learn all about our local 4-H clubs and the animals they care for.
Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday. Rodeo performances are at 7 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Besides the rodeo competitions, there is live music and entertainment all weekend long, plus lots of food and merchandise vendors. A
full weekend schedule and vendor list is on our website. There’s something for everyone!
Early bird tickets are available until July 4. Tickets are available online - www.NorfolkRodeo.com. Tickets will be available at the door, if not sold out.
Mike and Krista decided to host the event when they were new to Norfolk and they wanted to get to know and help their community. There were no rodeo events in this community so they started the Norfolk Pro Rodeo. Each year the rodeo has grown thanks to the support of our community with their sponsorships, and participation. Mike and Krista do in kind spaces for non profit organizations in the community, to help them raise funds for their organizations. They also donate money made from the rodeo to different organizations within the community as well.
“It’s not just about hosting a fun family event, it is about supporting our rural agricultural community,” Krista said.
Barrel racing is always a favourite at rodeos.
The rodeo clown does more than clowning around, being assigned to draw bulls away from riders who have hit the ground.
Pole bending is a timed event where riders weave through a line of poles.
Calf roping is an event that requires cowboys to have top riding and roping skills.
Province providing Farm & Food Care Ontario with nearly $600K for added outreach
By Norfolk Farms Staff
An Ontario agricultural organization will have more money to promote the province’s farm and food system over the next three years.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness is providing Farm & Food Care Ontario with up to $597,000 to support its outreach projects. The money will be used to enhance several FFCO programs.
“This show of support by the province is extremely encouraging for the direction of FFCO’s work. It reiterates the importance of engaging farmers and the public in meaningful conversations, said FFCO Chair Janelle Cardiff, in a press release. “This funding will allow us to continue offering unique opportunities to advocate for agriculture across Ontario and expand our initiatives even further.”
Funding will support six of the organization’s priority activities, which all focus on growing public trust and consumer confidence.
These include:
- Outreach events such as the Breakfast on the Farm events that give members of the public a chance to connect with farmers and get a glimpse into life as a farmer.
- Food industry outreach, which includes tours of farm and food processing operations for culinary students, chefs and other food industry professionals. There are also webinars and other relationship building activities to connect those in agriculture with those in the food industry.
- More than a Migrant Worker. This award-winning project done with the help of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, showcases the important work done by Ontario’s seasonal agricultural workers.
- Enhancing the library of agricultural resources FFCO offers, including the rentable FarmFood360 virtual reality kiosk that can be found at fairs and other agricultural events.
- Updating the farm photo and digital asset library that’s available to industry and media, as well as the digital resources that can be used to promote Local Food Week and Ontario Agriculture Week.
- Training for farmers and agri-business professionals on how better to communicate with non-farming residents.
“Our government is investing in Farm & Food Care Ontario so they can continue to raise public awareness and build trust in Ontario’s farmers and food businesses,” said Trevor Jones, minister of agriculture, food and agribusiness. “When people know where their food comes from, they can easily choose the freshest, most delicious food to feed their families. This has the added benefits of supporting Ontario’s farmers, communities and our economy and helping to protect the Ontario agriculture and food industry and local food supply chain.”
FFCO is a registered Canadian charity that is primarily funded by farmers, farm organizations, agribusinesses and others through memberships and program partnerships.
A recent funding announcement by the province will provide Farm and Food Care Ontario with nearly $600,000 over the next three years to continue outreach projects such as the More Than a Migrant Worker program.
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Quintas Green Acres: veteran greenhouse family happy to be growing lettuce in Norfolk County
By Diane Baltaz
After spending more than 20 years labouring in the Southwestern Ontario greenhouse business, Arie Alblas pivoted his career in 2023.
He bought a 20-year old turnkey greenhouse lettuce operation.
Today, Alblas along with his wife, Diana, run Quintas Green Acres on LaSalette Road, near the intersection with Swimming Pool Road. It’s a two and one-half acre greenhouse situated on a 22-acre property. Quintas wholesales directly to grocery companies in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and to small, local independent retailers year-round.
It’s one of a handful of lettuce producers in this area, with the bulk of Canada’s greenhouse lettuce production being in Quebec.
The greenhouse, originally built in two sections, employs 17 full-time and additional parttime staff for a total of 25 people when market demand requires it. The farm’s remaining acreage is rented out for cash cropping.
“We only grow lettuce,” said Arie, adding that his family is the fourth owner in this greenhouse’s history. “It’s always been lettuce.”
They call it Quintas Green Acres for several reasons, said Diana. First, “quintas” is a Latin American-Portuguese term for “country estate” or “corner house” or “edge of a village”, which fits the farm’s location at the edge of LaSalette. Second, “quinta” means fifth or five – their family size-- as the couple has three children.
“And we aim to grow the quintessential lettuce of top quality,” exclaimed Arie, laughing. “I am known for high-quality produce. I’ve worked in the greenhouse industry from propagation, seeds to young plants. I’ve got 25 years of Ontario greenhouse experience.”
Arie’s career began in his native Netherlands, where his father produced peppers in greenhouses. “I grew up amongst the greenhouse peppers.”
In 2001, Alblas immigrated to Canada in order to manage a large greenhouse in St. Thomas. He moved on to other greenhouses, including a Forest, Ontario enterprise that propagated pep-
pers, tomatoes and cucumbers for greenhouse growers across North America. He also sold greenhouse equipment throughout southwestern Ontario, notably around Leamington.
Diana hails from a chicken and poultry farming background near Burgessville. She taught in Mexico for two years and then in Canada, meeting Arie in 2004 and marrying a year later.
The dominant green packed under the Quintas label is Boston (also called butterhead) lettuce, constituting 95 per cent of the crop; it is packaged in clam shells with a Route 67 label
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-- their county road number as well as a play on the fabled highway.
Other varieties include a baby mini-romaine, a burger lettuce, and a colourful trio mix which are popular with restaurants.
This mechanized greenhouse operates as a closed loop operation, a method that minimizes inputs such as water, nutrient and soil by reusing and recirculating resources within the system.
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Proponents of closed loop greenhouses assert that it creates a sustainable, environmentally-conscious food production system because of the reduced reliance on external inputs, including water, fertilizer and pesticide use, as these systems generally have less disease and insect pests compared with field crops.
Most of the lettuce grows with a process called nutrient film technique (NFT). This system continuously pumps customized films of water, oxygen and nutrients necessary for plant growth. The water is recirculated past the bare roots of plants in watertight, plastic channels or gutters.
A popular method in large, commercial lettuce operations, NFT fosters higher yields of quality lettuce over an extended cropping season. The system provides a higher-density culture and precise nutrient control, thereby accelerating plant production and quality.
Lettuce plants are inserted in holes within strips called gutters, their roots suspended below towards the water. The water depth at the bottom of the gutters is shallow – a film - ensuring that the thick root mat that develops at the bottom of the channel receives proper aeration.
Each gutter holds 29 heads, with the crop being divided into larger sections of 76 gutters. They sit bunched together on raised
Diana and Arie Alblas in the propagation area of Quintas Green Acres.
Trudy Berg of Turkey Point uses a plug popper to release lettuce plugs for transplanting.
Quintas Green Acre specializes in growing greenhouse lettuce from seed
tables while the plants are small, and are slid apart as the heads grow. The maturing crop rotates through the greenhouse towards the harvest bay.
Several “ponds” exist under the tables; the water gets filtered and cleaned with hydrogen peroxide before returning to the plants. Water is stored and recirculated in one gigantic aboveground tank and a series of underground tanks.
Alblas said this layout improves efficiency of water and natural gas heating use due to the higher volume of plants per square meter.
“NFT is soil-less with soil only being used for the initial plug that is used for germination,” said Arie.
“The soil anchors the seed and roots grow off the plug; then they hit the water directly (in the gutter). “
“The system reproduces natural growing conditions as if they are outside as natural dirt,” said Arie.
A smaller percentage of greens are produced using a “pond system” – young lettuce is inserted in fixed holes in Styrofoam slabs, which rest in floating bays. This arrangement lacks the crop density of NFT as the pond system’s plant spacing is wider to accommodate growth.
“It’s all a closed loop system – both the pond and gutter methods. We mainly use the latter as it’s more efficient,” said Arie. “The water in the ponds is pumped into the tank for refreshing. Ideally, no water is lost other than the odd drop, and it is recirculated with fresh nutrients.”
Other varieties include a baby mini-romaine, a burger lettuce, and a colourful trio mix which are popular with restaurants.
Sticky traps hang above the expanse of lettuce, which Arie said “attracts nuisance flies that may land on the lettuce.” In order to reduce threats of disease, nutrient water is treated with hydrogen peroxide before it is recirculated. Spraying is minimal; and in addition to mechanical cooling measures, the greenhouse roof is whitewashed from April to September in order to reduce the sun’s summer time intensity.
Quintas Green Acres obtains seed from a Dutch company, RZC – Rijk Zwaan Canada. They are planted into plugs in the propagation -- seeding area. After the plugs become established, approximately around two weeks, the plants are loosened with a “plug popper” and placed into prepared gutters.
The harvest bay has five tables, where staff places the Boston lettuce into clam shells and put them on a conveyor to the packing area. “All new staff begins in the harvest area,” said Arie.
The timeline from seeding to harvest is seasonal, ranging from 11 to 12 weeks and “only eight weeks when it is really hot,” said Diana. “It moves much slower in the winter.”
The harvested product is mainly direct-marketed to restaurants and grocery chains the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and
surrounding area including Farm Boy, Longos and Lococo’s.
As a year-round structure, the Alblas family work continuously. They maintain a separate greenhouse containing a swimming pool and tropical plants that a previous owner established.
“It’s difficult to get away from the operation,” said Arie.
They try to keep on top of market demand, especially regarding what Arie called “the restaurant end of things”. Demand increases significantly with patio season sales, and the May celebrations of Mothers’ Day and Victoria Day.
The current “buy Canadian” trend that escalated with the political tensions between Canada and the United States, increased Quintas Green Acres sales. At least one merchant had more than doubled their purchases to keep up with customer demand.
While contracted, large wholesalers constitute much of the operation, the couple enjoys working with smaller, independent local retailers who come for their weekly orders, and are not required to sign sales contracts.
“We like the little guy, we want to service them,” said Arie. “It’s a good matching size for both of us in addition to the huge wholesalers.”
Overstock goes to Harvest Hands of St. Thomas, a non-profit that distributes food to persons suffering from food insecurity.
As for personal lettuce consumption, Diana said that their family “eats lettuce in spurts” with taco salads and Big Mac salads being the favourites.
While Diana sees “God’s Providence in the long hours” of this new life, with two children already showing an interest by working part time, Arie ponders about future potential in Norfolk -- where vegetable greenhouses remain uncommon compared to agricultural areas further southwest.
“It’s kind of neat to be in this area –Ontario’s Garden,” said Alblas. “I obviously grew up in greenhouses. I see more of a future in green-
houses as they feed more people with less land and less inputs. We have a challenge of feeding people. There is more efficiency here than on outdoor vegetable farms with less use of pesticides, less water usage as closed loop systems have a more efficient energy use.
“The tariff thing increased our sales, and it’s unknown if more is coming from the USA. Therefore the greenhouse industry has room for growth. Currently there are no tariffs on vegetables, but if it happens, it will place way more demand for us by Canadian consumers than now.”
Boston lettuce forms the bulk of the lettuce produced in the year-round greenhouse.
Spring haircuts a public spectacle for Haldimand alpaca ranch
Farm welcomes hundreds of visitors despite downpour for fourth annual open house
By Luke Edwards
Each spring Husky Alpaca Ranch welcomes visitors to share in a passion Taryn McArthur developed nearly 30 years ago.
The Haldimand farm hosted its fourth annual open house last month, inviting the public to watch as the 17 alpacas got their annual spring haircut and learn a bit about raising the animals and life on the farm in general. It’s a chance for McArthur to share two of her passions: farming and teaching people about farming.
“I’m all about agri-education, it is a passion of mine,” she said next to a table where the freshly shorn alpaca fibre was being sorted.
McArthur, who runs Husky Alpaca Ranch alongside her husband Rob, said she continues to see a large disconnect among the general public between the animals they see in the fields and the clothes they wear or food they eat.
The open house is a chance to bridge that gap.
“I like to think people are able to take something away from this,” she said.
McArthur grew up in Palmerston and had rabbits and chickens on their property. She also comes from a family that had dairy operations. The alpacas came later.
“My aunt fell in love with alpacas in the mid90s, my mom bought her first alpaca in ‘03 and I bought my first in ‘04. And the rest is history,” she said.
Rob grew up in the Brantford area and his uncle had the Haldimand Road 9 property the couple now calls home. Rob and Taryn moved there in 2015, quickly getting it ready to become the new home of their alpaca herd.
They also have a few cattle, including two on the farm and two at a family member’s farm, as well as Siberian huskies.
The annual spring shearing is a key time for the McArthurs as it represents the main source of income from the animals. Once shorn, the fibre is sorted, skirted and classed and then is sent to one of three co-ops the McArthurs belong to.
“It doesn’t hurt them at all, it’s actually necessary for their health,” McArthur said of the shearing.
However, they can also produce meat, with the McArthurs selling alpaca jerky and pepperettes alongside alpaca socks and other clothing at a small shop at the end of their driveway.
“It really doesn’t taste like anything else,” McArthur said. It’s very lean, and despite what many think, she said it’s not at all gamey.
During the rest of the year, the McArthurs have to perform dental inspections a few times, since alpacas have bottom teeth that never stop growing and if they get out of whack it can cause issues.
“So if they don’t line up properly they can develop a hard time eating which leads to nutrition problems and health problems,” she said.
Alpacas also have soft feet with a hard toenail, like humans and dogs, so a few times a year they have to check and trim their toenails.
The animals eat mostly grass, though McArthur said they also give them a grain and mineral supplement since the grass that grows here is missing a few key nutrients the animals would find in their native South America.
On average they’ll live about 15 to 20 years, but like any animal it can be longer or shorter. McArthur said she’s seen some live into their mid 20s. There are two main breeds, suri and huacaya.
For more information, visit huskyalpacaranch.com.
An alpaca is led around the barn before it gets its haircut.
This alpaca gets a final trim to clean things up before summer.
They were the stars of the show, and many visitors to Husky Alpaca Ranch wanted to pet the alpacas.
Jude and Juliet Grasley learn just how soft alpaca fibre can be.
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Larry Davis brings ingenuity to farming
By Tamara Botting
When Ag Day returned to Hagersville on June 6 as part of the town’s 150th anniversary celebrations, Larry Davis was there for the opening ceremonies, giving the official proclamation as town crier.
It’s just one of the many roles he’s taken on over the years to give back – on both the small and larger scale.
Davis is the third generation of his family to farm at the current location on Bishopsgate Road in Brant.
“We moved here from another farm in the county. The farmstead before our generation was on Tutela Heights Road, just down the road from Alexander Graham Bell. So, I tell people my grandfather and Alexander would have been buddies,” Davis said with a chuckle.
“Dad said that farm was so hilly that sometimes they would upset the wagon and the horses on the hills. So, they were looking for another farm and settled here. It’s still quite hilly, but it’s not as bad as it is over on Tutela Heights.”
Davis primarily farms hay, as well as miscanthus.
The latter has been an outlet for a lot of creative ingenuity and experimentation for Davis.
“When the government wanted to get rid of coal burning systems in Ontario, some farmers said, we can grow a crop for you that you can burn, and it’s renewable – every year, we’ll have a new crop,” Davis said, adding that miscanthus is sustainable and good for the environment, as it’s carbon sequestering – it absorbs carbon dioxide.
While it looked promising at first, the government ultimately changed course in its approach, and the idea of using miscanthus as an alternative fuel source largely fell to the wayside. There are, however, some companies in the United States that have been using the plant to make pellets for fire; it’s also being looked at as a possible fibre filler for pet food.
“So, we were left with this crop, and we’ve looked for other uses for it,” Davis said.
The main use he and his wife, Sally Davis, have found for it is as garden bedding.
Innovation has been the cornerstone of Larry Davis’ approach to farming. One example of this is the experimentation he’s done to investigate various uses of miscanthus, particularly when it comes to soil improvements.
“It makes an excellent mulch around trees, rather than using wood chips or tree bark,” he said.
Sally said anecdotally, they’ve noticed that, “There’s something in it that prevents things from germinating in it. When you put down a wood or bark mulch, or any kind of mulch, the helicopters (seeds) will land in it, or dandelions seed will land in it; they’ll germinate and grow. It doesn’t seem to do that in miscanthus. And there’s no seeds in it, like there is in wheat straw or rye straw.”
In Davis’ experience, it’s also a good additive for soil, helping to better strike that elusive balance of good drainage and moisture retention. He said it even works on clay-heavy soil.
A few years ago, he was hired to manage a marijuana farm. The soil was so hard that he and the workers couldn’t put a stake in it to hold the plants; he had to use an electric drill to put holes in the soil, and even then, “we were burning out the drills.”
The following year, Davis said, “I put down a layer – and I mean a layer – of miscanthus around the marijuana plants; that soil completely changed, just like that.”
He said the rain would soak into the soil instead of running off, and “We didn’t have to irrigate.”
Davis said this experimental approach is nothing new for him.
“I’ve always been innovative like that,” he said, always “trying to find new ways to farm.”
While it’s a hot topic today, back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, soil erosion wasn’t on the radar for as many people in the agricultural industry, Davis said. It was an issue he had to contend with regularly, though.
“This farm was highly erodible, because it’s sandy,” Davis said. The soil would “blow away in the winds and wash away when it rained. And that wasn’t good. … If it rained, we’d have big washouts, and I would rent an earth mover to drag the soil back up on the hills. And we left a lot of grass in the waterways.”
At the time, they were using a moldboard plow, because that’s what everyone was using.
“But there was something wrong with that,” Davis said.
When he heard about Glencoe soil savers, which only worked up a narrow strip of soil, he decided to give that a try instead. After he found one to buy in Dunnville and brought it home, “We started using that, and the soil started to change almost immediately.”
The shift from conventional till to minimal till, and now no-till in some areas “has helped build the soil here immensely. It has changed so much since the 1970s.”
Armed with first-hand experience, Davis tries to advocate for better farming practices, and does what he can to educate other farmers about things like minimal and no-till farming, as well as the benefits of miscanthus.
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He does a lot of this work through the Brant Soil and Crop Improvement Association, where he’s a board member and past president; he’s also currently a board member of the Golden Horseshoe Soil and Crop Improvement Association, which encompasses Niagara, Haldimand, Norfolk, Brant, etc. He’s been named a champion hay grower in both associations several times, lending credence to the wealth of knowledge he’s built up over the years.
He still likes to explore new options, too.
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Recently, the family had some hives put on their property in partnership with Hammer Hives.
“I’m looking to grow that partnership with them, to where I’ll own some of the bees,” Davis said, noting that their daughter, Melissa, was quite interested in bees, “and I’ve always been interested in them because I had a cousin who was one of the largest beekeepers in Ontario.”
Larry Davis a key volunteer with various farm groups
As much as there’s benefit in following in the footsteps of others, Davis also knows that a key component in innovation is being willing to sacrifice tradition, and not falling into the trap of doing things a certain way because that’s how they’ve always been done.
When Davis first took over the family farm, there was a dairy operation. Almost immediately, he looked for ways to optimize resources.
Sally noted, “We were collecting all the paper and cardboard from the community and using it as bedding, so we saved it from the landfill.”
That wasn’t the only environmentally friendly practice that was implemented at that time, she noted.
Davis set up a system where the water was recycled four times before it went out to the land.
Sally explained, “We used the water to cool the milk, and that water was then used to water the cows and clean the milkers. The water used to clean the milkers went into another tank, which was used to clean the floor of the (milking) parlor, and then that water went into another tank, which got mixed in with manure to make liquid manure.”
Davis noted, “I even got an innovation award for that.”
More gratifying, though, was seeing a number of other farmers adopting similar systems in their own milking parlours.
Eventually, they had to give up the dairy operation because there was tingle voltage on the farm, and it was impacting the cows’ production.
But even though they don’t have the cows now, Davis can and does still share the knowledge he’s gained over his lifetime of working in agriculture.
He’s been involved with Bite of Brant for many years, and has been a guest speaker at the school where his daughter teaches.
After his most recent visit, “He came home and said the Grade 3/ 4 class didn’t know that McDonald’s hamburgers came from cows,” Sally said.
That’s why Davis sees his role as an agricultural educator as so important.
“They don’t realize the connection be tween food and agriculture, and between food and our soils,” he said.
It’s not just kids, either; far too many adults have lost the sense that “Everything connects to the soil,” Davis said. “There are so many aspects of agriculture that the consumer does not understand; they have no conception.”
There are some bright spots of hope, though.
Davis is involved with Farm and Food Care Ontario, and one of big things the group is focusing on now is equipping farmers and others in the agriculture sector on how to give an ‘elevator pitch’ – an engaging speech that’s under a minute – on the importance of agriculture and why farmland needs to be protected.
On top of the other associations he’s a part of, Davis has been a board director for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture for many years, and with the group, has done a lot of work to lobby for good policies for agriculture in Ontario. At all levels of govern ment in Canada, he has seen that there are politicians who either come from an agricul
tural background, or have an awareness of the industry.
It can be slow work, but Davis, like any other farmer, knows that sometimes it takes time for things to grow.
If he ever needs a reminder, he can look to the trees.
“I have planted thousands of trees,” Davis said. These were planted primarily as windbreaks, intended to stop the spread of ‘snoil’ –snow that’s mixed with soil as it’s blown across the fields. When he stands on his front lawn, almost all of the trees he can see when he looks in any direction are ones he planted.
Besides that, “I have a nice forest that I maintain,” Davis said. The woodlot is just over 100 acres, and he uses the dead trees as firewood to heat everything on the farm.
The woodlot is home to several species at risk, including Blanding’s turtles, Canada warblers, and eastern wood pewees.
Davis has also worked with the American Chestnut Foundation to help reintroduce the natural American chestnut to Ontario.
“That’s another species at risk that I have naturally in my forest,” he said.
Initially, there was just one, but after Davis contacted the University of Guelph, they brought a dozen more, which were all planted near the existing one. While two had suffered a bit of damage from deer eating at them, “the rest are thriving.”
Hopefully, with help from dedicated advocates like Davis, the Ontario agricultural industry will follow suit.
Hanns Farms near LaSalette pioneered Korean vegetable production in Ontario
By Diane Baltaz
Visitors to the bright office of Hanns Farms off Windham Road 9 near LaSalette will immediately see a stunning, wall-sized photo of what looks like rows of tobacco plants set against a typical Norfolk County landscape. But the plants are actually Napa cabbage, one of three specialties that Hanns Farms grows for North America’s Korean community and culinary fans.
Hanns Farms incorporated in 1998 and is currently operated by Sean Han and his son, Jerome. The farm is Ontario’s first major producer of Korean vegetables, established at a time when Norfolk County had not yet morphed into “Ontario’s Garden” but was still primarily growing tobacco.
It’s the largest of the few Ontario farms that grow Korean vegetables, say the Hans. Most of this crop is grown in Quebec.
The father-son team currently grows 700 acres of Napa cabbage, 300 acres of Korean radish, and recently-established Korean sweet potatoes. Ninety-seven percent of the harvest goes to the United States through a distributor in New York City, with the remainder mainly selling to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
These vegetables are staples in Korean cuisine, which is valued for it flavour and health benefits and is used in dishes such as Kimchi, stir fries and soup.
Hanns Farms’ website states, “Korean vegetables, such as Napa Cabbage, Korean Radish and Korean sweet potatoes are low in calories and high in fiber, making them ideal for those looking to maintain a healthy balanced diet. They provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support the immune system, boost digestion and promote overall health and well-being.”
“Our market is very niche,” said Jerome. Their mainstay is Napa cabbage, which is commonly fermented into Kimchi, a food with probiotic qualities. It is also added to soups or stews, or sautéed with garlic and ginger as a side dish. The Hans germinate it in their greenhouse in March before transplanting the crop into the fields. Napa has a 50 to 60-day production period from greenhouse to harvest.
Asian foodies describe Korean radish a having a simultaneous sweet and peppery flavour. Hanns Farms direct seeds this crop at the end of May for a September harvest.
Korean sweet potatoes didn’t become part of the Hans’ niche offering until 2022, after months of working on assorted Asian sweet potato tissue cultures in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to select a variety suitable for Ontario growing conditions.
Compared to the typical commercial sweet potato, this root vegetable has a purple-brown skin and white flesh. It has a mildly nutty flavour and is sweeter and denser than its popular counterpart. And, said Sean, no other Asian vegetable producer in Canada grows it; he added that North Carolina and California grow some.
“We are unique,” stated Sean. ”No one else is growing the Asian sweet potato. No one else grows it in Norfolk County, although we have the soil and the heat to enable it. They need the sandy soils, like radish, to grow.”
At present, the family grows 100 acres of Korean sweet potatoes.
“We are still starting with this crop,” explained Jerome.
These specialty crops are grown in rotation along soybeans and with rye as a cover crop.
A team of 15 to 16 seasonal workers assist in the production and harvest. Vegetables are washed and field packed into boxes and shipped out.
A local trucker drives the farm’s truck to the GTA, where it goes to the Ontario Food Terminal and Asian grocery stores. They hire a transport company to ship to the US East Coast.
The story of how these specialty crops came to the sandy soils of Norfolk begins more than a half century ago with Su Young Park, who “pioneered” Korean vegetables in Ontario, according to Hanns Farms’ website.
Park graduated with an agriculture degree from Seoul National University, moving on to do research in England before moving to Canada
in 1965. Park originally settled in Peterborough but then moved to Southwestern Ontario to pioneer the growing of Korean radish and Napa His experimentation and production of Napa cabbage and Korean radish began on rented sandy land near Niagara-on-the -Lake along with a two-year trial in Norfolk in 1970.
In the 1990s, Sean, who is Park’s brotherin-law and his brother, Won Han, joined the operation. The family incorporated the business as “Hanns Farms Ltd” and began the search to buy a farm.
But Niagara’s wine industry began expanding at that time, thereby creating “tight land sales”. Thus, the Hanns Farms team returned to Norfolk in 2005. In 2011, the family purchased the current location, a former potato farm.
“There were not too many vegetables here as there was more tobacco growing then,” said Sean.
Korean sweet potatoes have white flesh.
Jerome Han with sample Korean radish with his father Sean in background.
Second generation grower Jerome Han (right) with his father, Sean.
By Jeff Helsdon
AgRobotics demo day returning
The latest and greatest in agriculture technology will be on display at the AgRobotics demo day on July 22 at the Simcoe Research Station.
Last year’s event was a success, drawing more than 180 people to see agriculture robots completing tasks ranging from cultivating fields and scanning apple trees for fruit count to cutting grass and automated delivery of produce from the field to a processing station. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and lunch is free to those who pre-register at agroboticswg.com.
The group was formed in 2021 and began to look into the possibility of using robots and artificial intelligence (A.I.) to solve many problems growers are facing. At the end of the first year, the group was working with five different robots. That number has now grown to more than 20 different robot models working in the province, some on farms and others in research trials. The group’s membership has expanded to over 180 people from all over the world.
Dan Woods, project coordinator with Western Fair District and one of the organizers, said this year’s event should appeal to those who are new and returning.
For new attendees, he said AgRobotics Field Day is an opportunity to see multiple technologies operating in one location, demonstrating what they do.
“It’s one thing to see on a web site, but it’s another to see the technology in person,” he said.
There are several reasons to return to this year’s event if a farmer attended last year.
“Seeing the newest, latest and greatest is a plus,” he said. “Even with technologies that were there last year, they’ve had a year to develop their technology.”
And like all technology – especially emerging technology – there are sometimes huge advancements in a year.
There will also be new companies attending this year. One of these will be Upside Robotics, the Ontario manufacturer of the Maize Runner
Robot. Designed for use in corn, it can monitor crop health, detect where fertilizer is need and apply it where necessary. This technology will work with grain corn, sweet corn and sileage corn.
The Monarch Tractor is a 100 per cent electric fully automnous tractor that has manual override to allow the farmer to drive it.
The Naio Technologies Oz, which is a French-made electric tractor targeted at market gardeners, was on display last year. It can perform a variety of functions, including hoeing, weeding, seeding, spraying and transporting plants or end product for a base area. Woods said what is different this year is Oz will have had an extended test.
“The plot it will be working on, it will have been working on since the beginning of the season, not just showing up that day,” he said. “It’s cool because people will be able to see what the Oz can do.”
For those wondering why Western Fair District is involved in the working group, Woods explained as a not-for-profit agriculture organization, Western Fair District was brought into the working group as a non-biased third party to work as administrators.
As was the case last year, a similar event will be held in Bradford. Scheduled for July 8 this year, it is tailored to the crops grown in that area.
LaSalette-based Hans Farms was a pioneer in Ontario’s Korean vegetable production
Sean took over Hanns Farms in 2015, with Jerome, who had graduated with an accounting degree from the University of Guelph, entering as the second generation.
“I grew up with the crops”, said Jerome. Sean oversees the crops, tending fields located between Norwich and Waterford. Jerome handles office duties when he is not needed in the field. Although the Hans admit that they “still feel new to the area” compared with the multigenerational farms around them, they’ve established relationships with district farmers and are currently erecting their roadside farm side sign.
The senior Han said that his family initially left Haldimand-Norfolk after their two-year trial of growing Korean produce in the region’s sandy soils were not as satisfactory as the sandy soils as Niagara-on-the-Lake.
“Niagara has a different kind of sandy soil,” he explained.
But today, the fox sands and sandy loams of Norfolk constitute the ideal home for both the Hans and their vegetables.
“I like Norfolk County, its lifestyle, and the land is suitable for crop production,” said Sean. “There’s a lot of water here for irrigation. There is now increasing land pressure here due to the variety of crops growing. We’re always looking for more land.”
The Hanns Farms recipe for making a quick and healthy Kimchi from Napa cabbage
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 large Napa cabbage
• 1/4 cup sea salt
• 3 tablespoons Korean red pepper flakes
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 4 green onions, sliced
• 1 carrot, julienned
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Cut the Napa cabbage lengthwise into quarters. Remove the core and chop the cabbage into bite-sized pieces.
2. In a large bowl, dissolve the sea salt in water. Soak the cabbage pieces in the saltwater for about two hours, turning them occasionally.
3. Rinse the cabbage thoroughly with cold water to remove excess salt. Drain well and set aside.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together the Korean red pepper flakes, fish sauce, grated ginger, minced garlic, sugar, sliced green onions, and julienned carrot.
5. Add the drained cabbage to the spice mixture. Gently massage the cabbage, ensuring it is well coated with the seasoning.
6. Transfer the kimchi to a clean glass jar, pressing down firmly to remove any air pockets.
7. Leave about one inch of headspace in the jar and seal it tightly.
8. Allow the kimchi to ferment at room temperature for one to two days. After that, transfer it to the refrigerator to slow down the fermentation process.
9. The kimchi will continue to develop its flavour. It can be enjoyed fresh, but is best after fermenting for at least a week.
A wide variety of robots were on display last year during the AgRobotics Field Day at the Simcoe Research Station. The event lets producers see the latest in agriculture technology in one place.
Celebrate Canadian businesses: Salford Group Inc. built on a culture of excellence
By Tamara Botting
It was almost 50 years ago that Jake Rozendaal founded the Canadian-based company that is today known as Salford Group Inc. in Southwestern Ontario.
In 1978, “Jake’s business started as a tractor and implement sales dealership, but Jake’s talent for improving the implements he was repairing led him to convert the business to Salford Farm Machinery, a full-fledged implement manufacturer,” said Anson Boak, marketing manager for the company.
In the early 2000s, Salford developed one of the agricultural industry’s first vertical tillage machines, the Residue Tillage Specialist (RTS). This would become an entire product line, renamed the Independent Series. It’s still an industry leader in surface tillage and residue management.
A decade later, when Salford Farm Machinery acquired Valmar applicators and BBI spinner spreaders, the company became Salford Group Inc.
“This led Salford to having the widest range of granular fertilizer application technology in agriculture,” Boak said. “Throughout this time, Salford has continued to expand their operations, while developing new tillage and nutrient application technologies that are unique in agriculture.”
Two of the company’s manufacturing operations are located in Southwestern Ontario; it also has a manufacturing facility in Georgia, and
parts distribution centres in other key markets across Canada and the US.
Conventional wisdom speaks to the importance of a good location, and that’s certainly
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been a factor in the company’s success over the years.
Salford Group Inc.’s fastest growing product is the HALO VRT, which “allows producers to adapt to soil and residue conditions by hydraulically changing their tillage intensity on-the-go,” said Anson Boak, marketing manager for the company.
Celebrate Canadian business: Salford Group an innovator in field cultivators
“Being headquartered in Southwestern Ontario gives Salford some advantages: a relatively long growing season and highly productive land that helps to refine new designs. There is also a deep pool of skilled labour and technically advanced suppliers in the region. Our location lets us push boundaries in the field— mostly out of sight of competitors—and bring high-quality machinery to the market faster,” Boak said.
During the COVID pandemic, and again more recently in response to trade market uncertainties, many Canadians have been putting a focus on supporting local businesses with their purchases.
“It’s great that some farmers consider Salford products because of our Canadian roots,” Boak said, adding that the company is proud have its headquarters in Canada, with operations on both sides of the border.
However, he noted, it’s not just about where a company is located, but the care it brings to making its products.
“Producers choose Salford because our machines last longer, deliver a clear performance advantage, and are backed by an excellent dealer network that stock parts and provides knowledgeable support to Salford owners,” Boak said.
Growth and innovation have been ongoing trends over the course of many years.
“Salford built our reputation across the Great Lakes region selling high-quality field cultivators, but as we branched out across North America and into Eastern Europe, our top seller has become the Independent Series vertical tillage products. The new HALO VRT is our fastest growing product. It allows producers to adapt to soil and residue conditions by hydraulically changing their tillage intensity on-the-go,” Boak said.
“On the application side of the business, Salford spinner spreaders are known for durability and spread pattern accuracy. Salford airboom applicators are unmatched for capacity and application width. Salford spinner and air booms are available as pull-type applicators
and chassis-mounted units that integrate with high-clearance sprayer and floater tractors.”
In 2022, Salford Group was acquired by Linamar Corporation, a Canadian company.
Offering a range of high-quality products is one aspect of the company’s success; another is the great team behind those products.
“We’re always looking for talented local people to help grow the business,” Boak said, noting that as a manufacturer and marketer of agricultural equipment, the company has jobs in manufacturing, engineering, sales, marketing, accounting, and administration.
To look for open positions, visit salfordgroup. com. Boak also encouraged Salford owners to connect with the company through its social media channels.
“We engage with Salford fans almost daily
Salford Group Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of agricultural equipment, is headquartered in Southwestern Ontario.
Jamaica’s Colette Roberts Risden recognizes, builds relationship with farm employers
By Jeff Tribe
Wine and cheese were merely the appetizers.
The main menu items at the Jamaican Liaison Service’s (JLS) Agricultural and Tourism Forum were staple specialties of the Caribbean island nation: sun, sand and surf, and access to a skilled and committed labour force through the Seasonal Agricultural Workers and Ag-Stream Programs.
“We thought we’d take the liaison service to meet the employers,” explained Chief Liaison Officer Althea Riley Friday, May 23rd inside Leamington’s Roma Centre. “Meet them where they are - and where they work.
“This is the year of growth, when the Liaison Service puts itself out there to let employers know that we are open for business and we have good quality of workers available in the pool in Jamaica.”
Permanent Secretary on special assignment to the Overseas Employment Programme, Colette Roberts Risden’s goals include expanding employment opportunities for her county’s citizens.
She headed a ‘Team Jamaica’ delegation featuring Riley, Kurtis Davis from the Jamaican Consulate General in Toronto, Younna Bailey-Magalhaes, Deputy Consul General of Jamaica in Toronto, JLS officers including Leighton Davis, Allia McLeary, Sheldon Wright, JN Money Regional Manager Claude Thompson whose financial and other services company works collaboratively with the JLS, and Oral Chambers, Business Development Manager with the Jamaica Tourist Board.
The Agricultural Forum featured wine, cheese, an array of appetizers and goodie bags for all attendees, served up in conjunction with a brief podium presentation. It included an invitation from Chambers to be among the 4.5-million visitors who enjoy the island nation’s attributes annually, particularly given their existing introduction to Jamaican culture through employees.
The JLS can help bring Jamaican workers to Canada said Chambers, but to fully experience the nation’s culture, food and beaches, they have to visit in person.
“Jamaicans in Jamaica is a different kind of vibe.”
“Jamaicans in Jamaica is a different kind of vibe.”
Although the location was chosen to coincide with labour opportunities created by growth in the area’s greenhouse industry, JLS messaging is consistent throughout every Canadian region Jamaican temporary foreign workers are employed in.
Roberts Risden’s goals included both recognizing the importance of farm employers to the programs, and by extension, Jamaica, along with committing to existing relationships and building new ones.
The podium presentation emphasized Jamaican program participants are pre-screened for mental and physical fitness, undergo criminal checks and have farm experience. Against a backdrop that ‘the nation is open for business’, Jamaican workers Roberts Risden suggested when choosing Jamaican workers, employers are ‘choosing success.’
Their stated view of worker programs is far different from the negativity which may be
Permanent Secretary on special assignment Colette Roberts Risden (right) was among those enjoying Tania Lou’s performance at the Jamaican Liaison Service’s Wine and Cheese Agricultural and Tourism Forum.
Jamaica Liaison Service Director Althea Riley (left) shares a laugh with Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (F.A.R.M.S.) President Robert Shuh (right) at the Jamaican Liaison Service’s Wine and Cheese Agricultural Forum.
Permanent Secretary on special assignment Colette Roberts Risden (right) was among those enjoying Tania Lou’s performance at the Jamaican Liaison Service’s Wine and Cheese Agricultural and Tourism Forum.
presented on social media and through some media outlets.
“They’re outside looking in,” said Riley.
Admittedly, there is room for improvement, but Roberts Risden believes that can be best accomplished working together through ongoing collaborative effort.
“We can solve any issues,” she said.
“Move mountains we Jamaicans like to say,” added Riley.
Close to 10,000 Jamaicans are employed through foreign worker programs, representing a significant percentage of the remittances which occupy an elevated line item in Jamaica’s economy, second only to tourism.
“This is social mobility for many people,” Roberts Risden said, ‘hard work’ of program participants typically contributing not only to living expenses, but also education allowing for ascension to a higher level of society. Roberts Risden mentioned health care professionals, lawyers, teachers and other professions, specifically citing a single mother working in the area. One of her daughters is a lawyer says the permanent secretary, the other works for The United Nations.
Roberts Risden, along with Thompson, used the occasion to announce educational scholarships being awarded by both the Jamaican Minister of Labour and JN Money coinciding with the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program’s 60th anniversary.
External employment has contributed to Jamaica seeing the lowest level of poverty in its history, Roberts Risden added.
“It’s because of programs like these that provide meaningful, decent work for our peo-
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ple,” she said, emphasizing the importance of programs to the country.
“We believe in a win-win,” Roberts Risden concluded. “It’s a win for Jamaica and a win for the employers.”
‘Team Jamaica’ at the Jamaican Liaison Service’s Wine and Cheese Agricultural Forum: front row, left to right: Tania Lou, Oral Chambers, Business Development Manager with the Jamaica Tourist Board, Permanent Secretary on special assignment Colette Roberts Risden, Kurtis Davis from the Jamaican Consulate General in Toronto, and Chief Liaison Officer Althea Riley. In the back row, are: JLS Officers Leighton Davis, Donna Douglas, Allia McLeary and Sheldon Wright.
Fresh produce philosophy and polar bear dips make Dan the Mushroom Man a favourite at the Brantford and Simcoe Farmers’ Markets
By Diane Baltaz
Regular customers of Dan McCutcheon at the Brantford and the Simcoe Farmers’ Markets may have difficulty believing his confession about his earliest marketing days: “I was the shyest guy in the world.” Laughing, he added. “I’d say (using a quiet, polite voice that bordered on timidity),”’Hi, may I help you?”
Dan, then 12, lived at the Halfway Corner between Port Dover and Simcoe. One day his mother told him that he was going to assist her cousin, Roy Shepherd, sell fruit and vegetables at the Brantford Farmers’ Market.
That was in 1970. Shepherd had what McCutcheon called “a summer focus” with three seasonal outdoor stalls selling multiple local fruits and vegetables in addition to a year-round indoor stall.
Inspired by the money earned by his older brother, who preceded him at the job, McCutcheon, conscious of his shyness, said, “I decided to take my chance, to see if I would succeed, although my mother likely told me that I was going to help as Roy was family.”
He liked it. When he worked at a local bank for four years after graduating from high school, he continued helping out on weekends. Shepherd died in 1974; his wife sold the business to McCutcheon and his father, George in 1975.
Fifty five years later, McCutcheon, now 67, has three year-round indoor stalls, one of which is in the spot that his cousin rented. He opened a second stall at the Simcoe Farmer’s Market when it re-opened in 1981.
He’s known as Dan the Mushroom Man, even though he sells other produce. It’s a title he traces back to an old, large sign that his family hung above their stall with MUSHROOMS painted in bold caps. The moniker expanded to Dan Dan the Mushroom Man because a close friend addressed him as Dan-Dan.
Market onlookers will see the Mushroom Man laughing, smiling and genuinely chatting with customers. McCutcheon knows regulars by name, their buying preferences, when they last visited his stand, and sometimes asking for updates about their lives.
“As a vendor, I like to have visits with people.” Aware that local markets are a centuries-old sales medium, he added, “It’s a tradition.”
His mirth turns serious when he discusses marketing. “My sales philosophy is: buy fresh and try to sell out. My motto is a farmers’ market is always about fresh.”
Although McCutcheon calls his four-year bank career a “great experience”, he said that his corporate stint taught him the value of right individual customer and employee relations.
“It’s nice working for oneself as opposed to the way how they (big businesses) treat customers,” said McCutcheon. “I learned the right way to go about business. I mean having personal, face-to-face service with individual customers, as opposed to the big customers getting preferential treatment in corporate settings.”
McCutcheon considers himself “blessed” with the part-time staff he has had over the years.
“I keep in touch with some type of communication with most of my past staff – and there’s
a 90 percent chance that if they’re able, they’ll come back to help even if it’ been 30 years.”
The market veteran dislikes the phrase, “jobber” to describe him. “I prefer retailer extraordinaire,” he said, grinning with outstretched arms. “Vendors have different ways of buying – I buy the best, compared with buying older produce at a cheaper price and selling high.”
Emphasis is on Ontario produce, which comprises 90 percent of sales, with items such as lettuce and asparagus from Delhi, with other products hailing from Brantford, Flamborough and Leamington. McCutcheon also carries raw honey, maple syrup and locally-made tortilla chips.
McCutcheon obtains produce and sets up the Simcoe stall on Wednesday, in time for the market’s Thursday hours, moving on to Brantford on Fridays and Saturdays.
But changes in the Ontario farmscape altered his procurement procedures in recent years.
Increases in the size of farm operations changed some farmers’ wholesale procedures, with some enterprises selling exclusively to large stores or through secondary venues such as the Ontario Food Terminal (OFT).
The resulting decrease in local farms selling directly to McCutcheon created a “distance issue” for him to obtain the volume he needs for Simcoe and Brantford. Alternative sites in Niagara and Leamington are impractical, particularly under winter driving conditions.
“I used to pick up most of my produce, but now some of these farms use different MOs (modus operandi) for wholesaling,” said McCutcheon. “Small growers are being forced out. Once a seven-acre greenhouse was considered large, but they’re minnows now.”
Therefore, while McCutcheon still does some local pickups, he now retains someone to obtain the remaining volume from the OFT.
McCutcheon found the marketing upheaval during the pandemic “initially frustrating.” He
asked, “Why did they shut down markets while the big stores were kept open? People still need to eat.”
Presently, a Clarence Street landowner permitted McCutcheon to do roadside pickups. “And thankfully, (Brantford market clerk) Bruce Jacobson fought hard to re-open the market.”
Meanwhile the Simcoe vendors developed a curbside pickup and delivery system. McCutcheon received his orders by phone and text.
“Technology is not my stronghold; I prefer the strong, personal touch. In Simcoe, the delivery or pick up system worked well, but we lost that human contact…. But we made it through.”
The current market instability between Canada and the USA produced a noticeable rise in sales of McCutcheon’s Ontario produce, with some customers now checking for country of origin.
But one of the most important market activities valued by Dan Dan the Mushroom man occurs at neither market site.
McCutcheon participates in the annual Polar Bear Plunge in Lake Erie in order to fundraise for local charities. It began as the Grand River Dip at the urging of Stan Gorecki, now owner of Heron Head Bikes in order to support Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Now McCutcheon’s 30-second dips support various local non-profits such as Steadman’s Hospice.
The dip happens with participation and donations from friends, his fellow vendors and customers from the Brantford and Simcoe Farmers’ Markets as well as local businesses.
The Polar dip team raises $6,000 to $7,000 annually, and a total of approximately $20,000 in the past three years.
“It’s a passion for me,” McCutcheon said. “Everyone knows me as Dan the Mushroom Man but my goal is to be remembered as the one to raise funds for charity.”
McCutcheon is best known as Dan the Mushroom Man at the Simcoe and Brantford Farmers’ Markets
Lions Touch-A-Truck brings out the community
By Chris Abbott
The Waterford Lions Club started its annual Touch-A-Truck in 2014.
“It’s been a good turnout,” said Lion John Varao, chair of the Touch-A-Truck event. “Kids enjoy seeing the big equipment, the big machinery. The Lions are doing a good thing for the community - and they have a lot of fun.
“The kids love that,” Varao smiled as horns honked again and again in the background. “They love that.”
The free admission June 14th Touch-ATruck, with all sizes of trucks and tractors, filled Waterford’s Shadow Lake Park on Alice Street during the Norfolk County Community Days. Donations were accepted for the Waterford and District Food Cupboard.
“The idea is to do it the same time as the Norfolk (Community Days) event. Do them at the same time to bring more people together.
“The community has been good for us, and we are doing something – hopefully – to help out the community. Good turnout, good value.”
The Touch-A-Truck is traditionally held at the arena parking lot, but it was unavailable this year.
“We weren’t sure this would be big enough area for it. We squeezed them in a bit, but it turned out alright.”
There was an agriculture connection as well, with tractors and farm machinery on display.
Blake Botscheller of Waterford climbed up on Kubota M6H-101 from Norfolk Tractor at the Waterford Lions Touch-A-Truck on June 14.
Marion McDonald from Villa Nova, with grandchildren Parker and Amelia, pose next to a New Holland SP310F field sprayer at the Waterford Lions Touch-A-Truck on June 14.
Monica Veit of Sonnyside Flowers, Delhi, is Norfolk 4-H’s veteran “Energizer Bunny”
By Diane Baltaz
Ask any Norfolk 4-H Club member or alumnus which leader stands out for them, chances are they will say “Monica Veit.”
Veit, who co-founded Sonnyside Flowers with her husband, Gary, leads or assists in multiple 4-H clubs, holding many of them at her 25-acre farm and flower operation at the corner of Highway 3 and Fernlea Road near Delhi. She even provides “the 4-H” house” – a bright block residence where youth and leaders hold meetings and store the archives and manuals.
Recently, 4-H Ontario gave her the 25 Years of Service Award, although Veit said that she doesn’t remember how or when she joined: “It just happened. I started off slow and it grew and I am still involved.”
Some 4-H aficionados call this wiry, unassuming woman “the Norfolk 4-H Energizer Bunny” because of her apparently endless energy and her keenness to discuss anything 4-H. Indeed, she declined to sit during the interview for this article, saying, “I never sit down; I’m in constant motion.”
“Monica is a dear,” said Norfolk 4-H president Sharon Judd. “She loves the kids and they love her. They chanted her name as she went up for an award.”
“Anything to do with food is popular,” said Veit.
“So many sign up for it I don’t know where to put them.”
Veit started her tour with the goats she supplies for the Goat Club which meets on Wednesdays. The youth become acquainted with breeds such as Lamancha and Alpine and learned how to exhibit them at local fairs including Tillsonburg and Norfolk.
“We can use them up to two years of age, and
only the females – those are the 4-H rules,” said Veit while giving them water. “The goat club runs for 12 weeks.”
The older goats retire to a paddock adjoining the barn to live out their lives, along with the llamas, alpacas and other farm animals, including miniature horses, some chickens, and Moe the Donkey. Veit borrows additional dairy goats from another farmer when 4-H enrolment demands it
Veit runs two Llama Clubs on Tuesday evenings – the Showmanship Club and the Hiking-training Club, both of which run in succession for seven weeks each starting in late June. The animals are then shown at the Tillsonburg
Fair in mid-August and later at the Ancaster and Norfolk fairs.
The llamas form one of Norfolk’s larger clubs, including three girls whose parents drive in from London to participate, said Veit.
“There are 20 members who are partnered up with 20 llamas. We have five leaders for the llama group as it’s a large group. The llamas are very popular,” said Veit. “The animals go on two-hour hikes with their human guides on outings and hikes on local trails.”
Pointing at an adjacent pasture, Veit added, “The club dresses the llamas in costumes and we do an obstacle course here. People stop to look with the lama obstacle course.”
Veit “helps out” with the Archery Club at the Delhi Hungarian Hall each winter.
“That’s another popular club, with about 13 youth. At these meeting youth shoot blunt arrows at birdies on a table. Archery is always big.”
Woodworking happens at the Sonnyside greenhouse. Approximately 10 to 12 youth of both genders fashion items such as birdhouses and jewelry boxes. Members also receive small wood pieces with screws to make items to enter in the Norfolk County Fair. “Six members entered their pieces last year.”
A red house across the road harbours the Pizza and Dough Club because it has a “better kitchen,” said Veit. It also hosts the Craft Club, which like the baking club, starts each October.
“Anything to do with food is popular,” said Veit. “So many sign up for it I don’t know where to put them.”
“We’re doing a Garden Club now (early June) – we’re planting vegetables and cut flowers in the field, after sowing the seeds in the greenhouse in April. We’ve got seven kids – they have the whole 4-H deal!”
Joey the brown and white alpaca is another favourite with Veit and visiting 4-H’ers.
Veit coaxes a goat to pose in a typical 4-H judging position.
Veit helps more than just livestock in 4-H Clubs
Ten children attend the Rabbit Club over the winter, with the youth usually providing their own rabbit which they keep at home. “They meet over the winter months and are usually finished by April, but we’re late this year and we started in late March. They learn about showmanship and they train the rabbits to do an obstacle course with pylons; the kids have leads on them.”
Veit has been married to Gary for 60 years: “I’m not a spring chicken anymore!” They worked with Fernlea Flowers, which Gary and his twin sister operated. The couple started their own business, Sonnyside Flowers in 1982, buying their current farm across the road in 1984. Veit remains involved with the operation, although daughter Michelle handles much of the business.
“I love flowers! My first home is the greenhouse; my second home is the animals; my third home is my house.”
Veit said that she owned llamas since the 1970s, “even before my Fernlea days”. She ran a tri-county llama club prior to joining 4-H and continues to exhibit her own llamas. Her animals visit various fairs, the Norfolk Rodeo, attend day camps around Norfolk and drop into nursing homes in Simcoe, Tillsonburg and Woodstock. She also hosts “Llama Discovery Days” in order to acquaint children with the animal.
“I like llamas a lot, but some people get nervous around them due to their size compared to the smaller alpacas.”
Veit shows no sign of retiring from 4-H: “I enjoy 4-H and I enjoy working with the kids. We learn from each other; some stay faithful and keep joining and new ones sign up.”
“In 4-H, the youth inform us about what clubs they want to do. It’s for them that we are doing it for and we are trying to make it happen.”
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KitKat the Llama doesn’t participate in 4-H anymore, but gladly poses for cameras.
Technology highlighted at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show
By Tamara Botting
Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show – the largest and oldest of its kind in Ontario – is returning to the Woodstock area September 9 to 11.
The show has been going for over 30 years. Each year, over 36,000 people and more than 650 exhibitors are in attendance.
“The primary purpose (of the show) is for companies to showcase products that are ready to come to market now,” said Rob O’Connor, show director.
“There’s also companies starting to showcase prototypes and concepts and new business startups that are coming, to bring the products to give the first glimpse of them to farmers. They engage the interest of the farmers, and get some of their feedback,” he said. “We will have some new startup companies in there with some new technological advancements that they want to bring to the market; these are so new that there’s not even a business built around some of them – it’s just still a concept.”
The benefit, O’Connor said, is that these companies are able to find out directly from their potential future customers whether or not theirs is a product farmers would be interested in buying at all, as well as how many farmers might be interested in buying it – whether the product is niche or should be mass produced.
“They monitor that acceptance level of the product, and it’s very helpful for the companies,” O’Connor said. “It’s also very helpful for the farmers, because then they can start thinking as to the future and what they need to be prepared for,” as far as whether this is something they want to invest in for their enterprise.
O’Connor noted that there have been expansive technological advances in agricultural equipment in the past five to 10 years.
He said there have been “remarkable improvements in some of the technology on the equipment, whether it’s sensor-driven technology to help the operator understand if something’s getting jammed, or how fast the harvest is going, how much (produce) they’re putting through the machine.”
The improved productivity can be quantified almost immediately.
“There’s lots of new sensors and digital technologies that we’re able to use to help us record, whether it’s volumes and yields, or monitoring equipment in real time as you’re operating it,” O’Connor said.
There have been significant technological advances for livestock management as well, and the show makes sure there’s a space for those producers to learn about what’s new on the market as well.
“Our dairy improvement centre has been there for over 20 years, and that’s an area where farmers can come and see what’s new in the dairy industry,” O’Connor said.
Oftentimes, there are equipment demonstrations at the show, so farmers can get a firsthand look at how these new tools work.
This year, one of the planned equipment demonstrations is for forage harvesters.
“It’s a great opportunity for farmers, whether they’re dairy farmers or beef cattle producers,
to come out and see some of the newest technology when it comes to harvesting and storing their forage crops,” O’Connor said.
“The great thing about having these shows is it really does highlight that technology that helps the production of agriculture become more efficient, and to grow more food safer and more efficiently, with less cost to the environment.”
O’Connor noted that agriculture as a whole is a fairly niche industry.
“It’s very few people in the business compared to the general population. But everybody eats.”
He noted that only about two to four per cent of the population is involved in agriculture, and of that segment, about 20 per cent of them do the largest volume of growing agricultural products, such as corn, soybeans, beef, pork, poultry, etc.
“It’s a very small amount of people that feed everybody else. In fact, Canada can feed three more countries’ worth of population over and above we do for Canada; that just makes for a very large business,” O’Connor said.
Over time, the technology has improved and farming has become more efficient. While there is always going to be a need for the next generation of farmers, the labour demands haven’t grown exponentially in pace with the population growth, because farmers are better equipped –literally – to keep up with the demands of their operations.
“Because of that, we’ve been able to keep our food production costs lower for people,” O’Connor said.
Agriculture as an industry can face a lot of scrutiny from the general public, particularly when it comes to concerns about the environmental impacts of farming practices.
But as O’Connor noted, it’s only in a farmer’s own best interests to be environmentally responsible.
“We have to look after our land, because that’s our livelihood. No farmer, no business (owner) is going to ruin their business. And I think that gets forgotten by a lot of people –how much importance (farmers) place on their
Each year, the International Plowing Match attracts an average of 70,000-plus people from across Ontario, throughout Canada, the United States and beyond.
The Dairy Farmers of Ontario tent at the Outdoor Farm Show is always a popular spot for people of all ages. Besides information on the latest technology, the cows are a big draw.
Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show scheduled for Sept. 9-11
land, their farm. They want to make sure it’s not just good for them, but it’ll be good for those who take it over, whether it’s their own family, or it’s other people who purchase the farm in the future.”
With the rising cost of land – particularly land that’s suitable for agriculture – it just makes good financial sense for a farmer to take good care of their land, and make sure it remains viable for their operation.
The same care and concern extends to the livestock, for the same reasoning.
“You have to have good, healthy animals to produce good meat, eggs or milk. So, to do that, you have to look after them the best way,” O’Connor said.
It also just makes financial sense for farmers to be conservative when they’re using resources like fuel, fertilizer, herbicides, etc.
For the Ontario show, “I think we have a 65 per cent return rate of attendees, which is phenomenal for a trade show.”
Besides being a way to help farmers improve their businesses, it’s also an important social support for them, O’Connor said.
Seeing old friends reconnect and new relationships form each year at the show, “It’s one of those things that I look forward to,” he said.
Beyond that, September is just a great time to travel to the area, he said.
“That time of year in Ontario is so beautiful … everything’s so green and lush; it’s just before the harvest of corn crops and soybeans, the crops are really looking good.”
The idea is to highlight not just the production side of agriculture, but also the industry of the business, which touches on many areas, including banking, equipment manufacturing, large animal veterinary services, and more.
“Agriculture is really quite a diverse business, but most people just think of farming,” O’Connor said. “So, what we want to do is, we want to bring the Indigenous youth to our show and introduce them to all that’s offered in agriculture.
“Our dairy improvement centre has been there for over 20 years, and that’s an area where farmers can come and see what’s new in the dairy industry,” O’Connor said.
“All of this creates a cost to their business that they really want to reduce and avoid,” O’Connor said.
“They really monitor what they’re putting into the soil or into their animals, because it’s just an extra cost as well. And then, if you put too much of something into the land, it’ll just leech off anyways, and it’s lost potential revenue for you.”
The Canadian Outdoor Farm Show and others like it help farmers learn about practices and tools that can help them thrive.
That’s why O’Connor loves the work he does.
“It really is more than just a job to me; it’s a way of life. It is something that I really enjoy doing. I don’t see myself ever doing any other type of job other than promoting agriculture, promoting technology through this type of event.”
He has a ranch, and is the third generation in his family to farm cattle. He’s been in agricultural trade shows and fairs for a long time.
It was just over 12 years ago that he started in his current position with Glacier FarmMedia.
“I was asked if I’d be interested in working with their team to start up a new outdoor agriculture trade show in the Prairies. I said yes, because that’s once in a lifetime opportunity, to start a major event from the ground up,” O’Connor said.
That show is Ag in Motion, which runs in July each year near Langton, SK. The Ontario show, which has been operating for over 30 years and is owned by Glacier FarmMedia, came under O’Connor’s purview a few years ago.
O’Connor said he appreciates the loyal attendees who make it a point to come out every year.
As the Ontario show rapidly approaches, O’Connor and his team are feverishly working in the background on a new program they’re launching this year, Agriculture for Indigenous Youth.
“It’s something we’re building right now, and we’re pretty excited about it. I personally think the next decade for that is going to become very important, so we’re beyond thrilled, to be honest, to be the first agricultural trade shows to be offering this.”
For more information about the show, or to get tickets, visit outdoorfarmshow.com.
Simcoe summit seeks a unified voice for supporting migrant workers and employers
By Diane Baltaz
Multiple front-line people who interact with seasonal workers across Canada gathered in Simcoe mid-June in order to strengthen services for migrant workers and develop better interprovincial supports.
Dubbed as the National and Provincial Summit on Migrant Workers Services Delivery Model and Road Map, it was primarily organized by the Toronto Neighbourhood Association (TNO), a community-based agency. Since 2006, TNO has supported many of Norfolk County’s approximately 6,000 annual migrant workers from an office in the Simcoe Mall on West Street.
The two-day conference involved service providers, academics, politicians, interpreters, employers, consulate staff as well as frontline workers from health services, faith-based agencies, the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, and the Canadian government’s Migrant Worker Support Program. Consulate officials represented Mexico, Jamaica, Barbados, Guatemala and Thailand. They outlined their role in supporting their nationals who work in Canada.
After sharing information about what works and existing problems on the first day, summit participants strategized on fostering a “road map” on ways to strengthen ”accessible and relevant” services for workers and their employers.
In Norfolk County, this means supporting agricultural workers, said Mayor Amy Martin in an introductory address. She said that onethird of Ontario’s seasonal workers land in Norfolk to work on many of its 1,400-plus farms.
“Farmers can scale more and earlier produce and such production isn’t possible without seasonal farm workers….I thank every person who steps on a farm to help produce vegetables and fruit in light of an unstable world.”
Martin cited examples of community assistance for these workers, such as bunkhouse
inspections, housing compliance, rural transportation services, and the Grand-Erie Health Services which provides full medical services to workers at permanent sites in Simcoe and Delhi and with two mobile vans. Much of this work is done in collaboration with TNO, she added.
The conversations on Day One revealed that existing migrant worker services across Canada and within provinces have services that could be adapted to other regions. They also learned that while the overall service system works, glitches remain.
“Small problems can create can create big problems if not solved in time,” said Rodrigo Baez, who heads the consular section of the Mexican Embassy in Leamington.
Baez cited examples of complaints his consular office received such as housing standards that vary across provinces, heat stress, obtaining health cards (it can take up to six months in another province), and opening bank accounts.
“There are mental health problems; Ontario helped with (a workers’) hotline but some workers remain helpless – they can’t access it if they have a phone from Mexico,” said Baez. “Mexico is the number one country sending migrant workers to Canada and our government supports them.”
Summit documentation called for “better cross-provincial alignment on core service standards and shared principles to support consistent service delivery.”
Several Canadian and consular officials outlined the confusing services documentation which employers and newly-landed workers receive; information about support services and the appropriate provider has been misinterpreted across Canada, they allege.
“We need a consistent document as workers off the plane may receive conflicting information from what their employers or the (migrant workers support) hub gets,” said Hugo Velazquez Vazquez, who directs British
Columbia’s Family and Settlement programs for MOSAIC (Multi-Lingual Orientation Services Association for Immigrant Communities). “The information is not necessarily wrong but it’s said in 10,000 ways. Let’s make everybody’s lives easier -- and try to do this across Canada as it’s a common issue.”
Fernando Borja of FERME, a Quebec service provider fascinated the attendees with his association’s “one voice” success for better government support at provincial roundtables. He said that migrant worker support organizations, consulates, employers and ethnic communities developed a common front for approaching the government for reforms and tailoring services to specific sectors and regions.
“We have one voice now,” said Borja. “Before everyone had their own agenda but they needed the influence to get points across. When you have one voice and everybody is together saying it, it’s easier to get thing done or for the government to act.”
The resulting improved cross-sector coordination and strengthened alignments enabled a new program in 2022 that provide “simplified information for workers and training workers.”
The pandemic highlighted and corrected some deficiencies in migrant worker support systems in Canada beginning with Velazquez Vazquez’s blunt statement, “The first COVID outbreak amongst Mexicans didn’t happen in Mexico but in British Columbia.”
But threats of post-pandemic political instability, tariffs against some Canadian products and possible future Canadian food insecurity were undercurrent throughout the discussions.
“Tariffs may mean food insecurity,” said Velazquez Vazquez. “Try to sell your best services to your MP and MLA about your migrant workers’ situation during tariffs. Migrant workers don’t change things as they don’t vote, but their employers do… Become one voice to reach out to the authorities that in a time of tariffs, food insecurity is threatening.”
Rodrigo Baez is head consul the Mexican Embassy’s consular services in Leamington.
Mexican consular services head Rodrigo Baez discusses summit detail with staffer Esel Panlaqui.
Hugo Velazquez Vazquez of British Columbia was a major collaborator at the Simcoe summit.
By Jeff Helsdon
Changes at the helm of ALUS
ALUS Canada is going through a transformation as Bryan Gilvesy steps back as CEO.
ALUS, (initially known as Alternate Land Use Services), mission is engaging “farmers and ranchers in creating nature-based solutions on their land to build climate resilience and enhance biodiversity for the benefit of communities and future generations.” This innovative, farmer-led program accomplishes this by paying farmers for the environmental services provided.
He sees this as a step forward for the organization, saying it will be more professionally managed.
The Norfolk Federation of Agriculture, Norfolk County and Gilvesy have been a driving force behind the program growing from one of the initial pilots of the program to it being a nationwide initiative in six provinces, 39 communities and encompassing more than 56,000 acres.
ALUS was the brainchild of Ian Wishart, then the president of the Keystone Agriculture Producers in Manitoba (the provincial farm organization). His concept was to pay farmers for the environmental services they provide. A partnership was struck with Delta Waterfowl in 2004 and the concept grew.
Norfolk Federation of Agriculture and the Norfolk Land Stewardship Council embraced the concept in 2006 and launched a pre-pilot to test the program. This was the second pilot
in the country, and the first in Ontario. Since the first program pilot in Manitoba didn’t sur-
Bryan Gilvesy recently stepped back as the CEO of ALUS to become the organization’s chief strategy officer. The owner of YU Ranch south of Tillsonburg in Norfolk County, Gilvesy said it was time to slow down.
ALUS: Gilvesy becomes Chief Strategy Officer
vive, Norfolk’s program is now the oldest in the country.
Dave Reid, then the coordinator of the Norfolk Land Stewardship program, was one of the original advocates of ALUS. He worked with Fred Judd from the Norfolk Federation of Agriculture to get it on the ground. Gilvesy, who lives south of Tillsonburg in Norfolk County and transitioned his former tobacco farm into a longhorn cattle operation, was the third participant in the pre-pilot. Gilvesy became chairman of the local Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC) and the inaugural CEO as ALUS grew into a national entity and a standalone organization in May of 2015.
Gilvesy, who admitted it might be time to slow down, handed over the CEO role of ALUS to Jordan Sinclair, who was previously the vice-president of strategy and a member of the ALUS Chatham-Kent Partnership Advisory Committee. Gilvesy will remain and become the chief strategy officer.
He sees this as a step forward for the organization, saying it will be more professionally managed.
“She’s a professional,” he said. “That builds credibility and helps us build our vision for the long term.”
Although Sinclair has been involved in agriculture her entire life, she is not a farmer. Wanting to emphasize ALUS is still farmer-driven, she organized the CEO’s Farmer Advisory Committee.
“It’s several farmers she will consult with to ensure we don’t lose the farm leadership[ aspect of ALUS,” Gilvesy said.
Delhi-area resident Joe Csoff will be part of the committee. He is currently an ALUS participant and the PAC liaison.
Although many similar programs are government run, ALUS will continue to be funded by private industry, banks and insurance companies, and support from municipal, provincial and federal governments.
“ALUS will be farmer-led and community-driven,” Gilvesy said. “That’s the magic of the program is local farm leadership.”
The only exception to government not running ALUS is in Prince Edward Island where the government embraced the program nearly two decades ago and runs it province-wide.
Gilvesy emphasized there are not intentions to turn ALUS into a national, federal government program. He explained one reason farmers trust ALUS is because it’s farmer run.
“It’s a healthy, balanced model that serves many priorities and interests,” he said.
One of the springboards for ALUS has been the ongoing environmental awareness and that farmers can be part of creating a healthier environment for society. This could be through planting native vegetation buffers next to waterways on farms, planting native grasses on marginal lands, or creating pollinator habitat and wetlands. Development of ALUS on a particular piece of land is done with input from the local coordinator, but Gilvesy emphasized it’s what the farmer wants.
“The ALUS model is proven, it’s effective and ready to grow,” Gilvesy said.
The goal is for ALUS to operate in every province – it’s currently in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and
PEI - and to satisfy the demand for growth in communities across Canada.
Gilvesy notes the traditional thinking amongst urban environmentalists is to buy existing wild lands and put a fence around it. ALUS differs in it is creating new net nature, and is not fencing it off. Since its inception, ALUS has created about 250 square-kilometres of new nature.
“That’s the size of a nice national park,” Gilvesy said with a sense of satisfaction.
Modest in his part of the exponential growth of ALUS, Gilvesy started with planting native prairie grasses on his farm. He quickly saw the value of this habitat for nesting birds, pollinators and wildlife. After a time, he also saw the potential of the grass to provide biomass for his longhorn cattle after bird nesting was finished for the year. This is an example of how ALUS works with farmers, he explained.
When he first signed on, Gilvesy could see the potential growth of the program, but never imagined he would be the CEO. His ability to connect to farmers, as a farmer, has helped the organization grow. Gilvesy is proud of the 492 partner agencies, from services clubs, to conservation groups, municipalities and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, have worked with ALUS.
When Gilvesy stepped back earlier this year, he had been CEO for a month less than a decade. Another of the legacies he leaves is how ALUS demonstrated a remote-run organization can work – ALUS won the Canadian Non-Profit Employer of Choice Award in 2019.
Gilvesy will continue to promote ALUS within the farm and business community. Or, as he said, “putting rural communities and farmers at the centre of solving problems.”
NORFOLK COUNTY - ONTARIO’S GARDEN
New Ontario agriculture minister ‘humbled’ to represent province’s farmers
By Luke Edwards
The phrase “serve and protect” is nothing new to Trevor Jones, but it is taking on a different meaning in his new job.
Jones, MPP for Chatham-Kent–Leamington, has served as Ontario’s minister of agriculture, food and agribusiness for a couple of months now. He took over from Rob Flack following the provincial election earlier this year and says he looks forward to working with Ontario farmers and food producers. “It was humbling to be trusted to take care of this important sector
in this important time in our country’s history,” Jones said.
Jones previously had a career with the OPP before leaving law enforcement to work in the greenhouse industry, where he handled grower relations and supply chain management for several years. The call to serve people drew him into politics, and he was elected to Queen’s Park in 2022.
“Food security, food sovereignty and access to fresh food – it was always kind of a burning question for me,” Jones said.
After arriving at Queen’s Park, he spent nearly two years as a parliamentary assistant under then-minister Lisa Thompson.
“Lisa was really good as a leader, as a minister. She really gave her parliamentary assistants a lot of room to grow, to develop relationships with stakeholders, to learn,” Jones said.
With that experience, Jones says he is ready to tackle some big challenges facing Ontario’s agriculture sector. That includes addressing short-term tariff threats, which have affected
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Delores Wiedrick, Marvin Wiedrick, Kyla Wiedrick, Philip Wiedrick from Mae Mart Farms Limited, and Aaron Miedema CTM agent
New
much of the province’s economy, including agriculture.
“We need a response and some safeguards to tariff threats and the tariff realities,” Jones said.
Part of the government’s response is a recent announcement to increase the Risk Management Program by $100 million. Having those funds available in case of calamity — whether related to tariffs or to weather — is an important step in safeguarding the sector, he said.
Now, Jones says the focus is on building infrastructure, which is a longer-term project. Regardless of what the Americans do in the coming months and years, Jones says it is important to build east–west trade corridors to get Ontario food and produce to other markets within
Canada and eventually to overseas markets. He referred to a “badge of trust” associated with Ontario food, which is recognized worldwide for being high-quality, safe and healthy.
While trade with the United States will remain vital, Jones said the province’s long-held reliance on those trade partnerships needs to be rethought.
“We’ve gotten accustomed to that safe, mutually beneficial relationship. And now we’ve got to look elsewhere. But to do that we have to invest in infrastructure, so we have to get our stuff to markets that are now maybe more east to west,” he said.
Beyond moving Ontario food and produce to new markets, Jones says infrastructure projects are also needed for other reasons. For instance,
he noted large irrigation projects could give farmers more certainty that their crops will succeed each year. The Niagara region has worked toward a regional irrigation project for several years, and while it is a significant undertaking, Jones believes provincial, federal and local governments—along with industry—can work together to make it happen.
“It’s a generational gift to make Ontario fruit and vegetable producers, tender fruit producers, grape growers and wine producers globally competitive,” he said.
Trevor Jones is the MPP for Chatham-KentLeamington and the province’s new ag minister.
Projectile weed control research shows approach has promise
By Tamara Botting
Agriculture is an industry of ingenuity.
There are many factors that can impact crops, like frost, high winds, the amount of rainfall, etc. Weed control is one of the main ways farmers can give themselves the best chance for a successful season.
Herbicides are one way to limit the spread of unwanted plants in the field, but researchers are looking to add more tools to the box – and one in particular is looking promising.
Robert E. Nurse is a research scientist in the Science and Technology branch of the Government of Canada’s Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada department.
He’s part of a team that’s entering their fourth year of studying the efficacy of high projectile weed control.
“Essentially, the goal here is we want to reduce the reliance on herbicides,” Nurse said.
“By using high velocity projectiles, we’re hoping to either get the plants at very young age – if they’re really, really small, we’re hoping that it’ll kill them completely – or if they’re larger – like say, more than five to 10 centimeters – we’re hoping that we’ll hit and affect the growing point, and then we can come in with an herbicide and take out the rest of the plant.”
There’s also the possibility that they could damage the leaves of the unwanted plants, “and with that damage, it could introduce disease into the weed that could take them out as well. So, we’re looking at a lot of different factors.”
For the experiment – which is taking place in different areas and with different crops across Canada – they chose to work with three mediums for the proof of concept stage: corn grit, walnut shells and baking soda. These were chosen because they’re all commercially available, to a certain extent.
In their testing, the researchers are using a compressor and sandblasting equipment.
Researchers in the Science and Technology branch of the Government of Canada’s Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada department are entering their fourth year of studying the
“Ultimately, if it’s successful, it would be commercialized into something like a modified sprayer, (where) you could do it using a tractor,” Nurse said.
Initially, they started their testing by using combinations of the different mediums. However, “we found that if we tried to combine them, the spray gun with clog up. So, we’ve found over the course of the trial that instead of trying to do them as mixes, it’s better to do them sequentially … either on the same day, or a few days apart.”
That wasn’t the only discovery when it came to testing the different mediums.
All things being relative, the researchers chose the different mediums because it would offer a variety of sizes to test.
Nurse said the researchers were expecting walnut shells to be the most effective as a standalone treatment, “because they’re large; they would rip the leaves and everything. But actually, it’s the baking soda that tends to be the best treatment that we have found.”
efficacy of projectile weed control.
When projectile weed control is used in conjunction with herbicides or bioherbicides, weed control is scoring better than 80 per cent.
The researchers on the projectile weed control project have been looking at various medium options, including walnut shells.
Sodium bicarbonate, a.k.a. baking soda, has shown to be an excellent medium for projectile weed control.
Projective weed control offers an alternative to
He explained, “The smaller the particle size, the better, because it gets through the nozzles better; it doesn’t clog up as much, and it actually injures the weeds more, because it’s coming out of the gun at a higher velocity.”
While it hasn’t been part of the trials so far, Nurse said he would be interested in looking at water as a medium for projectile weed control.
“Essentially, the goal here is we want to reduce the reliance on herbicides,” Nurse said.
“Especially using hotter – like boiling – water, or something that would have a double effect,” he said. “It’s just the concern of water being a limited available asset to some growers; they don’t all necessarily have access to the amount of water that you would have to use to do a large acreage field.”
In the meantime, there’s still plenty to investigate with the current mediums being trialed.
With the baking soda specifically, there’s a question of whether it’s changing the pH levels of the soil.
“We don’t have that data yet, but that is a concern in some cases,” Nurse said. “I think at the rates we’re using it, there’s unlikely to be a huge effect on the soil chemistry, but we are going to verify that.”
There are other factors the researchers are looking into with their testing, Nurse said.
“We’re not just looking at the abrasives alone.”
For instance, the angle used to apply the abrasives can impact the efficacy.
“We’re finding that the 45-degree angle is the best,” Nurse said.
With the testing, the researchers tried to pick crops that would be more tolerant to the projectile weed control if they happened to get hit with ‘friendly fire.’ For instance, in Ontario, they’re looking at using this process with white beans; in Prince Edward Island, it’s being used with potatoes; and in Quebec, they’re testing it in vineyards.
“We do get a little bit of crop injury through it, but when we’re going for the weeds, we’re trying to aim below the canopy – if there is a canopy that has already formed – so the injury is minimal to the crop,” Nurse said.
Ideally, the projectile weed control should be used when the weeds are just emerging from the soil. Of course, that’s not always going to happen on a busy farm; projectile weed control is an imperfect practice.
“When we’re going through, (we) don’t necessarily capture everything,” Nurse said. But it doesn’t have to be an either/ or choice
for farmers – and the data is showing that it shouldn’t be.
“I don’t think the abrasives alone are going to be good enough in most cases, because you have a mixture of large weeds and small weeds,” Nurse said.
“If (the weeds are) larger, we found that it’s best to pair the abrasives with an herbicide. For this project specifically, we’ve switched to looking at a bioherbicide, just to target more of the reduced risk – maybe the organic sector – with the project.”
Nurse noted that when projectile weed control practices have been paired with a bioherbicide – or, as in the past, when they’ve done it with an herbicide – weed control is scoring better than 80 per cent.
“When you combine it with that bioherbicide or herbicide, you’re getting good control that way,” Nurse said. “We’ve been able to reduce the amount of herbicide that we’re using, or the amount of treatments or applications that would be required, while still maintaining the weed control. And we’ve had less than 10 per cent crop injury.”
Even with promising results so far, the work is far from done.
“If the project continues … the next logical step is to either start trying to get an engineer on the project and (design a) commercialized unit or do some grower trials, but we aren’t at that stage yet,” Nurse said.
In the meantime, the research continues.
Contests challenges Ontario students to harness their creativity
Open house at St. Catharines horse farm helps promote Bill Galvin Racing Alliance art contest
By Luke Edwards
Today, they’re encouraging students to put contest since Karen Hauver and sister Barb Lennox helped launch the volunteer group.
from Lennox, but she died before it became a reality. Hauver picked up the torch.
Galvin was a well known promoter of harness
“His focus was, he always wanted to get
$10,000
Finalists for the art and literary contests hosted by the BG Racing Alliance are invited to an awards night.
Kids were able to get up close and personal with the young horses at an open house hosted by Tom and Beth Rankin in support of the BG Racing Alliance.
Art contest encourages creativity and increases knowledge of harness racing
Galvin held a similar literary/art contest that Hauver helped bring back in 2018, though COVID-19 interrupted things.
“When we started this organization we kind of carried it on,” said Hauver.
The literary contest is open to kids from Grade 3 to Grade 8, with age groups of Grade 3 to 5, and a second for kids in Grade 6 to 8. Submissions can be a short story or a poem that includes a standardbred theme.
For the visual artists, there’s an additional age group for high school students.
Those who finish in the top three of their group will be invited to an awards night at Mohawk Park where they find out where they finish. Cash prizes are available, ranging from $250 for the winner and $100 for third place.
The deadline to enter is the end of August and full details, including submission forms, can be found online at bgracingalliance.ca.
To help promote the contest, St. Catharines breeder Tom and Beth Rankin held an open house earlier this spring, welcoming members of the public to his farm to get up close with seven foals and the moms. The Rankins have 35 years of experience breeding horses.
“The foals were definitely the stars of the day—people just lit up around them,” said Tom, in a press release. “Watching folks connect with these young horses is truly special and reminds me why I’ve loved this industry for so long. There’s nothing like seeing new life on the farm and knowing you’re part of something that’s both timeless and full of promise. It’s a
real privilege to share this part of the journey, and I’m thankful to everyone who came out to be part of it.”
More than 300 guests stopped by the farm, giving potential contest entrants some inspiration. Others could also take part in a Name-theFoal contest.
Hauver said she and the other alliance members were grateful for the support they’ve received from the Rankins.
“Tom has been so supportive of everything we’ve done,” she said.
“You can’t talk to Tom very long without knowing what a great fan he is of the industry.”
Harness racing in Ontario isn’t as big as it once was, Hauver acknowledged, though she said there’s still a strong and passionate core.
She hopes the contest will get more kids thinking about the sport, and submissions often come from young people who are horse lovers but who may not have considered harness racing before.
Hauver said it’s a great sport to be a fan of, and has the added bonus of being an inexpensive night out. Admission to the track is typically free.
In addition to the contest, the alliance also has a virtual reality harness racing system they take to events like local fairs.
“It’s just like they’re driving in a race, it’s been really really popular,” Hauver said.
For more information on the alliance, visit bgracingalliance.ca
Tom and Beth Ranking have bred horses at their St. Catharines farm for 35 years.
Second time around organizing an Ag Day event in Hagersville a bigger and better challenge for ex-H-N dairy educator
By Diane Baltaz
When Springvale farmer Henrietta Heeg retired as the Haldimand-Norfolk dairy educator after 25 years, it wasn’t long before the community snagged her for another job.
Last year, the Hagersville 150 committee asked her to chair a sub-committee to organize the agricultural portion of the community’s biggest sesquicentennial event in this year’s celebrations – Ag Day.
Held on Friday, June 6, Ag Day – short for Agriculture Day – formed the centrepiece of the sesquicentennial as a day-long celebration which occupied most of Hagersville public spaces and one major downtown street.
It’s the revived and expanded version of previous Ag Days, a beloved community gathering that in Hagersville’s public spaces that ran from 1983 to 1999. Those Ag Days, then sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the Haldimand Federation of Agriculture, celebrated the town’s agricultural roots and making citizens aware of agriculture’s economic and cultural importance to the region.
Heeg accepted the challenge.
The “agricultural aspect of Ag Day” involved organizing and arranging temporary livestock accommodation in Barnyard Lane (Alma Street) and multiple commodity group exhibits in Market Square.
“There was lots of logistics planning for Market Square and Barnyard Lane,” said Heeg.
Alma Street had to be closed to traffic in order to house the farm animals, including horses, pigs, cows and llamas that could interact with families as well as a sheep shearing demonstration. This involved multiple tasks such as obtaining permits, ensuring vaccinations of the animals, booth locations.
With assistance from three sub-committee mates, everything fell into place, even though Heeg became sick with a fever a week before the big day, resulting in her handling up as
much as 80 daily emails from bed. On June 6, she arrived at her Ag Day sites at 5 a.m. and stayed until 11 p.m.
Between 10,000 to 12,000 people flocked to Ag Day, significantly more than anyone estimated. Many of them arrived long before the 11 a.m. opening, requiring 100 volunteers clad in yellow Hagersville 150 shirts to direct them where to go.
The food trucks ran out of food, causing these vendors to scramble to the local grocery
store to replenish their supplies; vendors from the Wednesday farmers’ market who set up booths at the 150 largely sold out, said Heeg.
“But we were on top of it from early a.m. until late at night,” said Heeg. “It was an amazing success – I enjoyed it. I credit the amazing people on the (Hagersville 150) committee –we all pushed ourselves and were on top of everything --we could even ring each other at 10 p.m. at night.”
This year’s massive event, along with Hagersville’s previous Ag Day, held on May 28, 1999, creates a delightful pair of bookends for Heeg’s dairy education career. She helped organize the Haldimand Dairy Producers Committee booth at that Ag Day back in 1999.
“I began as dairy educator on May 3, 1999,” said Heeg. “I first did training, attended meetings. The job was part time. On my first day of work, I was told that I had to do a booth for the Hagersville Ag Day. I had to begin planning for it immediately.
The entire 1999 Ag Day was “more low-key” compared to the expanded 2025 event, said Heeg.
“My retirement year filled up with Hagersville 150 work – it was a really good transition from Ag Awareness (her dairy educator work), especially since everybody was coordinated in such meaningful ways.
“We (the Hagersville 150 committee) had high achievable standards and we achieved them. The co-chairs (Lisa Mattice and Nancy Snyder) had a beautiful vision and they were able to convey it to the committee to put it all in place and implement it.
“We had a gifted committee. Some were good at technology; they showed us how to work Google maps, to create coordinates for where we had to be. We had great lead people who took the lead on things.”
Heeg’s sub-committee reflected diverse ages and skills. Matthew Petheram a Gr. 12 student approached her about joining the committee; he researched and obtained Ag Day pencils, and convinced his family to display antique and new farm equipment. Rachel Vaarkamp and retired teacher-cash crop farmer Arlene Fox have organizational expertise. Vaarkamp volunteers at the Meet Your Local Farmer tent at the Caledonia Fair while Fox work with AgStravaganza, a hands-on farm education event which exposes Grade 5 students in Haldimand County and the Mississaugas of New Credit to diverse sectors of agriculture.
Heeg confesses amazement at the community’s generosity towards the June 6 event. For instance, the local dairy created an Ag Day ice cream, donating 2,000 “good sized bowls” which nearby credit union staff served. A coffee chain created an Ag Day cookie, while a real estate agent donated a hot air balloon. Multiple community groups also got involved, said Heeg, and approximately $2400 was raised from donation bins and an online tap to fund two non-profit service organizations.
“A lot of the event was about giving back to the community.”
Springvale’s Henrietta Heeg
Crowd at Hagersville’s Ag Day beyond organizers’ expectations
“I just want to say what an impressive day it was! It truly felt like a team effort, with everyone coming together and putting in a strong collaborative effort. I was genuinely impressed with the organization and teamwork that went into making the day a success.”
With June 6 now over, Heeg said there are no further future plans. “Our new committee motto is: One and done.”
Heeg and her husband are retired from the dairy portion of their 100-acre farm near Springvale, leaving that to their son and daughter-in-law, but they still handle the farm’s cash crop and poultry barn production, as well as do chores in the family’s robotic dairy barn on alternate weekends. They are also building a new retirement home across the road, and assisting another son to integrate into the operation after his recent graduation from an American college.
Heeg remains busy in the community. Heeg sits on the Springvale Park Committee and plays the piano as part of the worship team at the Dwelling Place in Springvale.
Nor is Heeg totally giving up dairy education. She still volunteers with the Caledonia Agricultural Society’s AgStravaganza, handling registrations and some of it dairy portion. This 30 year old event occurs at the Caledonia fairgrounds one week prior to the fair, with a maximum of 18 Grade 5 classes.
“What is dear to my heart is educating this new generation. Students are further removed from agriculture than ever before and it is more important to educate them with curriculum-linked activities to learn how important agriculture is to the community and the country. One in eight jobs in Ontario is agriculture-related. And students are our future! We need good food.”
Huge crowds turned out for Ag Day in Hagersville
By Alice Guthrie
Huge crowds turned out for the revived Agriculture (Ag) Day in Hagersville on June 6th. The entire park, market square and Alma Street joining the two were crowded with every type of imaginable agricultural display. Various animals spent the day in town for people to see them
up close. Horses, cattle, llamas, pigs, sheep, goats and several types of poultry shared the attention. Many people don’t get this opportunity and it was clear they were immensely enjoying the experience. The Walpole Antique Farm Machinery Association brought out a large number of vintage pieces located in the
park along Church Street. On the other side of the park, a large modern combine shared space with a restored 1957 John Deere 45 combine still in working order. This was one of the first self-propelled combines made and was brought out by the Petheram family.
Part of the huge crowd that enjoyed the Hagersville Ag Day.
Drew, Audrey and Ben Guenther of Townsend wave to parents Clint and Sarah from the combine Shannon Binek of Hagersville, “loves little piggies.”
Luke Marr touches a stuffed coy-wolf, part of the display from Springvale Bison Farm.
Matthew Petheram with his family’s modern (left) and vintage 1957 John Deere combines.
Horses are their life at the Donaldson Ranch
By Brenda Moser
It only takes a few minutes of chatting with Troy Donaldson to realize that working with horses for about 24 years and competing in various equestrian events are his passion.
Donaldson met his wife Lorie at Hellyer Farms where her father was the head horse trainer. Their mutual love of horses brought them together and that shared passion continues yet today.
It’s Troy’s love of the animal and his desire to share that love and share the skills that he has mastered with others that has made Donaldson Farm so popular with horse enthusiasts. Troy works with quarter horses, explaining, ”They are quiet and skilled in jumping, roping and barrel racing…everything. They are also very gentle and 99 per cent of girls and women prefer working with them”.
He explained more about the programs offered.
““We rope every night at the farm here, working with kids,” he said. “I love to coach and train Grades 5 through 8 for Junior Rodeo. We also do a lot of barrel racing”.
When it comes to competitions Donaldson added, “I just go where people want to go. There is a competition coming up in Des Moines, Iowa and there will be a few Ontario kids entered. In the high school division, there will be about 4,000 horses and 2,000 kids competing”.
Donaldson explained that, over the years, they have cut down on the number of horses they own.
“We used to have 40 but now we have 20. One of the horses we have here on the farm is a two-year-old quarter horse, owned by Almas Construction, that is great with kids. The own-
ers are getting her trained by us to work with their kids”.
It was clear from the beginning of our interview that Troy Donaldson is truly passionate about his family, the horses and passing that passion on to others. While all are skilled in horsemanship, his three children have done well in choosing full-time careers. Their oldest, Tyrel, is 29 and is an Industrial plumber. Logan is 27 and is an osteopath while Bailey is 25 and a registered nurse. They have all succeeded not only in their horsemanship but their careers as well.
Donaldson’s passion for all things horses is quite evident and his love of working with kids was clear. His work with them has taken him all over the United States and Canada and he has the photos and accolades that reflect that passion and his commitment to horsemanship. Donaldson Ranch is located at 2910 Cockshutt Road, Waterford. For more info you can contact Troy at donaldsonranch67@ gmail.com, or call them at 519 754 8567.
Troy Donaldson at home on the farm.
A collection of some of the accolades earned by Donaldson.
Troy Donaldson poses for a picture on his horse.
International Plowing Match returns to Niagara Region after almost a century
By Tamara Botting
Over 70K attendees expected from across Canada, internationally
The International Plowing Match (IPM) and Rural Expo is coming to Niagara Region this September, and planning for the five-day celebration of agriculture and rural living is already well underway.
This year marks the 106th anniversary of the IPM, which is the result of a collaborative effort between the Ontario Plowmen’s Association (OPA) and the local committee for the host community.
The event is “held in a different community each year, highlighting the many great things the area has to offer and attracting on average 70,000-plus people from across Ontario, throughout Canada, the United States and beyond,” the IPM website noted, adding that the “activities and entertainment offerings are a little different each year, as the local committee puts its own stamp on the IPM, showcasing important local contributions to agriculture and the rural lifestyle.”
It’s estimated that the IPM has an economic impact of approximately $25 million annually, not including the long-term benefits that this level of exposure gives to the host communities, or the tourism it spurs in the surrounding areas for years to come. Also, profits generated by the IPM are donated to groups and organizations within the host communities.
According to a March 2025 news release, the last time the IPM was hosted in Niagara was 99 years ago, in 1926.
Renate McGillivray, one of the two local cochairs for the event, was quoted as saying, “We have a lot to offer in this part of the province and we couldn’t be happier to be hosting this year’s event.”
The IPM will be set up primarily on the West Niagara Fairground property, as well as some neighbouring farms in Grassie. Besides both tractor and horse-plowing competitions, there will also be daily entertainment, animal exhibitions, demonstrations, artisans, farm and rural goods and services, and a rodeo.
McGillivray encouraged anyone who wants to be a participant, sponsor or volunteer to reach out to the organizers.
“This is a once-in-a generation event for our community and we want to make sure everyone who wants to be involved is.”
Because the event runs for multiple days (Sept. 16 to 20), attendees may choose to stay over. There are a number of options, including hospitality businesses in the area, or in the official IPM RV Park. You can book your RV Park site now on the IPM website; there are further details regarding rates, rules and regulations listed there as well.
If you can make it out on Sept. 16, opening day of the IPM is always a fan favourite, because provincial party leaders are invited out to try their hand at plowing driving tractors of their party’s colour.
One of the highlights for the 2025 iteration of the IPM is the release of the ‘From Our Farm to Your Table’ cookbook.
More than just a collection of recipes, “it is a celebration of the local community and its rich agricultural roots,” the IPM website notes.
Each year, the
The recipes included in the book were contributed by community members, farmers, volunteers and other supporters of the IPM.
The cookbook is being sold for $20 each (tax included) at a variety of locations; a full list is available on the IPM website. The OPA will mail the cookbooks within Canada; shipping is extra.
For more information on the IPM, be sure to visit plowingmatch.org.
Above:
International Plowing Match attracts an average of 70,000plus people from across Ontario, throughout Canada, the United States and beyond.
From field to frame, Waterford artist turns harvest into art
By Alex Hunt
Who says tractors and paintbrushes don’t mix? In Norfolk County, an innovative farmer is plowing new ground within the local art scene.
Kristi Osinga, a local Waterford farmer has been selling her farm-inspired art at Capital Arts Market in Simcoe since last August and plans to open her own gallery on her animal farm that she shares with husband and two sons.
Osinga uses a unique method by incorporating coffee and charcoal to add an enhanced level of intricacy and detail with the focus on highlighting darker, shiny shades and applying vibrant colors over top.
She says much of her art inspiration comes from memorable moments from her own farm property. Over the years, her vision was fueled from the days of her children playing with the chickens, cows and goats, along with her fascination with old farming equipment.
She says much of her art inspiration comes from memorable moments from her own farm property.
“Through my art, I feel like I’ve grown as a person and an artist. I like incorporating things from my farm and painting
Kristi Osinga, Waterford farmer and local artist stands in front of her gallery at the Capital Arts Market.
Waterford artist displays her agriculture-themed art in Simcoe
other locations around the world and I love doing the research for those pieces,” said Osinga. “I grew up in Woodstock, not a farm girl and I had a dog and that was pretty much it. When I started helping my husband on his farm, it really started to feel like home.”
Osinga doesn’t follow a niche but pursues the method of painting portraits from all sorts of varieties such as old tractors, fields of crops, orange sunsets and farm animals. She has also used the same creative outlet in self-published children’s book and is currently working on two more.
“I love drawing and painting the old farm stuff, the new models are so boring, the complexity is so detailed and intricate,” said Osinga. “It’s the complexity that really draws me to the older tractor models. I’ve always loved to draw and painting always came second”.
Before moving to Waterford a year ago. Orsinga and her family previously lived in Tavistock. Since relocating, their farm has expanded from to including cows and chickens. When the gallery opens on the property, Osinga says she’ll love visitors to experience the other attractions her family farm has to offer.
After attending the illustration program at Sheridan College in 2003, Osinga took a drawing hiatus to raise a family and help upkeep the farm. She started to focus on art last August and has been on a creative drive ever since.
“When people see my art, I want it to trigger a memory for them, even if it’s a tractor. That kind of thing can bring into a little bit of a fantasy world,” said Osinga. “This is what artists do, we don’t always sell all of our stuff but if we can get people to remember some of their fondest memories that just feels great.”
Rooted in rural life and fueled by imagination, Osinga bridges the everyday with the extraordinary. On her farm, every brushstroke tells a story, one born from soil, memory and heart.
OPEN: MONDAY-FRIDAY 9AM-5PM & SATURDAY 9AM-3PM
Study will attempt to come up with ways to reduce farm risks for kids
Brock researcher will seek input from farm families in new project
By Luke Edwards
With rates of child injuries and deaths on farms remaining stubbornly high over the past 30 years, a Brock University researcher is turning to farmers and their families in an effort to come up with solutions.
William Pickett, a professor of health sciences, has devoted countless hours over the years researching incidents of death and injury among young people on farms, with the goal of figuring out how to make farms safer for kids. And yet, rates remain more or less static to when he began.
So now he’s taking a new approach, talking directly to farm families. This spring he received
a grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research for a project that will seek input from farm parents, farm kids, and health and safety professionals who work with farmers.
“It’s become pretty clear that the usual ways of preventing injury, preventing major trauma, they don’t work that well with farm kids,” Pickett said.
“What’s missing in this is actually listening to the farmers from the farm perspective and the farm family perspective about how you prevent these things.”
Pickett’s work, a joint effort with the University of Saskatchewan and University of Alberta, will seek input from four different groups:
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campus students with a farming background, young kids currently growing up on farms, farm parents, and health and safety professionals who work with farmers.
Those interviews will seek to answer a simple question.
“Are there innovative solutions to protect kids, so that they receive the good of growing up on a farm but are protected from the major hazards?” Pickett said.
“What’s missing in this is actually listening to the farmers from the farm perspective and the farm family perspective about how you prevent these things.”
The common approaches to other sectors simply don’t work as well for the farming community, Pickett said. Imposing rules and regulations, or engineering the environment has tended to fall of deaf ears when it comes to farmers.
“That’s not always accepted that well for people who are very independent,” said PIckett, who grew up in the country and worked on farms in his youth.
His dad was a county coroner, and so Pickett was drawn to the issue by coming at it from the medical perspective.
Well-meaning groups have tried to host safety camps. Medical people have tried to impose solutions. But none of it has really worked well, Pickett said.
William Pickett is a professor of health sciences at Brock University and will be interviewing members of farm families in an effort to come up with ways to reduce the risk of injury to farm kids.
Brock University study to look at reducing risk to farm youth
“We want to step back and have a new look at this, talking with the groups that are actually at risk,” he said.
“My experience working with farm communities across the country is that they’re very intelligent and they’re very aware of the risks that their lives have.”
The farming community is unique in several ways, not the least of which is the fact their place of business is also usually their home. And kids start working on the farm at ages younger than in any other setting.
“(Farms) build tough kids, we build resilient kids. And there’s so much good in that, but there’s also risks,” he said.
Somewhere between 450 and 500 farm kids have died on the farm in Canada over the past 30 years, Pickett said. While overall numbers have decreased, that’s mostly the result of fewer people living on farms. Rate stats have remained static.
The goal is to conduct interviews with about 20 people in each of the four groups. Once that’s done, they’ll take what they’ve learned and apply it to past events to see if any of the ideas generated could have prevented a death.
“I am optimistic that maybe a fresh look at this will provide solutions that actually work and they’re actually acceptable to farm populations across the country rather than having something imposed,” Pickett said.
Respecting those farm families is a huge part of it, he added.
“No parent is intentionally putting their kid in harm’s way so you have to have respect for them as parents and for them as human beings,” he said.
The project is still in the early stages but Pickett hopes to get out interviewing people this summer. Anyone interested in his work or participating, can email wpickett@brock. ca.
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Need-inspired innovation: How a long-standing local childcare organization is rooted in agriculture
By Laura Richardson
In 1983, three local women recognized a need for childcare during the tobacco planting and harvesting seasons, and Langton Little People’s was born.
Linda Vandendriessche, Annette Abbott, and Nancy Goossens searched for an appropriate space in which to house a daycare, and a Norfolk County building was located. The same building houses the group today, although the name has changed to Norfolk Little People’s Daycare.
With Abbot developing and leading the program, it was off to a good start as upwards of 25 children were enrolled in care, with more children added during the spring and summer seasons. A board of directors was established, additional staff hired, and provincial and federal funding was obtained. Support poured in from the Catholic Women’s League, Knights of
Columbus, Langton Lions Club, and Lioness Club.
Fueled by need and support, it was four short years later that an addition was added to the building. More recently, in 2012, additional accommodation was made for four more rooms. The facility is also known for housing an outdoor playground. The facility currently provides care for 58 children from areas such as Tillsonburg, Courtland, Delhi and Simcoe, and employs 15 full-time dedicated staff members, including one who has been there for almost 35 years. They also run a before and after school program at Sacred Heart School, as well as summer and PA day camps.
Vandendriessche, now a Ward 2 councillor for Norfolk County, told Norfolk Farms recently that she congratulates the ‘village’ that is Norfolk Little People’s Daycare.
“The daycare is a wonderful asset to Langton and area started to help moms who were struggling to find great care for their children and have the opportunity for employment,” she said. “We must thank all the great staff and foremost those parents and grandparents who sat on the board. Without them, the daycare
The OPP quad was a popular draw at Touch A Truck.
Indoor fun at Norfolk Little People’s can involve playing with tools.
Tractors are always a hit at Norfolk Little People’s Touch A Truck events. This photo was taken at their third annual spring event.
Little Jax demonstrates the fun both indoors and outdoors by getting creative with a hoola hoop in the great outdoors.
would not be the success it is today. I commend today’s board for fabulous leadership and fundraising. It does take a village to raise children today.”
The organization was also recently awarded the longest-standing business award at the Cham-
ber of Commerce, and continues to be a beacon of ingenuity and community involvement. Many don’t realize, Langton’s daycare ‘grew’ out of a need for childcare during the busiest farming seasons.
Painting a skyscape indoors at Norfolk Little People’s.
Celebrating ‘nature’s perfect food’ as Egg Farmers of Ontario turns 60
By Luke Edwards
Diamonds are created under pressure, and so too was the Egg Farmers of Ontario, which is celebrating its 60th - or diamond - anniversary in 2025.
The organization held a special annual general meeting earlier this spring, bringing together hundreds of industry members to celebrate the milestone, reflect on the history of egg farming in the province, and chart a course for the future. That future seems bright, even though egg producers continue to face significant animal health and economic headwinds.
“We’re at a place where I think we’re as strong as we’ve ever been to protect our food sovereignty here in terms of supply management and keeping our food supply in place, so I’m optimistic,” said Chris Mullet Koop, a fifth generation egg farmer in Jordan, whose family also grows wine grapes.
A big reason for that optimism in the face of challenges is the continued support of the supply management system, which wasn’t easy to get started but has since provided farmers and consumers alike with a certainty that allows producers to invest for the future and keeps egg prices from being as volatile as we see elsewhere.
In normal times that may mean higher egg prices here, than in, say, the United States. However, multiple speakers pointed out it’s a small price to pay to ensure stability. Consumers south of the border have been paying skyrocketing prices for eggs, as avian influenza
sweeps through the huge poultry operations in that country.
“We have a predictable and affordable supply of nature’s perfect food,” said Brian Douglas, chair of the Farm Products Council of Canada.
And even if Americans often pay less than us for eggs (at least when disease isn’t causing massive numbers of bird deaths) there are
Chris Mullet Koop and his son Josiah at the Egg Farmers of Ontario annual general meeting. The organization is celebrating 60 years in 2025, and the two are posing in front of a sign that includes photos and information of their family farm.
Celebrating ‘nature’s perfect food’ as Egg Farmers of Ontario turns 60
two things Canadians should keep in mind, argued University of Waterloo history professor and public policy chair for the Egg Farmers of Canada Bruce Muirhead. First, egg prices in Canada are comparable or lower than places like Europe and Australia. Second, the price of American eggs - like much of the food the country produces - is artificially low thanks to huge government subsidies that are ultimately paid for by taxpayers.
Canada’s supply management system, meanwhile, requires no government dollars, something Muirhead said remains underappreciated by the public.
“I think more Canadians should probably know this,” he said.
A new Federal-Provincial-Territorial Agreement for the sector was a huge development for the entire Canadian egg industry. Signed last fall, the agreement reduces inter-provincial trade barriers and secures “your future for the next 50 years,” Douglas told those in attendance. With provincial trade barriers an increased concern now given the erratic tariff threats of U.S. President Donald Trump, having already signed an agreement keeps Canada’s egg producers in a good spot.
Ontario and Canada have faced uncertain economic times in the past. Amy Cronin, chair of the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission said Ontario’s agrifood sector will once again play a key role in upcoming months.
“The industry will be able to pull the province and country through some really tough times,” she said.
THE EARLY STRUGGLE FOR SUPPLY MANAGEMENT
Historically, egg production wasn’t the industry it later became. Muirhead, who has written about the history of eggs and supply management, said it wasn’t until the early 1900s that eggs became more professionalized. Before that, it was often the job of the farmer’s wife or children to collect whatever eggs their chickens produced.
Fortunately, that professionalization came at a key time. The 10 lost years of the Great Depression left many without steady sources of food and protein.
“They were 10 hungry years as well,” Muirhead said.
“Eggs had a role to play in the prevention of starvation.”
But as farmers - along with researchers and scientists - began to focus more attention on egg production, they also ran into a familiar problem: overproduction.
“Overproduction is the bane of every farmer’s existence,” Muirhead said.
In a way it’s illogical. A farmer who needs to increase income would often come to the logical conclusion that they need to produce more. However, that’s not always the case. Muirhead cited a stat that one per cent of over supply can lead to a five per cent reduction in price. It starts to feed a vicious loop.
Attention Farming Community!
Following the Second World War, Muirhead said the idea that agriculture should be a part of the overall economic boom began to take shape. However, that overproduction issue continued to hurt farmers. Eventually, the government started a royal commission to discuss rural issues and deal with what had become known as the “farm problem.”
Things had gotten so bad that between April 1970 and October 1971, Muirhead said no major producer showed a profit.
Mullet Koop remembers his family talking about that time. They were lucky in that the grape growing side of their business helped offset the losses experienced with eggs.
“I think the only reason my family could do it was because they had wine grapes and they were growing wine grapes and just putting money back into poultry,” he said. In fact, their family nearly got out of poultry altogether, Mullet Koop added.
The implementation of supply management took time and considerable effort to get farmer buy-in, said Muirhead, as it was hard to see how less is more.
However, even after consensus grew among the farming community, the system continued to face headwinds from a public that didn’t fully understand how it worked. Muirhead said misleading news articles of the day painted supply management as something that makes millionaires out of farmers.
If that were true, Mullet Koop said he and his family missed the boat.
“When the stories are out there that eggs are cheaper in the U.S. and Canadian farmers are gouging people and saying ‘look at them, they’re just millionaires.’ Well, I’m not. I don’t know which egg farmers are, but I’m not a millionaire,” he said.
While the supply management system is about as secure as it gets, Muirhead said it’s important for each generation to recommit to it. He, and others, were happy to see several younger farmers at the AGM, a testament to the sustainability - from a social, economic, political and environmental standpoint - of the sector.
Mullet Koop’s son Josiah was also at the AGM. Mullet Koop said his kids, from fairly early
on, were fully engaged in the farm. They’ll be working through the succession planning, with the possibility of expansion with Josiah taking over the current operation and his siblings looking at other options and ways to partner.
ADVANCEMENTS A PROJECT OF ‘NEVERENDING PROGRESS’
Craig Hunter, a past director for Egg Farmers of Ontario, has spent his entire life in the world of egg production. And during that time the changes to the industry as a whole has been nothing short of “absolutely mind boggling,” he said.
Hunter offered an overarching history of production during the past 60 years, focusing his attention on a few areas: Genetics, health, nutrition, housing and education.
Legal Solutions for Ontario’s Garden
“It’s one of neverending progress,” he said, that’s led to “more efficient, more sustainable and more humane” operations.
Historically, farmers primarily kept dual purpose chickens, getting a small number of eggs from the hens before slaughtering them for meat. When farmers began focusing on genetics and improving breeds, chicks would often be delivered through the mail.
“It was fun days when I’d get to the post office and hand these chicks over,” Hunter recalled. Nowadays, single purpose breeds can lay two times as many eggs as those 70 years ago. Improved health, nutrition and housing have also helped increase production and overall animal welfare, Hunter said.
First, antibiotics helped reduce the spread of disease but once it was discovered that it was leading to other issues such as antibiotic resistant strains, the sector moved to vaccines and to a focus on prevention.
Improved nutrition meant maximizing and optimizing egg production, while housing improvements initially focused on production before also taking into consideration overall animal welfare.
IN A GOOD SPOT
Today, egg producers in Ontario seem to have found the right system that benefits farmers and consumers alike.
Muirhead said the average farm has about 23,500 hens. That may seem like a lot to an outsider, but it’s nothing compared to the massive multimillion bird operations south of the border. And with migratory birds returning north this spring and the threat of avian flu comes with it, presenters said the smaller operations in Ontario will help protect the overall sector.
Strong biosecurity measures will also help.
“The industry has paid close attention to biosecurity,” said Cronin.
“Biosecurity doesn’t cost, it pays,” added Hunter.
And while they can’t do much about the threats from the White House - “we’re facing uncertainty every day, and we’ve got 1,346 more days of this,” Douglas said - dealing with these issues together is the surest way of surviving them intact, the speakers said.
“Unity is critical,” Douglas said.
“It’s a cooperative venture, not a competitive one,” added Muirhead.
Campaign asks citizens to take the ‘Canada Food System’ pledge
Ag partners team up to remind Canadians the importance of the sector
By Luke Edwards
A new campaign led by the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity is reminding Canadians of the vital role the country’s food system plays in innovation, the economy and overall well-being.
Last month agricultural groups across the country joined to launch a campaign called “Canada’s Food System: Our Food. Our Future.” The campaign aims to highlight the importance of the country’s food system and asks Canadians to sign a pledge to show their support.
“Canada’s food system is more than the sum of its parts - it’s a national strength that cuts across geography, language, and economy,” said Jean-Marc Ruest, senior vice-president, corporate affairs and general counsel at Richardson International, “It serves as a sector that is critical to our growth and economic prosperity and also acts as a unifying force from coast to coast to coast.”
Supported by the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity, the campaign has launched a Canada Food System pledge. Those who sign the pledge could win a $500 gift card to the grocer of their choice.
The website includes other information about Canada’s food system, including product labels, quality standards, its impact on the economy and what the future is expected to bring.
“The initiative reminds Canadians that the food system supports over 2 million Canadian jobs, contributes more than $140 billion to the national GDP, and ranks as the fifth largest exporter of agriculture and agri-food products globally,” said Keith Currie, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, “With export targets reaching $75 billion by 2025, the sector plays a vital role in driving growth, securing trade, and strengthening Canada’s global economic standing.”
It also highlights innovations and the people behind them.
“Ours is one of the most innovative sectors in the country,” said Mia Parker, director, environmental performance & certification at Mowi Canada West. “From advancements in plant science and precision agriculture to sustainable aquaculture, manufacturing, and food processing, Canada’s food system continues to evolve in ways that benefit the economy, the environment, and the public.”
The campaign launched in May.
For more information, or to sign the pledge, visit canadasfoodsystem.ca.
From the Field:
THE LATEST FROM NORFOLK SOIL AND CROP ASSOCIATION
Cities Feeding Farms:
By Leo Marsella (Student technician GHSCIA biosolids project)
With technical assistance from Christine Brown (OMAFA)
“If you ate today, thank a farmer” is a popular bumper sticker that emphasizes the importance of Ontario agriculture for food production, and Norfolk County provides a diverse assortment of agricultural produce. Crop production requires careful management of nutrients, but farmers are also custodians of the soil, ensuring that it remains healthy and productive.
At the same time, “circular economy” has become a popular phrase when referring to sustainable practices. In an ideal circular economy, nothing goes to waste. This accentuates the concept of utilizing waste from urban sources to contribute to the production of food. As the number of livestock farms decrease, the availability of manure for most crop acres is reduced. As a result, farmers are looking at alternative sources of organic amendments, materials of biological origin added to soil to improve its physical, chemical, and biological properties. They include materials such as compost, leafyard waste, pulp and paper waste and sewage biosolids.
Most people don’t like to think about what happens after they flush the toilet; where it goes or how it is used. However, what many may not realize is that this everyday act can become part of a sustainable loop that benefits both cities and rural communities. When properly treated, biosolids transform from waste into a valuable resource. This by extension returns nutrients to the soil, enhancing crop growth, and reducing the reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
conditioner or fertilizer. When waste (sewage) from households and businesses is sent to a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), the liquids are separated from the solids, producing a nutrient-rich product known as “sewage sludge”. Biosolids are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter and provide many benefits to crop production. Their use is heavily regulated for environmental safety.
Biosolids can be distributed directly from the WWTP to a farm and in Ontario, biosolids can be applied to crops. The Ministry of Environment, Parks and Conservation (MECP) regulates biosolids for composition and quality and determines which materials can be land applied. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) determines where, when and at what rate the materials are applied. Studies looking at detrimental effects from biosolids are always being conducted. Whether the impact of common medications used, or the impact of microplastics and other contaminants such as poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), these studies identify problems and help find solutions to help prevent contaminants from getting to the wastewater treatment plant or finding treatments to eliminate their risk. Research, iincluding on-farm research, looking at PFAS has been conducted in Ontario for more than a decade. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) tests biosolids and rejects a material for application when the material exceeds 50 ppb. For context, one part per billion is equivalent to 1 second in 32 years. In Ontario, if biosolids approved for application were applied to the PFAS 50 ppb limit, the crops would have
Biosolid refers to treated sewage sludge that is intended to be applied to land as a soil
Dosimeter tubes set up at one of the GHSCIA biosolid project sites measure ammonium-N loss to determine impact of different biosolids and/or cover crop treatments.
Cities Feeding Farms:
a toxic over application of nutrients, and in particular, nitrogen. When applied at rates to meet the nutrient needs of a corn crop, the benefits outweigh the risks. Human waste is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, micronutrients, and organic matter. Organic matter contributes to improved soil health by improving soil structure, water-hold capacity, and nutrient cycling. Farmers that use organic amendments and combine them with other soil-improving practices such as crop rotation and cover crops see improved yields and improved resilience, especially when it comes to too much or too little rain.
The benefits of biosolids is the focus of a local soil and crop improvement association research project.
The Golden Horseshoe Soil and Crop Improvement Association (GHSCIA) is made up of county soil and crop associations that surround the urban dense GTA. The GHSCIA has initiated a three-year project with the goal of comparing
three different biosolids products to commercial fertilizer. This project will also look at other soil-health best management practices (cover crops) to demonstrate the value of this organic amendment for crop farms that don’t have access to the organic matter from manure. The project includes four corn field locations, one in Halton, two in Haldimand, and one in Norfolk.
The project began in 2024, after wheat harvest, with biosolid treatments applied across all sites. On each site, biosolids in the form of liquid, dewatered, and solid pellets were applied along with the farmer’s usual fertilizer treatment as a check. The Halton, Haldimand and Norfolk sites were split in half, one half planted with cover crops and one half without. This was to give the researchers a better understanding of how the presence of cover crops and biosolid treatment influenced soil health and plant growth.
During the second and third years of the project (2025 and 2026) more comprehensive measurements and tracking of soil health will take place. For the current growing season each site is planted to corn. Nitrogen fertilizer was added to supplement what was not met with the biosolids. Dosimeters tubes placed in each treatment will track how much ammonium nitrogen is being lost across the different treatments. Soil, nitrate and plant tissue samples will provide insight into nutrient availability and overall crop health, while soil health indicators will measure changes in soil organic matter and microbial activity in the soil. This data combined
with yields, crop quality, and economics will help illustrate the benefits of integrating biosolids into standard nutrient management practices.
Ultimately, the goals of this research project are to establish benchmark values of the current land application programs, to determine the best practices for biosolids application in specific crops and cover crops, and to understand how timely application of biosolids can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration. This includes both timing of the application and optimizing soil and crop nutrients. By the end of the project, researchers hope to provide farmers with practical, evidence-based guidelines on how to incorporate biosolids safely and effectively into their cropping systems.
The Biosolids project being conducted by GHSCIA is one example of how communities are striving to encourage and perpetuate a circular economy. Responsible use of biosolids by Ontario farmers helps complete the nutrient and carbon cycle. Biosolids are a valuable source of nutrients and organic matter; and as urban communities grow, so does the amount of biosolid produced. By embracing biosolids as a sustainable resource, Ontario farmers and researchers are closing the loop between cities and farms, and paving the way for a future where waste becomes a cornerstone of regenerative agriculture and environmental sustainability.
Moose Lodge Farm to Table
BY LAURA RICHARDSON
Peaches offer versatility for the chef
Everything Is Peachy
According to Stats Canada, Ontario has a little over 200 peach farms. Across the nation, there are just over 800 with a farm gate value of just over $50 million. This works out to a food availability of .96 kilograms of fresh peaches available per Canadian. If you enjoy purchasing a bushel basket of peaches at a time, you might find your eyes bigger than your belly. If this is the case, we have some tried and true recipes for you from the Moose Lodge Kitchen (Moose, my dog, is pictured here by my young peach tree).
Peach Chicken
2 packages chicken breasts, thighs or legs
½ cup flour
2 T. vegetable oil
¼ t. Salt & pepper
1 sliced onion
4 peaches, sliced
1 bell pepper, sliced
½ cup barbecue sauce
2 T. soy sauce
½ cup peach juice
Mix flour, salt and pepper and use to coat chicken. Add oil to skillet and brown chicken.
Then add chicken to cake pan. Top with sliced onions. Mix barbecue sauce, peach juice, and soy sauce and pour over chicken. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Add peach slices and peppers and return to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes or until meat is cooked through. Enjoy!
Peach Salad (And Dressing!)
1 clamshell salad greens
2 peaches, sliced
½ cucumber, sliced thinly
1 cup feta cheese
½ red onion, thinly sliced
Dressing
1 small can of peaches, including juice
1 cup cider vinegar
2/3 cup oil
1 t. Basil
1 t. Italian seasoning
½ t. Salt
¼ t. Fresh pepper
Mix in blender and serve atop salad for summer freshness and a sweet/tart delight!
Peach Salsa
1 cup diced fresh Ontario tomatoes
2 cups diced fresh peaches
1 sweet pepper diced
1 jalapeno pepper, finely diced
½ sweet onion, diced finely ¼ cup cilantro (if cilantro tastes like soap to you, substitute basil)
2 T. lime juice
¼ t. Sea salt and ground pepper
Mix and serve with nachos or Triscuits!
Super Simple Peach Sorbet
You won’t believe you have never tried this recipe! It’s only two ingredients and it is so refreshing!
1 can sweetened condensed milk
About 3 cups of frozen peach slices
Mix these two items in a good blender. Serve immediately.
Dessert in a flash!
Peachy Health Benefits
Each peach that you consume in these wonderful recipes provide about 7 per cent of your daily fibre intake needs, 6% of your vitamin A and 15 per cent of your vitamin C (if uncooked). For the calorie conscious, peaches contain just fifty calories. As a wonderful bonus, they also contain several antioxidants that are protective scavengers fighting free radicals in the body.
OUR AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE
BY ANDREW MOORE, CURATOR DELHI TOBACCO MUSEUM AND HERITAGE CENTRE
The Kilns of Norfolk-exhibition at the Delhi Tobacco Museum
One of the most iconic symbols of Norfolk County is the tobacco kiln. These structures, once prolific across the countryside, have become less and less prevalent in recent decades. The ones that remain either stand on their last legs or have been repurposed. Regardless of the state of the remaining kilns, they will always be an integral part of Norfolk County’s visual identity and the people who grew up in the tobacco belt of Southern Ontario.
Over the years, countless artists have not only recognized the intrinsic beauty of these humble agricultural buildings, but also understood the deep, meaningful connection they have to the people that worked in and around them. Naturally, each artist interprets these archetypal structures in their own way.
In May, the Delhi Tobacco Museum and Heritage Centre welcomed local Norfolk County resident and artist, Jennifer Lados, for an exhibition of her work. In The Kilns of Norfolk, Jennifer reimagines these buildings in her own style, using her paintings to explore life and the world in which we live through a variety of mediums and materials.
As a self-taught artist, Jennifer’s artistic vision stems from experimentation, exploration, and play. She enjoys working with media such as pastels, paint, and textured mediums. She has an intense passion for vibrant colours, which are manifested in depictions of nature and pop culture. Her inclusion of newspaper articles and photographs creates a dialogue with her past and an understanding of the environmental forces that shaped her identity. In her multifaceted canvases, Jennifer likes to capture ordinary
objects, landscapes and simple pleasures. The artwork is infused with humorous elements and playful images allowing the viewer to join in her sophisticated and abstract examination of the forces that determine who we are.
The Saturday following her exhibition opening, Jen taught a workshop at the museum that invited participants to explore, experiment, play, and create a unique work of art. Jen instructed participants how to manipulate acrylic paint, found materials, and personal items to construct a mixed media piece inspired by the
kilns and barns that were so common as she grew up in Norfolk. Thanks to her leadership, every participant left the workshop with an irreplaceable keepsake, and a deeper appreciation of our area’s built and agricultural history. Jen’s multi-layered canvases will be displayed on the second floor of the museum until the fall of 2025. Come see her show and discover how she interprets the region’s quintessential beauty and her place within it. The Delhi Tobacco Museum is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
