FEED PRODUCTION Innovation drives Oxford County

Dairy Farmers

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IF A PROGRESSIVE ATTITUDE COULD BE A GENETIC TRAIT, it runs in the Green family. Father and son team, Gord and David Green of Greenholm Farms Ltd., are always on the lookout for progressive ideas to enhance their herd nutrition, improve soil health, and increase the overall economic and environmental sustainability of their farm.

“As farmers, our desire has always been to pass the farm to the next generation in as good, or better shape than it was when we started,” says Gord, who was one of the first to adopt no-till cropping in his area in 1995. “I’m always asking myself how we can do better with the resources we have.”

Located in Embro, ON, the Greens crop 800 acres and milk 250 cows in a double 12 parlour. Over the years, the family has implemented a variety of new practices to enhance the sustainability of their multigenerational family dairy farm. The fields are managed using strictly no-till or strip till systems and are annually double cropped with oats and rye that are grown for the dual purpose of cover crops and additional feed sources. “The oats that are planted after winter wheat and harvested in the fall are mainly fed to our heifers,” says David, explaining the family also plants rye after corn silage that is harvested for feed the following spring. “This is our way of optimizing every acre and supplementing feed while maintaining soil health.”

David is proud to call his dad progressive, saying it’s hard to keep up with Gord’s leading-edge approach and new ideas. Every new concept proposed on Greenholm Farms is thoroughly researched and evaluated for economic viability and opportunity for improvement. “Most of our decisions are based on economics and whether or not it’s the right thing to do,” explains David.

The farm is also home to two anaerobic digesters that produce 500 kw of renewable energy. The digester byproduct, digestate manure, is spread on the oat and rye cover crops as they grow, and Gord says he’s been impressed by the resulting boost in yield and crop growth. “We often run our own trials and side by side comparisons, and we’ve learned that applying digestate manure to green crops offers an economic advantage.” Digestate solids are also used on bedding packs for the farm’s livestock. The Greens also press their own soybeans, selling the oil and keeping the soy meal as a home-grown protein source for their herd. David says while it makes economic sense to grow and press their own soybeans, the closedloop system also contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the farm. “It’s simple; we’re able to lower our carbon footprint because the soybeans never leave the farm to be processed,” says David.

Reflecting on the adoption of new practices on farms, Gord notes that all agricultural sectors have progressed over the years by implementing innovations for efficiencies as well as economic and production advantages. “We are all doing more with less of an environmental impact, and today we call these practices sustainable. Our industry has always been sustainable and will continue to be with each generation.”