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There was an exchange of information on the power of pasturing livestock when international pasture specialist Janet McNally toured area farms, Friday.

McNally, who has a sheep farm at Hinckley, Minnesota, 90 miles north of Minneapolis/St Paul, was brought to Ontario by the Western Ontario Lamb Producers Association for a series of seminars in Walkerton, Saturday. She took time, along with about a dozen sheep producers, to tour farms near Brussels, Walton and Auburn.

In an interview, McNally said she had used both intensive confinement livestock management and pasture-raised sheep and cattle but found that a pasture-raised system helped limit the costs enough for her to quit her off-farm job and finally become a full-time farmer. Pasturing also provides some cost-certainty, she said, not leaving farmers vulnerable to cost increases like $8 corn.

The low-cost side of grazing was demonstrated during the first stop at the farm of Tim and Donna Prior of Brussels where rotationally-grazed pastures are used to feed finishing steers on the first pass, followed by cows with their calves.

Prior said the value of the weights gained by the animals in a season on pasture works out to about $300 an acre while his costs were just $50, leaving a net of $250 an acre.

At the next stop, Chris Boettcher of Walton explained that sheep are part of a mixed farming, certified organic operation which includes hay and pasture in a rotation that also includes spelt, oats for the flaking market, rye for bread flour and soybeans for tofu production.

As well as the income from sale of breeding stock, cull sheep and lambs and wool, he credits his flock of 300 ewes and 500 market lambs with $50 per acre in improved fertility for his other crops. After two years in hay and pasture, a heavy feeding crop can be grown on the land, he explained.

McNally, who was making her third visit to speak in the area, said Huron County’s diverse crop potential offers an ideal situation where sheep can be part of a mixed farming operation, providing fertility the soil and weed control as well as the value of their meat and wool.

The tour ended at the farm of Rick and Marg Steele, who own a sheep and pasture-raised livestock operation near Auburn.

There was an exchange of information on the power of pasturing livestock when international pasture specialist Janet McNally toured some Huron County farms, Friday, August 27.

McNally, who has a sheep farm at Hinckley, Minnesota, 90 miles north of Minneapolis/St Paul, was brought to Ontario by the Western Ontario Lamb Producers Association for a series of seminars in Walkerton, Saturday. She took time, along with about a dozen sheep producers, to tour farms near Brussels, Walton and Auburn.

Lindsay Willits beat out four other competitors at the Huron County Plowing Match to be named Queen of the Furrow on Friday August 27.

The RR1 Wingham native currently works as an IT supervisor in Mount Forest for Quality Homes, and said that win signifies the beginning of an interesting year for her.

“It was exciting,” she said. “I’m looking forward to a fun year.”

Willits’s job will consist of attending parades, opening ceremonies at fairs and the International Plowing Match in 2011 in Prescott Township. She will also be attending the Plowmen’s Association Convention in Stratford later on this year.

As part of preparing for the competition, Willits said she kept it simple.

“I didn’t have to do a lot,” she said. “I wrote my speech.”

Willits’s comfort with the competition was brought on by watching her sister compete last year.

“[Seeing my sister compete] did help me get ready for it,” she said. “I knew what I was getting into.”

Willits grew up on her parent’s beef farm, so she had experience with farming implements and rural life, but she said that what really helped her plow was her coach, David Grobbinksw.

“And I drove a tractor, but I had never really plowed before, my plowing coach really helped with that,” she said.

Willits thanks her coach and the Plowman’s Association for the chance to compete and represent the Huron County Plowing Match in the upcoming year.

She had this to people who want to fill her shoes in the future.

“You really just have to put yourself out there,” she said. “Don’t be nervous, get involved in the competition. Whether you win or not, it is a great experience.”

Lindsay Willits beat out four other competitors at the Huron County Plowing Match to be named Queen of the Furrow on Friday August 27.

ORGANIC INDUSTRY GETS FEDERAL RESEARCH FUNDS

The Government of Canada is investing in cutting-edge research to grow market opportunities and maintain a bright future for the Canadian organic industry.

An investment of $6.5 million will bring together scientific expertise from academia, industry and government to develop more efficient and profitable processes for organic farmers, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and MP Scott Armstrong (Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley) announced today.

“Demand for organic products is growing and this Government wants to help our hardworking Canadian farmers capture as much of this market as possible,” said Minister Ritz. “By creating this all-star team, we can maximize the investment and focus Canada’s organic expertise on the research that shows the most promise in delivering a profitable, competitive edge to farmers.”

The Organic Federation of Canada will manage this investment to address the priorities of organic producers. The research will focus on soil fertility, grain cropping, greenhouse production and food processing.  This cluster will also help develop a recognizable, high-quality brand to help establish Canada as a leader in organic production and help farmers expand their businesses.

"The Organic Science Cluster project, funded by the Government of Canada, is a major event in the development of this relatively new but rapidly growing segment of Canadian agriculture - organic food," said Ted Zettel, president of the Organic Federation of Canada. "The Organic Federation of Canada congratulates Minister Ritz and his staff on the foresight and leadership they are providing, in responding to new market demands with this exciting research project."

“The Government of Canada knows the value of investing in a sector that gives so much to Canadian families and our economy,” said MP Armstrong. “This investment will benefit organic farmers, as well as conventional farmers here in Nova Scotia and across Canada, who will have access to research results that could improve their cost effectiveness and environmental management.”

In partnership with the OFC, the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) was instrumental in raising an industry contribution of $2.2 million for this project.

"In this challenging period of declining oil supplies, increasing climate change and economic shifts, research results in organic agriculture offer options for all farmers and consumers," said Dr. Ralph Martin, Founding Director of the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada. "As Canadian consumers look for more organic products, this research will help Canadian farmers to benefit from this opportunity."

The Canadian organic sector has grown considerably in the last 10-15 years. Retail sales of organic food products in Canada were valued at over $2 billion in 2008.

The Organic Cluster is delivered by the Growing Forward framework under the Agri-Innovations program, a $158 million five-year program announced to support industry-led science and technology projects.

ORGANIC INDUSTRY GETS FEDERAL RESEARCH FUNDS

The Government of Canada is investing in cutting-edge research to grow market opportunities and maintain a bright future for the Canadian organic industry.

An investment of $6.5 million will bring together scientific expertise from academia, industry and government to develop more efficient and profitable processes for organic farmers, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and MP Scott Armstrong (Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley) announced September 1.

“Demand for organic products is growing and this Government wants to help our hardworking Canadian farmers capture as much of this market as possible,” said Minister Ritz. “By creating this all-star team, we can maximize the investment and focus Canada’s organic expertise on the research that shows the most promise in delivering a profitable, competitive edge to farmers.”

The Organic Federation of Canada will manage this investment to address the priorities of organic producers. The research will focus on soil fertility, grain cropping, greenhouse production and food processing.  This cluster will also help develop a recognizable, high-quality brand to help establish Canada as a leader in organic production and help farmers expand their businesses.

"The Organic Science Cluster project, funded by the Government of Canada, is a major event in the development of this relatively new but rapidly growing segment of Canadian agriculture - organic food," said Ted Zettel, president of the Organic Federation of Canada. "The Organic Federation of Canada congratulates Minister Ritz and his staff on the foresight and leadership they are providing, in responding to new market demands with this exciting research project."

“The Government of Canada knows the value of investing in a sector that gives so much to Canadian families and our economy,” said MP Armstrong. “This investment will benefit organic farmers, as well as conventional farmers here in Nova Scotia and across Canada, who will have access to research results that could improve their cost effectiveness and environmental management.”

In partnership with the OFC, the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) was instrumental in raising an industry contribution of $2.2 million for this project.

"In this challenging period of declining oil supplies, increasing climate change and economic shifts, research results in organic agriculture offer options for all farmers and consumers," said Dr. Ralph Martin, Founding Director of the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada. "As Canadian consumers look for more organic products, this research will help Canadian farmers to benefit from this opportunity."

The Canadian organic sector has grown considerably in the last 10-15 years. Retail sales of organic food products in Canada were valued at over $2 billion in 2008.

The Organic Cluster is delivered by the Growing Forward framework under the Agri-Innovations program, a $158 million five-year program announced to support industry-led science and technology projects.