May 20, 2008
NEWS
Innovative ideas grown by Ontario farmers are contributing
to the local economy, boosting the agri-food industry and offering more
choices for the consumer. Those ideas were celebrated today at a ceremony
honouring local winners of the province's regional awards for innovation
excellence.
The Premier's Agri-Food Innovation Excellence awards are
part of a $2.5-million, five-year program (now in its second year) established
to recognize innovators who contribute to the success of Ontario's agri-food
sector. Winners of the $100,000 Premier's Award and the $50,000 Minister's
Award were announced last month at the Premier's Summit on Agri-Food.
Local events across the province are being held to recognize
55 regional award winners, who will receive $5,000 each for their innovations.
Area winners presented with their awards today were:
Bruce Region
Blue Water Black Calf Producers Association (Lion's Head)
Lang Farms (Chepstow)
River Village Cooperative Market (Teeswater)
Grey County
Country Meadow Meats (Owen Sound)
Freeman Farms (Meaford)
New Life Mills (Hanover)
Scotch Mountain Meats (Meaford)
Stoneyfield Elk Farm
(Meaford)
Huron County
St. Anne's Catholic High School (Clinton)
Perth County
Energrow/Hofarm (Newton)
McCully's Hill Farm (St. Mary's)
Van Bakel Farms (Sebringville)
QUOTE
"I am pleased to recognize our local farmers with these awards.
Their hard work and innovative ideas are helping to make our rural
communities stronger." - Carol Mitchell, MPP for Huron-Bruce.
"Innovation has been the hallmark of Ontario's outstanding agri-food
sector. Today's award winners represent the ingenuity and leadership
that thrives on Ontario farms and in our rural communities."
- John Wilkinson, MPP, Perth-Wellington.
QUICK FACTS
LEARN MORE
See videos
of this year's award winning innovations and discover the variety of
previous award-winning on-farm innovations at the Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs website.
Learn more about other government programs supporting
innovation in Ontario by visiting the Ministry of Research and Innovation
website.
Backgrounder
Local Farmers Recognized for their Innovations
The following are recipients of the Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation
Excellence - regional awards:
BRUCE COUNTY:
Blue Water Black Calf Producers Association - Lion's Head
A group of Bruce Peninsula area calf producers took the initiative
to create a strategic alliance, the Blue Water Black Calf Producers
Association. They came up with a concept that improves animal health
and welfare and creates a fresh marketing angle for their product.
The Association developed a vaccination protocol for use by a group
of smaller producers to enable the production of a uniform herd. As
a result, the calves are sought by buyers looking for large uniform
lots of healthy animals. This innovation benefits all in the chain
- from producer, to sale barn, feedlot and the consumer.
Lang Farms Ltd. - Chepstow
Anthony and Elaine Lang of Lang Farms Ltd. have responded to
consumer demand for non-genetically modified crops by implementing a
traceability system and growing certified crops for local and international
markets. The farm business is one of the very few in Ontario with a
fully traceable system for non-modified corn. It currently ships 400,000
bushels of locally grown, modified soybeans into Belgium annually, and
600,000 bushels of locally grown corn into the distillery market. The
innovation provides a high return to growers and a competitive price
to end users.
River Village Co-operative Market Inc. - Teeswater
There's a strong sense of community in Teeswater. When the
town's only grocery store closed its doors, the locals got together
and decided to form a co-operative that would continue to serve and
revitalize the community, and give farmers a local outlet to sell their
goods. As a result, farmers and town residents formed the River Village
Co-operative Market Inc. In fact, some residents now live in other cities,
but continue to support the store with their membership. They all share
one thing in common - they want the community to survive. And they've
combined their ideas and resources to contribute to its success.
GREY COUNTY:
Country Meadow Meats - Owen Sound
Owen Sound area lamb producers Allan and Kathy Taylor recognized
the potential to market local products and fill a need in the community
for custom processing. They bought a local abattoir that enables them
to process and market their lambs closer to home. The family-owned business,
Country Meadow Meats, includes a retail shop that also sells a variety
of other products such as cheeses, preserves, candles, and cereal grains
made by other producers. Tourists visiting the region now have another
venue to purchase locally grown and crafted products.
Freeman Farms - Meaford
David and Lynn Freeman have it over Jack Frost. They know how
to capture value by freezing Mother Nature's gifts. The Freemans have
built a state-of-the-art, large-scale, good management practice certified
processing plant to freeze dry botanicals such as garlic, blueberries,
herbs and other plant material. Its equipment is the first of its kind
in Ontario. The ability to produce GMP-grade freeze-dried fruits and
vegetables can potentially enable other Ontario farmers to partner with
feed and pharmaceutical companies to produce nutraceutical supplements
and whole foods. Freeman Farms' first project is to manufacture garlic
powder with allicin. The Freemans have also received the $50,000 Minister's
Award of Excellence for their innovative contribution to the agri-food
industry.
New Life Mills - Hanover
Three years ago, New Life Mills had a bright idea. They became
early adopters of an automated system that dims and turns off artificial
light in response to different levels of natural light coming into the
barn. This technology has been good for their poultry, since proper
light is essential for their growth and reproductive performance. The
farm has also realized an energy savings of 60 per cent. New Life Mills
is sharing their data and experience with the rest of the industry.
Scotch Mountain Meats Inc. - Meaford
Scotch Mountain Meats Inc. has climbed over old challenges
to create new success. In response to BSE market issues, this co-operative
was started by three farm families who began producing all natural value-added
products for the organic and natural food markets. A farm store was
opened in the home of one of the co-operative members. Today, membership
has expanded to keep up with the demand. And the co-operative also sells
products at three farmers' markets - one local and two in downtown Toronto.
Stoneyfield Elk Farm - Meaford
Providing a market for all seasons - David Harper and Barbara
Kay of Stoneyfield Elk Farm took the initiative to design and implement
this idea with a marketing/distribution business in response to consumer
demand for locally-produced food products. The store has enabled local
farmers to receive additional income with little or no investment. Vendors
are responsible for keeping their shelf space stocked and receive 90
per cent of the retail sale price in return. At this store, fresh, locally-produced
foods are available year-round. The business model for this innovation
could be easily implemented in other towns across Ontario to boost the
local economy, the community and the environment.
HURON COUNTY:
St. Anne's Catholic High School - Clinton
The Specialist High Skills Major at St. Anne's Catholic High
School is a program that delivers knowledge and skills training that
are valued by the agricultural industry. The program has motivated students
to stay in school, graduate and then decide on their next step. Students'
success rate in courses offered was excellent. The program was designed
by the Ministry of Education and it was up to individual school boards
to make it appropriate and beneficial for local situations.
PERTH COUNTY:
Energrow/Hofarm Ltd. - Newton
Jasmin Hofer of Energrow/Hofarm Ltd. is squeezing the most
out of her opportunities. She designs and manufactures small scale oilseed
and vegetable oil presses. The idea is to enable Ontario farmers to
process their own oilseeds, producing feed and fuel to minimize costs
and generate additional on-farm income. The systems encourage environmental
stewardship, due to their energy efficiency, CO2 offset potential, and
zero net waste.
McCully's Hill Farm - St. Mary's
McCully's Hill Farm puts out the welcome mat for more than
3,000 students a year, with group tours and weekend events adding to
that number. It's all part of David Pullen's continuing efforts to educate
and motivate people to make positive changes in agri-food systems, in
environmental protection and in rural communities. In addition to experiencing
the farm's educational programs, visitors can shop at the on-farm market,
where local producers showcase and sell their products. The farm also
has plans to establish a Centre for Rural Learning, which will be devoted
to inspiring awareness and action on issues related to local food security,
agriculture, and the environment.
Van Bakel Farms Ltd. - Sebringville
Ron Van Bakel designed, built and marketed a successful heat
exchanger for barns. His innovative design has overcome conventional
challenges of heat-exchangers and is being successfully demonstrated
on a number of barns in the province. The low maintenance system has
definite benefits for use in the swine sector. It helps to lower supplemental
heating costs and ensures that minimum ventilation rates in barns are
maintained.
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