By Jeanine Moyer

(Sebringville) - “What’s trending” is what launched Erbcroft Farms into the food market. Combining consumer

interest in local food and social media made a successful marketing strategy for one Ontario sheep farmer. Luann Erb, of Erbcroft Farms, says her twitter account as one of her most effective marketing tools.

Fourth generation farmers in Sebringville, ON, Luann and Tim Erb, along with their two sons, farm 300 acres, raising sheep, pigs, ducks and chicken. Faced with a career change in 2009, Luann chose to stay at home on the farm full-time to diversify the family income. “I needed to be able to manage the livestock on my own,” says Erb who decided sheep were just the right size for her. She quickly saw that the value of her sheep wasn’t realized through traditional markets and set out to create her own savvy marketing approach through social media. “Like any business I wanted to maximize my profits,” says Erb who recognized local food trends and social media as her best business opportunities.

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Posted by Farm and Food Care on May 30th, 2014 :: Filed under Agricultural Advocates,Sheep,Social media,Uncategorized
Tags :: #loveONTfood

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Jean L Clavelle

Today I would like to share some of the positive things I am enjoying about livestock agriculture! 

It is satisfying to hear about all of the young people going into agriculture as primary producers.  Agriculture is not just a career choice with a myriad of job prospects but many young people are finding primary production a viable way of life.  Going back to the farm offers a life that is inherently satisfying regardless of the stress and long hours. Each year the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan publishes a billboard campaign featuring influential and modern young farmers who are making significant strides in their fields. The 2014 campaign was recently released so if you are in Saskatchewan look for these signs around Saskatoon and Regina.

I am excited to see the increasing application of technology in the day to day operation on farm.  Agriculture is not represented by the stereotype of uneducated hillbillies.  I understand that this may not be what our consumer is expecting or perhaps, wants to see but I think it is reassuring.  Many producers have a university education and are incorporating the latest technologies in their operations. This allows for production methods that are constantly improving - quicker identification of disease, better use of resources, healthier animals, and improved food supply for the consumer.  This is meeting the challenge that society has set – to improve efficiency, sustainability and animal welfare. To me the use of cutting edge technology implies a need for improvement, for evolution and for advancement which is everything that agriculture should be doing.

A great example of this is dairy robotic milkers.  As I have mentioned numerous times in previous posts I support many types of production systems - organic, conventional, small production for local markets, larger corporate farms etc etc etc.  However for robotic milkers to be feasible, farms need to be large enough to warrant the expense of a robot and are thus a best fit in mid to large size operations.  There are some advantages to robotic milkers that I believe warrant discussion.  Cows have the option to choose to be milked at whatever frequency they desire, instead of being milked the conventional twice per day.  It is interesting to see that cows will often go through the milker 2 to 5 times per day depending on the stage of lactation and the individual cow.  Robots are able to measure the somatic cell count in the milk which is an indication of mastitis.  Long before regular practices would be able to identify the problem the robot can predict disease and those cows treated as well as automatically divert the milk.  This is beneficial for the cow and for the consumer and for the producer.   Robotic systems also allow the producer to be in constant contact with their barn.  Alarms will sound if there are ever any problems with the cows or equipment which prevents problems before it happens.  Now this is not to say that non robotic systems cannot have optimal management but this technology certainly enhances a producers’ ability to manage his or her operation.

I think one of the biggest things I am enjoying right now is our renewed sense of pride in the fundamental nature of agriculture.  The AGvocate movement has re-ignited the belief that what we are doing is worthy and worth explaining to the world.  Yes we need to continue to evolve and improve but overall Canadian agriculture efficiently and cleanly provides healthy food for our citizens.   It may be overwhelming but the ag community has taken up the challenge to share what we do with society.  And in the words of Martha Stewart “it’s a good thing”.

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Posted by FACS on May 26th, 2014 :: Filed under Agricultural Advocates,Agriculture Education,AgVocacy,Animal welfare,Dairy cattle,Education and public awareness,Faces of Farming,Uncategorized
Tags :: agvocate, animal welfare, dairy cattle, robots

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The process behind clean Canadian milk from the farm to the processor

By Chloe Gresel, CanACT member, University of Guelph

Every year, I visit the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to show my heifer, and part of this experience is talking to the

cab drivers while I travel to and from the grounds and the hotel. This year, I got into a great conversation with a cabby about why he buys organic milk. He said that he feels safer giving his children organic milk to avoid the hormones and antibiotics in milk. The impression left on me from this conversation was, “how can anyone feel unsafe drinking any sort of milk in Canada?” You see, Canadian milk is one of the safest things you can buy in the stores to drink. All Canadian milk is 100 per cent free from artificial hormones and antibiotics. In fact, the only thing that is in Canadian milk (besides milk) is vitamins A and D which, by law, have to be added. So, how is milk so safe? Let me tell you!

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Posted by Farm and Food Care on May 23rd, 2014 :: Filed under Agricultural Advocates,Consumers,Dairy cattle,Farm Safety,Food safety,Uncategorized
Tags :: #loveONTfood #milk

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News from the Ontario Veterinary College.

 

Diagnostics, clinical skills, problem solving, and working with clients are all critical pieces in a student veterinarian’s education. Hands-on opportunities are invaluable.

Each summer DVM students from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) delve into that practical experience at veterinary clinics across Ontario and additional locales. They visit farms to treat cows and horses, work with dogs, cats and all manner of companion animals while applying the skills they’ve studied.

Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Rural Affairs (OMAF and MRA), students must complete an eight-week Externship Course between third and fourth year in a mixed (companion and food animal or companion and equine) practice.

This summer, you’ll have the opportunity to tag along with five of them as they blog about their experiences.

To learn more about the program, visit: http://ovc.uoguelph.ca/externship

To meet the students, check out this clip. (Also available here: The OVC Externship Project)

 

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Posted by Farm and Food Care on May 21st, 2014 :: Filed under Uncategorized

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By Pat Grotenhuis

(Rockwood) - Falling in love with a farmer took Dana Thatcher, a teacher, on a path she never envisioned for herself

before meeting her husband Adam.

Even though she had no farming exposure growing up, Dana fully embraced the lifestyle and had no doubts in her mind about becoming a farmer. In the years since, the farm has grown and expanded, and Dana is happy she got a chance to experience farm life.

“It’s an amazing lifestyle. It is not an easy life, but it’s fulfilled. I love what we can have on the farm,” says Dana.

Adam and Dana raise sheep as well as finish beef cattle and hogs. They also have chickens, turkeys and bees. The animals they raise are marketed through their on-farm butcher shop and store. In addition, they grow crops including hay, barley, corn, peas, oats, sweet corn and strawberries.

“The store is a great component of the farm, giving us the opportunity to educate our customers about agriculture,” says Dana.

The work they have done on expanding the family farm has gained them recognition, both as winners of the prestigious Ontario Outstanding Young Farmers Award in 2013 and as calendar models for the month of May in the 2014 Faces of Farming calendar produced by Farm & Food Care Ontario. Their page is sponsored by RBC Royal Bank.

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Posted by Farm and Food Care on May 16th, 2014 :: Filed under Agricultural Advocates,Faces of Farming,Uncategorized
Tags :: #facesoffarming

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Jean L Clavelle

Lately my professional world seems to be focusing on the negative – on everything that’s not happening, how agriculture seems to be under constant attack, what we are not doing that we should. Today, I’ve decided to focus on the positive. I wanted to share some of the great work that our local and North American livestock ag community is doing for animal welfare.

To start, the 4^th Annual International Beef Welfare Symposium is set to be held July 16 to 18 at Iowa State University (www.cpm.iastate.edu/beefwelfare) This conference was designed to offer producers, processors, retailers, government officials, NGOs, animal scientists, veterinarians and students the opportunity to discuss, debate and learn about the current and emerging welfare issues that face the beef cattle industry. Renowned beef cattle experts, bovine practitioners, philosophers and animal scientists will offer their insight and perspective and discuss the latest research findings during the invited presentations and poster session. Something that will benefit everyone involved in livestock agriculture and help to spread a positive message on the importance of animal welfare.

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Posted by FACS on May 15th, 2014 :: Filed under Agriculture Education,Animal welfare,Canada,Codes of Practice,Research,Social media
Tags :: animal welfare, Farmers, Media, Research

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by Kim Waalderbos

These days it looks like some of our cows are dancing the hokey pokey. There sure is a lot of wiggling and shaking happening in one particular corner of our barn. A closer look reveals the source of the movement – a new cow brush (see picture).

Since this stationary, two-brush device was installed last weekend the cows have been lined up for their turn to brush off and get spiffed up. The timing couldn’t be better as the cows discover this helpful tool to help scrub away at the long hairs that were part of their winter ‘coats’ and now fall to the floor below in heaps.

Cow brushes can commonly be found on dairy farms across Canada. They can look like our stationary brush that the cows move against or they can be fancier motorized brushes that are motion activated and when pushed, spin against the cows to brush away dirt, dust and hair. The goal is the same – to help cows keep clean and comfortable.

It sure is a popular thing to play with on our farm. And I think the cows look shiner and more content because of it.

 

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Posted by Farm and Food Care on May 12th, 2014 :: Filed under Animal care,animal handling,Dairy cattle,Uncategorized

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by Kim Waalderbos

These days it looks like some of our cows are dancing the hokey pokey. There sure is a lot of wiggling and shaking happening in one particular corner of our barn. A closer look reveals the source of the movement – a new cow brush (see picture).

Since this stationary, two-brush device was installed last weekend the cows have been lined up for their turn to brush off and get spiffed up. The timing couldn’t be better as the cows discover this helpful tool to help scrub away at the long hairs that were part of their winter ‘coats’ and now fall to the floor below in heaps.

Cow brushes can commonly be found on dairy farms across Canada. They can look like our stationary brush that the cows move against or they can be fancier motorized brushes that are motion activated and when pushed, spin against the cows to brush away dirt, dust and hair. The goal is the same – to help cows keep clean and comfortable.

It sure is a popular thing to play with on our farm. And I think the cows look shiner and more content because of it.

 

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Posted by Farm and Food Care on May 12th, 2014 :: Filed under Animal care,animal handling,Dairy cattle,Uncategorized

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By: Patricia Grotenhuis, 6th generation farmer

My muscles ache, my hands are calloused and cracked, and some days I am so exhausted I could fall asleep standing up. But I am happy, and it means all of our hopes and dreams are coming true.

The past year has been full of changes for us and our young family. We moved to the dairy farm my husband’s family has owned since the 1950s, we had a baby, and we bought the dairy farm from my mother and father in law. Before we purchased the farm, I had not worked in a barn for seven years, the last time being during my time as a student at university.

My years between working on a farm during university and owning our farm have been filled with office jobs and caring for children. Even with my attempt to keep myself healthy, it was not enough to prepare my body for the shock of returning to the barn. Now I joke that the barn is my gym and the cows are my trainers.

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Posted by Farm and Food Care on May 5th, 2014 :: Filed under Uncategorized

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By: Patricia Grotenhuis, 6th generation farmer

My muscles ache, my hands are calloused and cracked, and some days I am so exhausted I could fall asleep standing up. But I am happy, and it means all of our hopes and dreams are coming true.

The past year has been full of changes for us and our young family. We moved to the dairy farm my husband’s family has owned since the 1950s, we had a baby, and we bought the dairy farm from my mother and father in law. Before we purchased the farm, I had not worked in a barn for seven years, the last time being during my time as a student at university.

My years between working on a farm during university and owning our farm have been filled with office jobs and caring for children. Even with my attempt to keep myself healthy, it was not enough to prepare my body for the shock of returning to the barn. Now I joke that the barn is my gym and the cows are my trainers.

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Posted by Farm and Food Care on May 5th, 2014 :: Filed under Uncategorized

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