36 Like Us on Facebook: BetterFarmingON Better Farming | November 2023 Up close De Dell Seeds • 7095 Century Drive • Melbourne, ON • N0L 1T0 P: 519-264-CORN (2676) • F: 519-264-2672 • 1-833-436-CORN (2676) info@dedellseeds.com • www.dedellseeds.com We are excited to see our graduate inbreds move into our commercial hybrid lineup. De Dell Seeds The Leaders in Non-GMO Corn The hard work we are doing breeding corn is paying off. Keep an eye out for this years report cards and which hybrids made the Honour Roll. As the family works to clean up the farm and modernize it, Michael continues to balance farming with an o -farm job at e Beer Store and responsibilities with his local ag federation. He has been secretary of the ENPS Federation of Agriculture since he inherited the role from Pat Haufe. “I’m also usually the delegate from our region that goes to OFA AGM. Just before COVID-19, I became the policy advisory committee (PAC) representative for our area and tried to make that work during COVID with the virtual meetings,” says Michael, sharing that he plans on passing the torch to new federation members now that he is wrapping up his involvement with PAC. “I don’t think I’ll be doing it again. We have new, younger people on the board, and I’d love to give them the opportunity and experience. A lot of them have a variety of farm experience that would bene t that forum.” Michael shares that his involvement with OFA and his local federation has helped him develop connections that have become a support system for farming. “I gained a lot of knowledge from my peers, a good network and the overall sense of community, but there’s also a motivational side to it too. “It’s nice knowing that other people experience the same things on their farms, with weather problems and bad days with livestock, and you get that social atmosphere with like-minded people and regain strength to keep farming with that.” How does your o -farm job impact your farming? Balancing obligations and nding ways to create opportunities. Working during the day means leaving projects for those days “o ” and not having the luxury of working around the weather. Sometimes it means only leaving time for quick jobs during morning and evening chores. is can cause things to back up, but the outweighing bene ts go beyond a steady paycheque, as the majority of our farm sales come from the networking opportunities created by my employment. What is your favourite thing about being a farmer? ose moments between tasks, when you just stop and breathe in that fresh country air, feeling a sense of freedom wash over you. It’s a love of animals, living in the country surrounded by nature, the pride of raising and growing what you eat and the trust given in feeding others. What has your biggest challenge been in farming? Beyond uctuating beef markets, breakdowns and bad weather? Starting over and setting up, with the cost therein. We also have a shorter building/warm season than we were used to, and poor soil class(es). What advice would you give to new farmers? Know what you’re getting into and where. Plan, organize and prepare. Infrastructure rst, animals second. With a good nancial plan. What technology would you most like to add to your farm? A modern automated barn to take the labour burden o my father, allowing me to keep working and him to do what he loves. How do you see the industry changing in the next 10 years? Less of the traditional family farms, more technology and a shi in what’s produced. What’s unique about your farm? I don’t know about unique but we overlook Gi en Valley, our farm’s namesake, and the challenges that come from that type of geography and ranging soil types with a shorter growing season. BF
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