6 It’s Farming. And It’s Better. Better Farming | October 2024 Beyond the Barn HERMANS CHOSEN AS INTERNATIONAL CCA OF THE YEAR Ontario’s Paul Hermans has been chosen as the 2024 International Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) of the Year. Hermans is an area agronomist with Corteva Agriscience representing the Pioneer Seed brand in Eastern Ontario. He also is a regular contributor to Better Farming magazine. “Paul Hermans’ innovative spirit and dedication to mentoring have left an indelible mark on the agricultural community,” said Sandy Endicott, chair of the International Certified Crop Adviser Board (ICCA). The International Certified Crop Advisor of the Year is awarded by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), which represents thousands of crop advisors across North America. “Hermans’s journey began on his family’s rented farm, where he worked alongside local dairy farmers,” according to a recent Corteva release. “This early exposure to agriculture ignited his passion for the field, leading him to pursue a degree in agricultural science from the University of Guelph.” According to the release, Hermans has played an active role in promoting the CCA program in Ontario, serving on committees and taking many opportunities to speak and educate farmers. “Paul is an extremely valuable source of information for me as a fellow CCA,” says Paul Sullivan of P.T. Sullivan Agro. “He is known for his enthusiasm and engagement and is approachable and always willing to search out answers.” Hermans focuses his research on ways to help improve the success of growers and identify current issues. He believes that “helping farmers succeed is the goal, and the way to do that is by finding solutions to their problems and concerns.” Hermans receives his award at the ICCA’s board meeting at the ASA’s annual meeting in Texas in November. BF Partners Matt Bergman and D.J. Wassenaar of Haybury Farms in Jarvis were recently named Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2024. Bergman grew up on a dairy farm and started farming for himself at 23, working an off-farm job and using his farmland to pay the farm mortgage. Agriculture was also a focus from a young age for Wassenaar, who was raised on a beef farm and developed an interest in growing crops. According to a recent release from Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers, “in 2018, with 500 acres of rental ground to their name, they needed to maximize every acre, so they looked at field management and row crop farming a little differently than traditional farming. Their focus was towards profit per acre. They decided the best way to maximize hay acres was rotation with organics. “They decided to do 25 acres of organic corn as a trial to see if it worked on their ground type and if they could manage and handle the extra workload that went with it. Maximizing the premium on IP beans and acre contracts for organics allowed them to become profitable in row crop farming. “Increasing to 400 acres of organic corn and soybean rotation in 2019 led to the creation of Claybank Organics. In 2021 they expanded into northern Ontario/Algoma District, purchasing a farm to grow straight timothy hay for overseas customers.” Claybank Organics now farms 1,000 acres a year of organic corn, soybeans and hay, and Haybury farms 3,200 acres. “They have gone from farming with borrowed, leased, and rented equipment, to having and maintaining their own fleet both in Jarvis and the Algoma area. “They each use their strengths to run and manage the farm business. “Matt manages and makes most of the crop input decisions. D.J. is the face of the farm and handles sales and customer relations while constantly chasing new opportunities.” Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2024 will be announced at the organization’s “national event” in Lethbridge, Alta. in November. BF ONT. YOUNG FARMERS RECOGNIZED Ontario Young Farmers photo Matt Bergman and D.J. Wassenaar of Jarvis.
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