Straw sculptures a hit in Perth Monday, November 3, 2014 Cathy Biemen, general manager of the Perth County Visitors' Association, got the idea for Perth's first straw sculpture tour when she spied a straw RV at last year's International Plowing Match in Mitchell, Ont. She reasoned that a straw sculpture tour would be a great way to get people checking out the farms and businesses of Perth County.Five farms and six businesses created sculptures out of hay bales and put them on display from Sept. 5 to 19. Visitors voted on the best sculpture for a chance at prizes. Sculptures included a giant spider, a tractor, a giant farmer and a chicken, but in the end it was Smelski Pumpkin Farm and their sculpture of a Spider and Pumpkin who won the Judge's Choice award and Neubrand Country Produce winning People's Choice for Best Straw Sculpture with its Large Vegetable Basket.The real prize, however, was increased business and exposure for the participants. Biemen saw the tour as a way to "familiarize people with farm-gate sales" by having farmers sell their products to those who came to view and vote on the sculptures. "A lot of people are very hesitant to actually go to somebody's farm and buy food," Biemen said. "I'm hoping that this will break down those barriers a little bit."Biemen called the event "very successful . . . people are excited about it," and predicts that "next year will be bigger and better." BF Needed: financial protection for produce sellers in the Canadian market Arab farmer in udder shock as billy goat produces milk
Setting the record straight on Bill C-282 and what it means for Canada Monday, October 28, 2024 An op-ed from Egg Farmers of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Chicken Farmers of Canada, Turkey Farmers of Canada, and the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers. Canada is an attractive trading partner for many nations. Arguing that countries would abandon trade talks simply because we... Read this article online
Fostering Mental Health Awareness at Advancing Women in Ag Conference Monday, October 28, 2024 By Deanna Ciaccia Mental health issues among farmers are increasingly pressing, with nearly 30% of agricultural workers in North America experiencing anxiety or depression. These challenges do not affect farmers in isolation; they ripple through families and communities,... Read this article online
Cdn. farmers can win a chance to brew their own beer Monday, October 28, 2024 A contest is giving Canadian farmers a chance to brew their own beer. Bayer and Origin Brewing & Malting Co., out of Strathmore, Alta., have teamed up for the FieldBrew contest. The contest is open to farmers from B.C. to Ontario who are at least 19 years old. Participants can earn... Read this article online
Ontario Agri-Food Biosecurity gets a boost Monday, October 28, 2024 Canada and Ontario Invest in Farm Biosecurity Canada and Ontario are jointly investing up to $7.5 million in 365 projects to assist the province’s farmers, food processors, and vital agribusinesses in safeguarding their operations from pests and diseases. This initiative, known as... Read this article online
Walkerton family takes home the 2024 Mapleseed Sheep Pasture Award Monday, October 28, 2024 Photo of by Christine Steve and Lisa Ernewein and family of Meadowbook Family Farm in the Brockton/Walkerton, Ontario, area are the recipients of the . The award is sponsored by Mapleseed, the Ontario Forage Council, and Ontario Sheep Farmers, and was presented at the recently... Read this article online