Search
Better Farming OntarioBetter PorkBetter Farming Prairies

Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Goat farm will use federal loan to expand its processing activity

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

by SUSAN MANN

Eastern Ontario’s Skotidakis Goat Farm has received a $4.2 million federal government loan to expand its facilities and introduce new production technology designed to handle its goat/cow milk blends for cheese manufacturing.

Glengarry, Prescott, Russell MP Pierre Lemieux, parliamentary secretary for Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced the funding last week. The money was provided through the Enabling Commercialization and Adoption section of the AgriInnovation program under Growing Forward 2. The AgriInnovation program runs for five years and has funding of up to $698 million. Of that, $468 million is available for funding projects from industry applicants, while the rest of the money is for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada-led research and knowledge transfer activities and program administration.

John Skotidakis, president, says the funding they received is an interest-free loan. The company will be using the money to expand its current 50,000-square-foot facility by 27,500 square feet and introduce innovative production technology, which is specifically designed for its blend of goat and cow milk. The company plans to increase production of its ricotta and Greek feta cheeses.

The farm, located near St-Eugene, Ontario was incorporated in 1993 and is family owned and managed. The farm’s website says they have 3,000 goats and 1,500 acres.

In addition to cheeses, the Skotidakis’ manufacture Greek yogurt, and yogurt-based dips. They also cater to the food service industry and provide industrial-sized products to restaurants, manufacturers and distributors. Their products are sold across Canada and in parst of the United States.

In the federal government’s Feb. 28 press release, Lemieux says the goat and dairy sectors are significant parts of the economy in eastern Ontario.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada spokesman James Watson says by email the Enabling Commercialization and Adoption program is open to all agri-businesses across all sectors, including other cheese producers. It supports “the demonstration or commercialization of innovative products or services or the adoption of innovative technologies.”

The intent is to encourage innovations that will help companies be profitable and competitive in their markets. “Skotidakis is among a large number of applicants from across the agricultural and agri-food sector who are seeking investments under this stream,” Watson says.

Applicants are assessed using several criteria including market opportunity, technological innovation, financial capacity to meet funding obligations and repay the contribution and use of agricultural inputs. Applicants must be corporations or co-operatives and “clearly demonstrate that their projects are innovative, technically feasible, financially viable and market ready,” he explains.

The Canadian dairy processing sector represents 15 per cent of the Canadian food and beverage sector, the Feb. 28 news release says. BF

Current Issue

February 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Canadian tech leads the way for egg gender testing

Friday, February 7, 2025

Photo by Erol Ahmed on Unsplash Canadian Egg Technologies and MatrixSpec Solutions Inc. have announced that their technology is delivering accurate in-ovo gender determination for white and brown eggs as early as the fourth day of incubation. Called a transformative breakthrough for... Read this article online

Farmers—protect yourself from fraud

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay It can happen to anybody. It doesn’t matter how safe you are or how smart you are; there’s always a chance you are going to get scammed over something. And the agricultural community is no exception. One of the latest instances involves... Read this article online

Nortera celebrates $25M expansion

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Nortera, a North American leader in frozen and canned vegetable processing, has celebrated the $25 million expansion of its Wright Street frozen warehouse in Strathroy, Ontario. This investment directly supports the local economy by sustaining over 270 jobs and strengthening... Read this article online

Profitable Pastures 2025 webinar series

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

The Ontario Forage Council (OFC) has announced that its is back, providing best management practices for pasture and grazing managers. There will be three webinars airing daily from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm EST over March 4-6, 2025. Registration is required, but there is no cost to... Read this article online

BF logo

It's farming. And it's better.

 

a Farms.com Company

Subscriptions

Subscriber inquiries, change of address, or USA and international orders, please email: subscriptions@betterfarming.com or call 888-248-4893 x 281.


Article Ideas & Media Releases

Have a story idea or media release? If you want coverage of an ag issue, trend, or company news, please email us.

Follow us on Social Media

 

Sign up to a Farms.com Newsletter

 

DisclaimerPrivacy Policy2025 ©AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Back To Top