Sidebar 4: Cathy McKay, 55, South of Port Perry (Durham Region) Monday, May 4, 2009 McKay is the main operator of Nature's Bounty, a farm which she owns with her husband, Marvin Stevenson. They have one son. An apple orchard is the 100-acre farm's primary focus. She also grows pumpkins, squash, gourds, decorative corn and the operation includes 40 ewes, pasture and alfalfa. In the mid-1990s, the couple shifted the farm from exclusively wholesale apple sales to on-farm retail and wholesale. Greatest success. Implementing the transition from wholesale to retail and transforming the farm from a money loser to a profitable business.Greatest challenge. "Being pulled in many directions. Sometimes people don't understand that you are working. Yes, you're home, yes you have some flexibility, but you are working."Words of advice. Farming is a "huge commitment," she says. "You have to really like it." Sidebar 5: Laura Kivits, 32, Dalkeith (Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry) Sidebar 3: Trudy Reid, 29, District of Thunder Bay
Ontario Opens First Soymilk Powder Plant Wednesday, December 3, 2025 Ontario is celebrating a major step forward in agri-food innovation with a nearly $24 million investment by Alinova Canada Inc. to build the country’s first non-GMO soymilk powder processing plant. The new facility, located in Morrisburg, will create 15 good-paying jobs and strengthen the... Read this article online
New marketing board possible for Ont. agriculture Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Ontario’s dairy goat industry could have its own marketing board. If approved, the marketing board would focus on four pillars, said Lindsay Dykeman, general manager of the Ontario Dairy Goat Co-operative. “Those pillars are advocacy, business risk management, research and education,... Read this article online
Compassionate Online Support Hub for Coping with Pet Loss Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Losing a pet is an emotional experience for many families, and having access to supportive information can make the healing process easier. To help caregivers during these challenging moments, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph has launched a new online resource... Read this article online
Ontario harvest outlook: 2025 challenges and maybe a 2026 recovery Tuesday, December 2, 2025 It’s December 2025, and Ontario farmers are wrapping up one of the most challenging harvest seasons in recent memory. Extended drought conditions through August and September left a mark on corn yields, while soybeans and winter wheat fared better thanks to timely rains and favourable... Read this article online
Ontario and Quebec farmers named Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025 Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Two farming families from Ontario and Québec have been named Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) for 2025. The announcement came during the national event held in Toronto from November 27–30, where six regional finalists were honoured for their contributions to Canadian... Read this article online