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
Buying a horse? How to protect yourself from fraud and hidden health issues Thursday, November 20, 2025 Buying a horse is a major investment for farmers and equine enthusiasts alike. Whether for work, breeding, or recreation, the process often involves trust between buyer and seller. Unfortunately, that trust can sometimes be misplaced. Cases of horses sold with undisclosed... Read this article online
Ont. farmer raises money for employees affected by Hurricane Melissa Thursday, November 20, 2025 An Ontario farmer collected donations to support members of his staff affected by Hurricane Melissa. Brad Raymont employs nine migrant workers from Jamaica to help harvest strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries at Raymont’s Berries in Cottam. “Our farm wouldn’t exist without these... Read this article online
Canadian Farmers Seek Fair Succession Tax Reform Thursday, November 20, 2025 Family farmers across Canada are urging the federal government to update tax rules that they say no longer reflect the reality of modern farming families. Current laws under the Income Tax Act allow farmers to transfer their farms to their own children without immediate tax... Read this article online
Supreme Court Backs CFIA Ostrich Farm Cull Monday, November 17, 2025 Agency staff began rounding up the birds mid-afternoon on November 6, corralling the ostriches into an enclosure made of hay bales about three to four metres high. The cull order was originally given ten months ago, on December 31, after lab tests confirmed the presence of highly... Read this article online
Bringing together today’s leaders with tomorrow’s Monday, November 17, 2025 An event taking place in Guelph this week brings together people in leadership positions with the aspiring leaders of tomorrow. The United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin’s GenNext committee, which encourages people in their 20s and 30s to become involved with the United Way to fully... Read this article online