New hatchery in Woodstock will open in 2017 Wednesday, June 29, 2016 by SUSAN MANNOntario-based chicken processor Sargent Farms has teamed up with the largest hatchery business in Quebec, Boire & Fréres Inc., to set up a new hatchery in Woodstock, with an initial production capacity of 20 million chicks a year. Kevin Thompson, Sargent Farms CEO, says they’ve just bought the land in an industrial park in Woodstock and the preliminary target date for the hatchery’s opening is late 2017.“There is a lot of things to do but that’s our target at the moment,” he says.Sargent Farms decided to join Boire & Fréres in establishing the new hatchery, to be called Thames River Hatchery, because “we felt it was a good opportunity to continue to grow our business and we felt there was a need in Ontario.”This is the first time the Ontario processor has owned a hatchery.Thompson says their Quebec-based partner has “extensive experience in the hatchery business and that was one of the reasons why we partnered with them. They bring that level of expertise.”The two businesses are investing $10 million in the facility.Chicken processor and producer Sargent Farms has headquarters in Milton and another facility in Mississauga. It’s custom chicken products are processed in accordance with traditional halal standards for the Muslim community and are sold to retailers, food service operations and restaurants.Construction of the Thames River Hatchery is slated to start by the fall, according to the Sargent Farms press release. The facility will incorporate the latest hatchery technology and business practices.Chicken Farmers of Ontario officials applaud the establishment of a new hatchery for Ontario. “It will further enable the quality service, flexibility and sustainability of the Ontario chicken supply,” president and CEO Rob Dougans says in a Chicken Farmers June 23 press release.The family-owned and operated Boire & Fréres has more than 85 years of experience in the poultry industry in Quebec, the Sargent Farms release says. Its head office is in Wickham, Quebec. The business has hatching egg production, hatcheries for both broilers and commercial layers, egg production for both the pharmaceutical field and consumption and it raises chickens and turkeys. BF Agronomist earns international nod for his work Grape growers and wineries agreement calls for grape price increase
Precision Harvesting with HeadSight and TrueSight Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Modern harvesting relies heavily on precision and smart technology, and new systems for head height control and steering are making sure you are not leaving bushels in the field. These innovations ensure efficient crop collection, protect equipment, and reduce operator fatigue during... Read this article online
Remembering Ralph Winfield: Beloved Better Farming Columnist Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Ontario's farming community is mourning the loss of longtime agricultural writerRalph Gordon Winfieldof Glanworth, who passed away peacefully at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Oct. 17, 2025, at the age of 85. Ralph’s name has been closely tied to Better Farming since 1999. His... Read this article online
Case IH FieldOps Brings Smart Connectivity to Modern Farming Friday, October 17, 2025 that FieldOps operates on desktops through a web interface and on mobile devices through an app compatible with iPhone, Android, or iPad. This flexibility allows farmers to access critical machine and field information anytime, anywhere. One of the most significant upgrades to... Read this article online
New Holland Marks 50 Years of Twin Rotor Innovation Friday, October 17, 2025 New Holland is celebrating 50 years of leadership in twin rotor harvesting technology, a milestone that began with the introduction of the TR70 combine in 1975. This machine transformed agriculture by bringing the world the concept of twin rotor threshing and... Read this article online
22 young leaders graduate from Rural Ontario Institute’s Change Makers Program Thursday, October 16, 2025 The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) has marked a milestone in rural leadership development with the graduation of 22 participants from its Rural Change Makers (RCM) program. The private ceremony, held this October, celebrated a year of learning, collaboration, and community impact. “We... Read this article online