Off-grid farm garners provincial nod Thursday, July 14, 2011 by SUSAN MANNMinimizing their fossil fuel energy footprint has earned the farm owners of Rainbow Heritage Garden in eastern Ontario a provincial innovation award.Kylah Dobson and her husband, Zach Loeks, picked up their regional Premier’s Award for Agri-Food Innovation Wednesday afternoon during a ceremony in Carlsbad Springs. They were excited and honoured to win.Dobson says the Premier’s award program is great for sharing innovations with other famers and learning about what other producers are doing on their farms. “It actually allows farmers to network and share innovations through the program.”On their five-acre organic vegetable farm near Cobden in Renfrew County, Dobson and Loeks grow 200 varieties of 30 different crops. Dobson says they’re working towards their organic certification. In addition, they grow as many heirloom crops as possible.Now in their fifth full year of production, Dobson and Loeks sell their crops at two farmers’ markets plus through the Ottawa Valley Food Co-Op. They also have 90 customers in the upper Ottawa Valley through their Community Supported Agriculture program. The entire farm is off the electrical grid. “Everything we do has to be rethought so that we’re using as little energy as possible,” she explains. They’re trying to keep their energy footprint small for themselves but also so they can pass the carbon savings on to their customers.“They know when they’re buying produce from us it has been produced with the least amount of fossil fuel energy possible,” Dobson says.One of the highlights of the farm is a mobile solar generator. Dobson says the whole system of solar panels is mounted on a wagon so it can be transported throughout the farm to wherever it’s needed. “It’s almost always in use, whether it’s pumping our water or charging a drill.” Dobson’s uncle was also a Premier’s award winner from the Cobden/Ottawa area. Grant Dobson and his wife, Dorothy, operate Connaught Nursery. The other winner was Greta’s Organic Gardens of Ottawa. BF Canada-wide milk pooling under discussion Spud packer moves
Potato industry on PEI to save up to $7 million because of cuts to bridge tolls Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Effective August 1, 2025, tolls on the Confederation Bridge will drop dramatically, with personal vehicle tolls falling from $50.25 to $20. Commercial vehicles will also benefit from these reductions. In addition, ferry tolls in Newfoundland and Labrador and other regions will see... Read this article online
Soil Compaction Challenges Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Ontario’s spring planting faced challenges from soil compaction, impacting crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat. Despite some areas experiencing rapid planting under ideal conditions, other regions, even those with lighter soils, struggled due to excessive rainfall. The team at OMAFA –on... Read this article online
2026 Grains Innovation Fund is now open Tuesday, July 29, 2025 Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the province’s largest commodity organization representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers, is now accepting applications for its . “This year marks another exciting chapter for the Grains Innovation Fund,” stated Paul... Read this article online
Applications Open for Grains Innovation Fund 2026 Monday, July 28, 2025 Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), the province’s largest commodity organization representing 28,000 farmers, is now accepting applications for the 2026 Grains Innovation Fund. The fund offers grants up to $75,000 to support innovative projects that promote the use of Ontario’s grains such as... Read this article online
Sowing the Seeds of the Future -- A Fresh Look at Farm Succession in Canada Monday, July 28, 2025 “You’ve worked the land for decades—through changing seasons, shifting markets, and long days that begin before sunrise," says Jason Castellan, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Skyline when he spoke with Farms.com. “You know every acre, every decision, every responsibility that... Read this article online