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 invests $6.1 million in northern agriculture projects Friday, October 16, 2026 The Ontario government is investing more than $6.1 million in 14 agricultural projects across Northern Ontario in an effort to improve farm productivity, support rural communities, and strengthen the province’s food production capacity. The funding is being provided through the Northern... Read this article online
Win Tickets to See Cows Come Home at the Hamilton Film Festival Friday, October 16, 2026 Farms.com and Advancing Women in Agriculture and Agri-Food Conference are offering agriculture enthusiasts, rural residents, and film fans a chance to attend a special screening of at the Hamilton Film Festival. Five lucky winners will each receive a pair of tickets to the Saturday,... Read this article online
Ontario Invests $22 Million to Create New Export Opportunities for Ontario food products Wednesday, October 14, 2026 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing nearly $22 million to help farmers and food processors expand into new markets, increase sales and strengthen the province's food supply chain. The funding is being provided through the Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency... Read this article online
Canada and Ontario invest $22 million to support agri-food exports Wednesday, October 14, 2026 The federal and Ontario governments are investing nearly $22 million to help more than 130 agri-food businesses expand into domestic and international markets, strengthen production capacity, and improve the long-term resilience of the sector. Announced October 13, 2026, in Waterloo,... Read this article online
Ontario Farmer Wins YEN Highest Winter Wheat Yield Monday, October 12, 2026 The Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) has announced its winners for the 2025-26 season, recognizing farmers in Ontario and Michigan for their outstanding winter wheat yields and ability to achieve their crops' yield potential. The program is supported by the Michigan Wheat... Read this article online