Perth County processor expands to support niche marketers Thursday, July 7, 2011 By BETTER FARMING STAFFExpansion of two Perth County niche pork ventures has prompted an area processor to expand its facilities too.“This will give us a great lift up to help our customers to meet their demand and expand their businesses,” says John Koch who owns Walnut Hill Farm with his wife Julieanne. The Gads Hill company that’s adjacent to the family farm processes pork for Perth Pork Products and Willowgrove Hill. “Our capacity is pretty much maxed out for production of those products so we needed to make a decision to expand our production or just stay where we were,” John says.Located near Sebringville, Perth Pork Products is owned by Fred and Ingrid de Martines and specializes in growing rare and heritage breed pigs. Paul and Rosie Hill own Willowgrove Hill near Mitchell and produce antibiotic-free pork enhanced with DHA/EPA Omega-3 and selenium. The Kochs also process their own lines of low sodium and allergen-free pork products as well as some beef products and do some custom work for other local farmers. The business does everything from cutting up carcasses to curing, smoking and packaging. It wound down slaughter operations in 2010.Work on the expansion began last week and includes shifting the former slaughter area to processing and adding a spice room, as well as converting other space in the facility for ready-to-eat packaging, a shipping cooler and dry curing. Half of the nearly $280,000 project comes from the province’s rural economic development program.An Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs news release issued Friday to announce the provincial funding indicates the project will double the company’s production, increase its annual sales to $1.3 million and create more opportunities for local farmers. Walnut Hill currently process 40 to 50 hogs a week. Koch says the goal is to have the project complete by the end of March 2012 “but a real life expectation might be July of next year.” BF Mitchell refuses federal provincial agreement Oxford farmer lands second in North American competition
Ontario Tender Fruit Season off to a Strong Start Monday, July 14, 2025 Ontario's 2025 tender fruit and table grape season is off to a promising start reports the Ontario Tender Fruit and Fresh Grape Growers. While the weather may be too hot for some farmers, it has has been ideal for producing a sweet and juicy crop. A cooler-than-usual spring delayed the... Read this article online
Ontario farmers get boost for energy upgrades Friday, July 11, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $3 million in the third round of the Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI). This funding will help farmers improve the energy efficiency of their operations and support the long-term sustainability of the agriculture... Read this article online
Swede midge and cabbageworm found in Ontario canola Thursday, July 10, 2025 As reported on the OMAFA website fieldcropnews.com, Ontario canola crops are at various growth stages, ranging from seedling to full bloom depending on planting time and region. Winter canola is now fully podded, and harvest is expected to begin soon in Essex and other southern... Read this article online
Early Career Research Award supports two Guelph research initiatives Friday, July 4, 2025 The was presented to two University of Guelph researchers at the recently held Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) symposium. Dr. Kelsey Spence received $40,000 towards her work in on-farm biosecurity research, and Dr. Sam Workenhe was awarded $60,000 to further his... Read this article online
Grape Growers 40th Annual Celebrity Luncheon has Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser Friday, July 4, 2025 The Grape Growers of Ontario’s marks the opening of the by showcasing Canadian personalities and celebrating the annual grape harvest. This year, in partnership with Meridian Credit Union, Ontario’s largest credit union and the third largest in Canada, the Grape Growers of Ontario... Read this article online