New tools for farmers in northern Ont.

Oct 15, 2019

The province invested in an ecological ag training program

By Paula Schuck

A recent investment of $93,546 from Queen’s Park is intended to nurture farming in northern Ontario. The Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO) will use the funds to help establish a three-year program to train farmers in the region about ecological agriculture.

“Our government recognizes the importance of having skilled producers across this great province,” Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, said in an interview.

“Investing in programming to train new, young and existing farmers in ecological farming methods in northern Ontario will further develop the skills of our producers and will create exciting opportunities to expand agricultural opportunities in the north over the long-term.”

The EFAO has a track record in supporting the success of Ontario producers, Hardeman added.

Allison Muckle, the EFAO’s northern program director, told Farms.com that the funds will be used for farmer-led training, research and community building in northern Ontario. These education sessions will include workshops that feature experts, kitchen-table-style meetings where farmers can gather and share their knowledge and experience, and farm tours to see production techniques in action. The EFAO also is working on webinars so farmers can participate in workshops from home.

In addition, starting in 2020, the EFAO will offer specific training workshops and events geared towards new farmers in northern Ontario. The organization will focus on business planning for farmers starting their operations.

“In general, we focus on practical training to help farmers improve the health of their soils, crops, livestock and the environment, while at the same time running profitable farm businesses,” said Muckle.

“Our programs are ultimately about farmers sharing their knowledge with other farmers, so our hope is that, over the next three years, we will have helped create a supportive community of thriving ecological farms in northern Ontario. We also hope to have helped more farms in the north implement agricultural practices that protect our resources, increase biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and foster healthy, vibrant communities,” Muckle said.

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.