Asphodel Sheep Company receives the 2022 Ontario Sheep Pasture Award

Feb 10, 2023

The Ontario Forage Council, Ontario Sheep Association, and MAPLESEED have announced Todd and Jennifer Payne as the recipients of the 2022 Ontario Sheep Pasture Award. The Payne’s are owners of the Asphodel Sheep Company in Peterborough County.

The Ontario Sheep Pasture award is an opportunity to recognize exemplary pasture management strategies. The Asphodel Sheep Company has clearly demonstrated their outstanding pasture management techniques with their breeding flock of 800.

A few techniques the Payne’s have implemented include year-round pasture, rotational grazing with solar-energized net fencing, using rough pastureland for dry mature ewes and improved tillable land for grazing replacement lambs, grazing cover crops, and maximizing their land usage with a 1500-gallon portable water tank.

On top of their pasture management, The Asphodel Sheep Company is conscious about their environmental impact and have participated in the Enviornmental Farm Plan Program.

Todd and Jennifer Payne will receive $250 and a 25kg bag of forage seeds in recognition of this award.

Source : Small Farm Canada

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The Next Mile, host Dr. Meredith Petersen, Director of Swine Health at the National Pork Board, sits down with Dr. Cara Haden, Director of Animal Welfare and Biosecurity at Pipestone, to unpack the National Swine Health Strategy and what it means for producers across the country.

Meredith walks through how the strategy came together: a producer-led effort launched in March 2025 in response to input gathered at the National Pork Industry Forum, built around two core goals, keeping foreign and emerging diseases out of the U.S. herd and reducing the impact of domestic diseases already here, including long-term elimination targets for PRRSV and PEDV.

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Whether you're a producer, veterinarian, or anyone invested in herd health, this episode offers a grounded look at where the industry is headed and what everyday habits make the biggest difference.