CFWF honours The Grower’s journalism and photography

Oct 15, 2024

The Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation (CFWF) announced its annual awards at a banquet in Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 5. The Grower’s editor, Karen Davidson, won Farm Writer of the Year for her five entries that exhibited a strong commitment to Canadian agricultural writing focused on agronomy, ag technology, current affairs, business, people, places and daily farm life.

The five entries were:

The March 2023 cover story “Why more precision is required to protect apple crops” is a deep dive on how two apple growers are adapting to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s restricted uses of crop protection products. Theagronomy is complicated but necessary to understand the balance in using synthetic and biological products in micro-managed ways throughout the growing season.

The May 2023 cover story “Heritage apples are pressed into the service of hard cider” details the sideline of husband-and-wife partners Doug Balsillie and Leslie Huffman and daughter Janelle. They have identified the genetics of bittersharp apple varietals to blend for hard cider. The Grower’s visit to their Harrow, Ontario orchard resulted in a story that mixed agronomy, business development and personality profile.

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Video: Why Port Infrastructure is Key to Growing Canada's Farms and Economy

Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) knows that strong, modern port infrastructure is vital to the success of Canada’s agriculture. When our ports grow, Ontario grain farmers and Canadian farms grow too—and when we grow, Canada grows.

In this video, we highlight the importance of investing in port infrastructure and how these investments are key to growing Ontario agriculture and supporting global trade. The footage showcases the strength of both Ontario’s farming landscapes and vital port operations, including some key visuals from HOPA Ports, which we are grateful to use in this project.

Ontario’s grain farmers rely on efficient, sustainable ports and seaway systems to move grain to markets around the world. Port investments are crucial to increasing market access, driving economic growth, and ensuring food security for all Canadians.

Why Port Infrastructure Matters:

Investing in Ports = Investing in Farms: Modernized ports support the export of Canadian grain, driving growth in agriculture.

Sustainable Growth: Learn how stronger ports reduce environmental impact while boosting economic stability.

Global Trade Opportunities: Improved port and seaway systems help farmers access new global markets for their grain.

Stronger Communities: Investment in ports means more stable jobs and economic growth for rural communities across Ontario and Canada.

We are proud to support the ongoing investment in port infrastructure and to shine a light on its vital role in feeding the world and securing a prosperous future for Canadian agriculture.

Special thanks to HOPA Ports for providing some of the stunning port footage featured in this video.