Excellence in Agriculture Celebrated in Guelph

Jul 11, 2019

Local Honourable Mention Recipient Recognized

Ontario is recognizing the work of local innovators whose ideas and passion are helping grow and strengthen the province's agri-food sector.

Ernie Hardeman, Ontario's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, recognized Ontario Farmland Trust as an Excellence in Agriculture, Honourable Mention Award recipient, for developing a trust agreement that places non-agricultural development restrictions on certain pieces of land, permanently protecting farmland.

"We are thrilled to win an honourable mention for the Excellence in Agriculture Awards," said Kathryn Enders, Executive Director, Ontario Farmland Trust. "Partnering with Ontario farmers to permanently protect their land is a privilege, as it provides certainty that their land will forever remain in agriculture, strengthens our local food sector, and protects agri-food jobs for future generations."

"Ontario's agri-food sector is a driving force for innovation and economic growth in our province," said Hardeman. "I commend Ontario Farmland Trust for their important work in protecting our province's farmland and ensuring Ontario's agricultural future is bright for generations to come."

The Excellence in Agriculture Awards honour the contributions of hard-working and innovative people across the province who are creating new agri-food products, adding value to existing products and raising the bar for excellence by demonstrating leadership in their field that will benefit the sector, or advanced technological innovation.

Ontario is a strong supporter of the agri-food sector and is committed to the province's farmers and food processors, who produce more than 200 food and beverage products to feed our local communities and the world. The sector contributes over $39.5 billion to the local economy and employs one in eight Ontarians.

Source : OMAFRA

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.