The Farm Invention Challenge was a province-wide competition held in 2014 for farmers who found innovative ways to solve animal care and water use issues. Entrants competed for $1,000 and $500 cash prizes, and could enter in several different categories.
Here are the winners and their innovative inventions:
• 1st- Animal Care: Sarah and Kevin Wolters of Belleville created a portable, group housing system for their calves. The solution can be built without the need for a building permit, and the Wolters have designed eight models to address different needs for different farms. The canopies can also be designed for other animals such as chickens, pigs and even ponies. Their unique invention was commercialized in August of 2014. A month later, the Wolters had already sold four systems.
“It is important for producers in the agricultural industry to constantly seek ways to improve their business. The Farm & Food Care Invention Challenge opens our eyes to a community of innovative producers with unique, simple, solutions to some of our basic farm problems. We are all dealing with industry challenges, so we are all in this together. The Farm Food Care & Challenge allowed us to share those good ideas and hopefully inspire new fixes.” – Sarah and Kevin Wolters
• 2nd- Animal Care: Josef Theiler of Winchester combined a robotic sweeper arm with his automated feeding system, allowing Josef to more easily provide feed to all the animals in his barn. Josef has had no maintenance issues with his system since it was installed August, 2014 and it sweeps feed to the cows six times each and every day.
• 3rd- Animal Care: Maaike Campbell of Warwick Township utilized bait stations inside hollow doors to safely control rodent populations in the barn. The solution means the pigs are not at risk because the poison is not accessible and cleaning up the remains is also simple. It is a very low cost and low effort system that has provided Maaike with peace of mind.
• 1st- Water Use: Tom Brayford and the Innisfill Creek Water Users Association in Alliston have created a community group focused on solving water use issues on farms and golf courses. By working with the community and local farmers, the association acts as a contact regarding water and nutrient issues for the creek and provides awareness about best management practices (BMPs) that address water quality and environmental issues.
“It has been very gratifying to be recognized for our efforts. The money awarded to us will be gladly used to fund future endeavours as the ICWUA tries to meet irrigation challenges now and down the road.” – Tom Brayford, Vice Chair, Innisfil Creek Water Users’ Association.
•2nd- Water Use: Andrew and Julie Dawson of Lanark introduced a portable watering system for their cattle in order to accommodate a rotational grazing system. The rotational grazing system improves efficiency on the farm, allowing each paddock to be grazed and grow back more quickly, maximizing forage intake and encouraging regeneration. This solution is an ecological one because the portable watering system prevents cattle from polluting streams or other water courses while drinking. Its portability also prevents cattle from continuously trampling one specific area near the water source.
Source: Farmfoodcare