Rick Rutherford is a third-generation farmer whose deep passion for agriculture has led to local and international partnerships focused on advancing innovation and supporting the next generation of farmers. Rutherford is the first producer EMILI partnered with when launching Innovation Farms powered by AgExpert in 2022.
Locating the first Innovation Farms on Rutherford’s 5,500-acre seed farm in Grosse Isle, Manitoba has allowed EMILI to provide innovators with access to leading-edge equipment, technology, and production practices to increase productivity, sustainability, and profitability across the agriculture and agri-food sector.
Rutherford Farms has hosted Harvest on the Crescent since 2021. Each year a different crop grows on Wellington Crescent while raising money for Harvest Manitoba. Over the past five years this initiative has raised thousands.
Describe your job in one sentence.
I am a third-generation farmer operating a pedigreed seed and commercial grain farm located in the South Interlake at Grosse Isle, Manitoba, with a second farm in Gypsumville, Manitoba..
What early experiences fueled your passion for a career in agriculture.
When I was 18 years old I had an opportunity to go work on a farm in Australia. I worked for a very entrepreneurial person that changed my view of the world. When I came home, I had applied and was accepted at university but when it was time to go, agriculture was just taking off and things were happening so quickly that I went straight to work on my family farm.
Since then I’ve had the luxury of being able to travel and work in agriculture in other countries. There is a global aspect to everything I’ve done, from going to Agritechnica in Germany to travelling annually to Chile for the past 12 years. My friend in Chile also has 100 acres in Peru; all flowering vegetables which he is producing for seed. I’m looking forward to travelling there in December to consult with him.
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