Grey County Beef Farmer Wins 2011 Ontario Pasture Award

The sponsors of the Ontario Pasture Award - the Ontario Cattlemen's Association (OCA), MAPLESEED and the Ontario Forage Council (OFC) - are pleased to announce that James McKinlay "Silver Springs Farms" at Ravenna in Grey County, is the winner of the 2011 Pasture Award. The prestigious award was presented today at the OCA Annual General Meeting. For his environmental and pasture improvements and management, McKinlay will receive a cash award of $750 and a bag of forage seed, courtesy of MAPLESEED, plus a complimentary stay for one night at the OCA Annual Meeting.

\James and his wife, Joan McKinlay, operate Silver Springs Farms with approximately 400 acres of pasture and 500 acres of cash crop including winter wheat, soybeans, canola, barley and corn. James is quick to point out that, in their operation, a good crop rotation is extremely important and forages play a vital role in that rotation.

James grazes about 150 cow-calf pairs, plus an additional 80 heifers are bred for herd replacement and breeding stock sales.

The cows are pastured in groups and are rotationally grazed on several different farm locations. James is a strong believer in a good rotational grazing system and states, "Keep it simple and achievable. By doing so, you will accomplish successful results. Fresh clean water is also of utmost importance, so fenced corridors have been constructed to protect the water source and provide restricted access to quality water close to each paddock."

As James says, "We recognize the responsibilities we have as food producers and ambassadors for agriculture, especially the importance of demonstrating good land stewardship to our urban neighbours who form an integral part of our local community."

Gerrit Van Keulen, Sales Manager with MAPLESEED, comments that the pasture management program being utilized on Silver Springs Farms is a model that not only makes greater use of pasture resources, but is also another good example of positive and sustainable environmental practices.

Ray Robertson, Manager of the Ontario Forage Council, said that as producers try to cope with the challenging times, the practical techniques being followed by the McKinlays are great examples that can help many producers maximize their net returns.

The deadline for applications for the 2012 Ontario Pasture Award is November 30, 2011.

For details, call the Ontario Forage Council at 1-877-892-8663 or visit either the Ontario Forage Council's Web site at www.ontarioforagecouncil.com or the Ontario Cattlemen's Association Web site at www.cattle.guelph.on.ca .

For further information:

James McKinlay, Ravenna, Ontario, 1-519-599-6236
Ray Robertson, Ontario Forage Council, 1-877-892-8663
Gerrit Van Keulen, MAPLESEED, 1-519-281-0032
LeaAnne Hodgins, Ontario Cattlemen's Association, 1-519-824-0334

▶ Reply to This

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Canola industry welcomes significant progress on Chinese tariffs

The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) and Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) welcome the announcement made today in Beijing to provide significant tariff relief for Canadian canola seed and meal. Under the agreement reached between Canada and China, tariffs on Canadian canola seed imports are expected to be reduced to 15% as of March 1, 2026, and the current 100% tariffs on canola meal are expected to be removed as of March 1, 2026, until at least the end of the calendar year. “The agreement reached on canola seed and meal is an important milestone in Canada’s trading relationship with China,” says Chris Davison, CCC President & CEO. “The Canadian canola industry has been clear since the outset that these tariffs are a political issue requiring a political solution. We are pleased to see significant progress in restoring market access for seed and meal and will continue to build on this development by working to achieve permanent and complete tariff relief, including for canola o

Prime Minister Carney forges new strategic partnership with the People's Republic of China focused on energy, agri-food, and trade

In a more divided and uncertain world, Canada is building a stronger, more independent, and more resilient economy. To that end, Canada's new government is working with urgency and determination to diversify our trade partnerships and catalyse massive new levels of investment. As the world's second-largest economy, China presents enormous opportunities for Canada in this mission. To forge a new Canada-China partnership, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, visited Beijing, the People's Republic of China, this week. This marked the first visit to China by a Canadian Prime Minister since 2017. In Beijing, Prime Minister Carney met with the President of China, Xi Jinping, the Premier of China, Li Qiang, and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, Zhao Leji. After their meeting, Prime Minister Carney and President Xi released a joint statement outlining the pillars of Canada and China's new strategic partnership. Central to this new partnership is a

TELUS completes redemption of 3.75% Notes, Series CV due March 10, 2026

TELUS Corporation ("TELUS" or the "Company") today confirmed the successful completion of the full redemption of its outstanding C$600 million 3.75% Notes, Series CV due March 10, 2026 (CUSIP No. 87971MBC6), as initially announced on December 16, 2025. The redemption was funded through proceeds from TELUS' December 2025 offering of Fixed-to-Fixed Rate Junior Subordinated Notes ("Hybrid Notes"), which raised the equivalent of C$2.9 billion with proceeds designated toward debt repayment. "This successful redemption demonstrates our disciplined approach to balance sheet management and our commitment to strengthening our financial foundation," said Doug French, Executive Vice-President and CFO. "By proactively managing our debt maturity profile through strategic refinancing, we're creating greater financial flexibility to support our capital allocation priorities and drive long-term shareholder value." This redemption is part of TELUS' broader balance sheet management and deleveraging in

Christina Franc appointed CEO of 4-H Canada

4-H Canada has announced the appointment of Christina Franc as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective later this month. Franc joins 4-H Canada after more than 15 years in senior leadership roles with national nonprofit organizations, most recently at United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC). During her time at UWCC, she worked closely with community partners across the country and gained extensive experience in governance, strategic planning, partnership development, and rural community engagement. In a statement shared on social media, Franc says joining 4-H Canada represents a role that has been calling to her for many years. She first encountered the organization more than a decade ago and said its mission and values left a lasting impression. “I’m deeply honoured to be joining 4-H Canada as CEO,” says Franc, adding that she is excited to support and champion the next generation of community-minded young leaders. 4-H Canada welcomed Franc and highlighted her leadership experience

Cracking the Heritability Code — Choosing Traits That Pay Off

Improving the genetics of your beef herd starts with knowing which traits you can change through genetics and which traits respond better to management practices. Because cattle have a long generation interval, every bull or replacement heifer you choose affects your herd for years. That’s why understanding heritability — and how traits interact with each other — helps ensure your breeding decisions move your herd toward your production goals. What Heritability Really Means Heritability tells us how much of a trait is controlled by genetics versus the environment and/or management. It’s expressed as a number between zero and one:1,3 High heritability (over 0.40): Traits are strongly influenced by genetics, meaning you can make changes more quickly by selecting the right replacements and bulls. Examples: ribeye area, marbling, weight and growth traits. Moderate heritability (0.15 to 0.40): Traits that can be improved through both genetics and management. Examples: milk production a

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service