Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

ONTARIO CATTLEMEN'S ASSOCIATION
The Ontario Cattlemen's Association (OCA) is pleased to announce that John and Rosemary Dunsmore of Shanty Bay are the winners of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESAward) for 2011, sponsored by RBC Royal Bank. The Dunsmores operate a small cow-calf operation in Shanty Bay, Ontario on the edge of Lake Simcoe. The couple were nominated for the award by Madelaine Danby, Butternut Technician for the Ministry of Natural Resources, with support from Paul Marshal, a former Ward 3 Councilor in Oro-Medonte Township.

The Dunsmores' dedication to the environment is evident given their involvement in a number of stewardship initiatives. Together, John and Rosemary plant approximately 50 trees every year, providing soil stability, shade, water retention and carbon dioxide sequestration, and have also been heavily involved in the Butternut Tree Recovery Program through North Simcoe Stewardship and the Ministry of Natural Resources. In 2002, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority presented the Dunsmores with the Walter Conservation Award for their commitment to environmental stewardship and dedication to ecologically friendly farm practices.

"The installation of a wind turbine and solar panels to create energy for their farm demonstrates their initiative in new technologies to help decrease their ecological footprint," reports Danby.  "They are currently looking to plant a buffer zone of trees to improve the health of the water flowing in their small seasonal creek that runs through their cattle pasture."

"Before incentives were provided to farmers, John and Rosemary took the initiative to control run-off from their barn yard by improving fencing and constructing a catchment pond to filter the water rather than allowing it to enter Lake Simcoe," says Paul Marshall. "During my six years on council in Oro-Medonte Township John and Rosemary were very active in a number of environmental activities in their community. They are prime examples of stewards who care deeply for the environment."


 

TESAward recognizes the outstanding environmental stewardship of an Ontario cattleman.  Special consideration is given to producers who have taken innovative approaches to environmentally sustainable cattle production.

 

 


 

For further information:

John and Rosemary Dunsmore, TESA Winners: 705-728-2609
LeaAnne Hodgins, Ontario Cattlemen's Association: 519-824-0334



Views: 51

Reply to This

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

SS400+ Road Show Update – Strong Momentum After Week Four

First few weeks into the SS400+ road show, interest keeps rising across every stop. Dealers and growers in Ontario, Michigan, and Indiana shared strong feedback. More regions now request field demos ahead of the tour schedule. Momentum keeps building as more people hear about the performance of the SS400+ Chassis Mounted Spinner Spreader. Numbers from the first three weeks show strong output. ·         Acres covered reached 3867.6 ·         Average rate reached 177.8 lb per acre ·         Total product applied reached 606,763 lb ·         Field time reached 16 hours 44 minutes ·         Ground speed held near 17 miles per hour ·         Hourly productivity reached 231.6 acres Michigan runs reached ranges between 183 and 300 acres per hour. Indiana stops reached steady output between 250 and 275 acres per hour. Every region reported consistent pattern quality, strong control across wide swaths, and smooth operation at higher speeds. Key SS400+ features drive this level of perfo

Market Trends Report – November & December 2025

US and the World It is that time of year when farmers reach the proverbial finish line, of getting that crop in the bin. The harvest of 2025 has been abundant, and it is also taking place in a very timely fashion with very good weather across the North American corn belt. At the same time there’s been a bit of a dearth of market information as the US government shutdown has meant very little in terms of information coming out from USDA. However, this all changed on November the 14th when despite the continuing governing shutdown, the USDA released their latest WASDE report. For market watchers it was a long two months without USDA numbers. Many were expecting much lower numbers in this November report. However, it seems like big supply is still winning. The USDA actually lowered corn yield .7 bushels per acre to 186 bushels per acre. This was much lower than pre report expectations. This put US domestic production at 16.752 billion bushels above the previous record of 15.34 billion b

Grain Farmers of Ontario 2025 Legacy Scholarship Recipients Awarded

Grain Farmers of Ontario, the province’s largest commodity organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers, is pleased to announce the nine recipients of the 2025 Grain Farmers of Ontario Legacy Scholarship. Each student will receive $5,000 to support their studies at accredited post-secondary institutions. Now in its fourth year, the Legacy Scholarship encourages the pursuit of higher education, supporting students in areas of study that will benefit the Ontario grain sector or agri-food industry. Past recipients have studied in a variety of programs across the country, including Communications, Engineering, Sciences, Equipment Repair, Economics, and Agriculture. “Grain Farmers of Ontario is dedicated to championing the success of our agricultural community members, extending our support to students looking to make a difference in Ontario’s agriculture and agri-food industries,” says Jeff Harrison, chair, Grain Farmers of Ontario. “We were a

A New Window into Canada’s Pulse Quality

We've recently launched the Pulse Quality Dashboard — a new resource that makes Canada’s investment in pulse quality research accessible and interactive. The dashboard brings together years of data showing how genetics and environment influence the quality and nutritional attributes of Canadian peas, lentils, and faba beans. Designed for food industry professionals, researchers, and stakeholders across the value chain, this tool provides a clear view into what makes Canadian pulses a leader in global markets. With the Pulse Quality Dashboard, you can: Explore detailed datasets from 2019–2023 across peas, lentils, and faba beans Understand typical ranges for key compositional and functional attributes Track variety acreage over time, nationally and by province Canada’s continued investment in pulse research keeps our industry at the forefront of quality, innovation, and transparency. The Pulse Quality Dashboard represents another step forward in making Canada’s pulse quality data op

Statement On The Launch Of The Canada – India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

Today, Pulse Canada issued the following statement on behalf of President Greg Cherewyk regarding the launch of negotiations toward a Canada–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA): “Pulse Canada welcomes the launch of negotiations toward an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Canada and India. In 2024, pulses were Canada’s largest export to India. Canadian growers and exporters have built decades-long relationships across India, and renewed engagement is an important step toward greater market stability, lower barriers, and new opportunities for both countries. “A strong and predictable trading relationship is essential to achieving our shared vision of nutritional security. Pulses contribute to food security as an affordable, reliable staple, and to nutrition security by providing high-quality plant-based protein, fibre, and essential nutrients. “Pulse Canada supports a CEPA focused on tariff reduction, clear import policies, and a fram

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service