Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Dairy Farm Sustainability Award winner, Clovermead Farms

The Whale family farms in Alma, Ontario and has been doing so for seven generations. Dedicated community members, their philosophy is not just to take care o...

Rating:
  • Currently 5/5 stars.

Views: 108

Get Embed Code

Latest Videos

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Comment by OntAG Admin on July 18, 2014 at 4:33am

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is pleased to announce that Clovermead Farms, Inc. in Alma, Ontario, owned and operated by the Whale family, won the Dairy Farmers Sustainability Award, sponsored by DeLaval Canada.

Clovermead Farms’ philosophy is not just to take care of the land, but to improve it. The farm is a living example of what happens when the triple bottom line is considered – environmental responsibility, social equity and financial viability.

“Since its inception in 2011, this award recognizes dairy farmers with innovative sustainable practices that improve the social, environmental and economic impact of dairy farming in Canada,” said DFC president, Wally Smith. “We are pleased to take this opportunity to award an Ontario family farm who are striving to protect and improve our environment.”

“Sustainability is an integral part of our dairy industry and DeLaval is committed to help dairy farmers’ efforts in becoming more efficient and profitable with less impact on the environment,” stated Andrew Ritchie, managing director, DeLaval Inc. - Canada. “DeLaval is proud to offer Canadian farmers with solutions to optimize efficiencies and sustainability on their farms.’’

Accepting the award today on behalf of Clovermead Farms, Inc. was Korb and Kelly Whale. Seventh generation farmers, Korb and Kelly, own this farm with Korb’s parents, Bruce and Deborah Whale.

“I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of our entire family,” said Korb Whale. “We are absolutely committed to continue using technology and techniques to produce food on our farm while improving the world we live in. We have the ambition of working towards a carbon-neutral farm.”

The selection committee, consisting of nine sustainability experts, was particularly impressed with the Whale’s efforts in producing electricity, bedding and high quality fertilizer by using an anaerobic digester that turns cow manure into biogas. Additionally, the Whale family is committed to maintaining a minimum of 10% of their land base as wildlife habitat and forest, with wildlife corridors made of tree rows to connect woodlots and streams.

The finalists' profiles and a video of the winners’ farm are available on the DFC website.

The other three finalists, Dykstra Farms, (Knowlesville, New Brunswick), Ferme Clobert Inc. (Saint-Bonaventure, Quebec) and Bakerview EcoDairy (Abbotsford, British Columbia), will receive a trophy and a $1,000 prize during the upcoming annual general meeting of their respective provinces.

Source: Dairy Farmers of Canada

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

Ag in the House: Oct. 26 – 30

Minister MacDonald highlighted how the government is supporting food security

Exploring grape pomace’s potential as pork sausage preservative

Scientists at Iowa State University are studying grape pomace as an alternative preservative for pork breakfast sausage. The U.S. sausage market exceeds $7.5 billion. Processed meats often use synthetic ingredients to maintain overall quality, stability and safety. However, consumer preferences toward “clean-label” ingredients and recent reassessments of some food additives, such as butylated hydroxyanisole, are boosting interest in more natural alternatives. Grape pomace is a by-product of winemaking, obtained after pressing white grapes or after fermentation and pressing of red grapes. GP represents a rich source of fiber and phenolic compounds, but it is usually composted, used as animal feed or discarded. “This winemaking by-product is often wasted, but we know that GP has some antimicrobial and antioxidant properties,” said Aude Watrelot, assistant professor of enology in food science and human nutrition. “How effective would GP be when substituted for current additives in a po

Canadian Pork Research Enters New Phase with More Flexible Funding for Industry Priorities

Canada’s pork industry is strengthening its approach to research and innovation through a funding model designed to address both long-term industry priorities and emerging challenges facing producers. Swine Innovation Porc (SIP), the national organization coordinating research for Canada’s pork sector, has released its 2025–26 annual report, highlighting the continued development of its national research programs and the introduction of additional funding flexibility. At the centre of this approach are two complementary initiatives: the established Swine Cluster program and the newer Advancing Swine Research Program. Together, these programs are intended to strengthen the industry’s ability to invest in scientific discovery while supporting practical research that responds to changing production conditions. Building on More Than a Decade of Collaborative Research Since 2010, Canada’s Swine Cluster program has provided a foundation for coordinated research involving universities, re

Canadian Swine Researchers Face November 13 Deadline for Up to $150,000 in Research Funding

Swine Innovation Porc is seeking research proposals focused on animal health, biosecurity, production efficiency, sustainability and pork quality, with funding available for projects addressing key challenges facing Canada’s pork industry. Canadian swine researchers have until November 13 to submit letters of intent for a new round of funding through the Advancing Swine Research Program, an initiative designed to strengthen the competitiveness, efficiency and long-term sustainability of Canada’s pork sector. Administered by Swine Innovation Porc (SIP), in partnership with the Pork Promotion and Research Agency (PPRA), the program supports industry-focused research that delivers practical benefits to producers, processors and the broader pork value chain. Successful projects may receive funding covering up to 50% of eligible project costs, with a maximum contribution of $50,000 annually over three years, representing a potential investment of $150,000 per project. Research Prioritie

When Pork’s Seasonal Recovery Doesn’t Arrive: What Canada Packers’ Q3 Results Reveal About the Market

Canada Packers’ third-quarter results offer a revealing look at the pressures facing North American pork production. Beyond the company’s $28.1 million loss, the more important story involves weakening pork demand, unusually compressed processing margins, and questions about when the industry can expect more favourable market conditions. For an industry accustomed to seasonal fluctuations, the absence of a typical summer recovery in pork values may be one of the most significant developments emerging from Canada Packers’ latest earnings report. The company reported third-quarter sales of $420.7 million, down 12.7% from the same period in 2025, alongside a net loss of $28.1 million compared with a profit of $25.6 million a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA declined to $31.5 million from a pro forma $56 million in the comparable period, reflecting the effects of broader market compression. The reported net loss also included a $47.6 million non-cash decline in the fair value of biological

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service