For Immediate Release
May 16, 2007
Province
Recognizes On-Farm Innovation
Eight Regional Award
Winners Honoured For Their Achievements
MUNSTER -
Local agricultural innovators are the recipients of the first Premier's Award
for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. Northumberland MPP Lou Rinaldi made the presentations
today.
"I am pleased to recognize our local farmers with these awards,"
said Rinaldi. "Their hard work and innovative ideas are what makes our rural
communities strong."
The five-year, $2.5-million Premier's Award for
Agri-Food Innovation Excellence, announced as part of the 2006 provincial budget,
recognizes that farmers have always been innovative in the running of their businesses
and will foster even greater innovation across the province's agri-food sector.
The $100,000 Premier's Award of Excellence for Agri-Food Innovation and
the $50,000 Minister's Award were presented earlier this month at the Premier's
Summit on Agri-Food. The Minister's Award was won by Renfrew County farmers Fritz
and Paul Klaesi.
Each regional winner receives $5,000. Regional winners
presented with their awards today were:
Prescott and Russell County:
Ferme Henrard et Fils
Terryland Farms Inc.
City of Ottawa:
Fitzroy Beef Farmers Co-operative Inc.
Saunders Farm
Leeds and Grenville
County:
New Terra Farm
Renfrew County:
Fritz and Paul Klaesi
Kendu Holsteins
Lanark County:
Fulton's Pancake House and
Sugar Bush
"I am proud of the accomplishments of these
award winners," said Rinaldi. "Recognizing and encouraging innovation
on the farm will help Ontario's agri-food sector get ahead in a challenging marketplace."
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Other McGuinty government initiatives in support of farm
families in rural Ontario include:
Investing in rural communities through
the Rural Economic Development Program. Since October 2003, 94 projects have been
approved with a total provincial commitment of approximately $28.2 million.
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Investing $520 million over 12 years in the Ontario Ethanol
Growth Fund to expand ethanol production and use in Ontario, and to advance Ontario's
research and innovation efforts in alternative renewable fuels.
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Enhancing the educational experience of rural students by providing
specialized programming utilizing community and local resources, a new farming
and rural major within the Specialist High Skills Major, and new rural and agricultural
related cooperative education courses.
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Contacts:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office
(416) 326-6439
Brent Ross
Communications Branch
(416) 326-9342
Backgrounder
Premier's
Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence
The five-year, $2.5-million
Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence, announced as part of the
2006 provincial budget, recognizes that farmers have always been innovative in
the running of their businesses and will foster even greater innovation across
the province's agri-food sector.
Fifty-five regional awards valued at $5,000
each will be presented. The recipients of the Premier's Award, of $100,000, and
the Minister's Award, of $50,000, were selected from the regional winners and
were recognized at the Premier's 2007 Agri-Food Summit.
Individuals
and/or groups representing agri-food businesses and organizations were eligible
to submit applications. The innovation had to have been developed and used on
an Ontario farm, must have the potential for use on a broader basis and for having
a positive effect on the agriculture industry.
Applications were reviewed
by an independent panel comprising a cross-section of Ontario's agri-food industry.
Four broad criteria were used:
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Uniqueness
and originality
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Stage of development
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The impact or benefits of the innovation
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Adoption and/or commercialization.
The following applicants from eastern Ontario received $5,000 regional Premier's
Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence:
Ferme Henrard et Fils
Prescott and Russell County
Disappointed with corn prices, the
Henrard family began investigating the potential of an on-farm digester two-and-a-half
years ago. While this innovation is still in the design stage, Phillipe Henrard
expects to begin construction of the digester in 2007-2008. Following harvest,
the corn will be converted into ethanol and fed into the digester with pig slurry
and recycled restaurant oils. The bio-gas produced by the digester will be used
to fuel a generator to produce heat and electricity.
Fitzroy Beef Farmers Co-operative Inc.
City of Ottawa
When the discovery of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in the Canadian cattle
herd closed export markets for Ontario's producers, a group of Ottawa area farmers
banded together to sell quality, government-inspected frozen beef to consumers
in the local marketplace. The cattle raised by the Fitzroy Beef Farmers' Co-operative
are primarily grass-fed during the summer months, and receive wheat supplements
in the winter. By marketing their beef as a group, all members of the co-op realize
savings.
Fritz and Paul Klaesi*
Renfrew County
Fritz and Paul Klaesi reaped the benefits of putting a lid on things by covering
their manure pit, allowing them to capture the gases that are created. These gases
are fed into a generator and the electricity generated by this small-scale anaerobic
biodigestor powers two homesteads and the farm buildings. Plans for the future
include securing a contract with Hydro One for the purchase of power in excess
of the farm's requirements.
Fulton's Pancake House and Sugar Bush
Lanark County
Fulton's Pancake House and Sugar Bush dramatically
improved its business with the help of a consultant, who showed them how the business
could flourish with a new organizational approach and professional management.
A redesign of the agri-forestry based business integrated all areas of the multi-faceted
operation including maple production, a restaurant and banquet facilities, and
a maple shop. The facility is now a year round business that offers entertainment,
tours, team-building, corporate retreats and more.
Kendu Holsteins
Renfrew County
Andrew Kenny realized there was no sense crying over
spilt water - instead, he built a better water bowl. The dairy farmer developed
a water bowl that is deeper than regular bowls, preventing cows from spilling
water and getting their feed wet. The cows at Kendu Holsteins are unlikely to
go thirsty either - their water bowls have the highest capacity and the highest
flow rate. The end result is less waste due to wet feed and easier-to-clean feed
mangers. Kenny sought feedback from other dairy producers to develop the zero-spill
water bowls, and demonstrates his product at farm shows.
New Terra
Farm
Leeds and Grenville County
New Terra Farm is a small, pesticide
and herbicide-free mixed farm, raising vegetables and meats to market directly
to consumers in the area. Scott Kelland and his family modeled this project after
the Community Supported Agriculture approach. In 2006, 10 families subscribed
to New Terra Farms market garden. For a family of two to four, $850 secures a
basket of farm-fresh produce for the 23 or 24 week growing season, from May 24
to October. The Kellands anticipate subscriptions from as many as 30 families
in 2007. In addition, free-range organic eggs, pork, beef, chicken, lamb and goat
are available throughout the year. New Terra Farm helps keep consumers' food dollars
in their own communities.
Saunders Farm
City of Ottawa
The Saunders Farm is one of Ottawa's leading agri-tourism destinations.
This 100-acre farm was one of the region's first pick-your-own strawberry operations.
In 1991, the owners of the farm developed a new vision for a fall celebration.
Following extensive renovations, including the addition of 11 hedge mazes, a fall
festival was organized. Held every year since, attendance has increased significantly.
In the fifth year, Saunders Farm attracted 15,000 visitors. This past year almost
50,000 visited the farm. The Saunders have expanded their operation to include
hosting corporate functions, school tours and summer tourism.
Terryland
Farms Inc.
Prescott-Russell County
Dairy farms produce more than
milk; they also produce manure. Terryland Farms is turning this by-product into
energy using a methane digester in combination with a small scale bio-diesel system.
Next, owner George Heinzle plans to implement a new conceptual design to move
fully into cold-crushing of oil seed crops on-farm. This will generate energy
and provide a new use for fuel grade canola oil. As well, Heinzle is working to
be the first to sell electricity under the Standard Offer Program which will offer
higher prices for power from renewable sources.
* also winners of the $50,000
Minister's Award, presented at the Premier's 2007 Agri-Food Summit.
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Contacts:
Kelly Synnott
Minister's Office
(416) 326-6439
Brent Ross
Communications Branch
(416) 326-9342