• 2nd- Animal Care: Josef Theiler of Winchester combined a robotic sweeper arm with his automated feeding system, allowing Josef to more easily provide feed to all the animals in his barn. Josef has had no maintenance issues with his system since it was installed August, 2014 and it sweeps feed to the cows six times each and every day.
• 3rd- Animal Care: Maaike Campbell of Warwick Township utilized bait stations inside hollow doors to safely control rodent populations in the barn. The solution means the pigs are not at risk because the poison is not accessible and cleaning up the remains is also simple. It is a very low cost and low effort system that has provided Maaike with peace of mind.
• 1st- Water Use: Tom Brayford and the Innisfill Creek Water Users Association in Alliston have created a community group focused on solving water use issues on farms and golf courses. By working with the community and local farmers, the association acts as a contact regarding water and nutrient issues for the creek and provides awareness about best management practices (BMPs) that address water quality and environmental issues.
“It has been very gratifying to be recognized for our efforts. The money awarded to us will be gladly used to fund future endeavours as the ICWUA tries to meet irrigation challenges now and down the road.” – Tom Brayford, Vice Chair, Innisfil Creek Water Users’ Association.
•2nd- Water Use: Andrew and Julie Dawson of Lanark introduced a portable watering system for their cattle in order to accommodate a rotational grazing system. The rotational grazing system improves efficiency on the farm, allowing each paddock to be grazed and grow back more quickly, maximizing forage intake and encouraging regeneration. This solution is an ecological one because the portable watering system prevents cattle from polluting streams or other water courses while drinking. Its portability also prevents cattle from continuously trampling one specific area near the water source.
Source: Farmfoodcare