Sunday 28 July 2013

Quebec’s Sylvain Laquerre Farm Wins the Dairy Farm Sustainability Award

I take a lot of Daycation photos. I happen to have several of Ontario farms!

Here is a great story about Canadian farmers-
From their publicist...
Too often farmers get a bad rap from environmentalists. They are blamed for runoff water contamination and increasing carbon emissions. But many of today's farmers have become some of Canada's leading sustainability activists and experts.
Farmers Feed Cities

 This year's winner of the Dairy Farm Sustainability Award, Sylvain Laquerre and his family have
farmed their land for over 200 years. Given this connection to their land they have recognized the importance of creating sustainable business practices to ensure their family farm is around for hundreds of years to come. For instance, instead of tilling, which is a timely process that can damage the soil; Sylvain took his farming back to basics and uses worms. Sylvain's worms do in one winter, what would take a tiller almost 5 years to do.


They are also conscious of the watershed and have taken a leadership role in their community to preserve and clean up local waterways. These types of practices not only sustain the farm and save the environment, but they also save money which makes for a more profitable business.

Toronto, July 24, 2013 – Today, Sylvain Laquerre, Noëlline Dusablon and their son Benoit accepted the Dairy Farm Sustainability Award from Wally Smith, President of the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) and Andrew Ritchie, Managing Director, DeLaval Inc.- DeLaval. This year, these sixth- and seventh-generation farmers are celebrating the 200th anniversary of their family farm in Saint-Casimir (Quebec).

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

Prairie farm, 2007
The selection committee, consisting of nine sustainability expertswas particularly impressed with the winners’ efforts in protecting the watershed and with their involvement in habitat conservation projects and their contribution to the advancement of new practices. The Sylvain Laquerre farm adopted these practices with the aim of reducing their environmental footprint.

The other two finalists, namely Terryland Farms Inc. (Ontario) and Rimrose Dairy Ltd. (Alberta), will also receive a trophy and a $1,000 prize during the annual general meeting of their respective provinces within the next few months.

For more information:
Thérèse Beaulieu
Assistant Director, Strategic Communications
Dairy Farmers of Canada

8 comments:

Kay L. Davies said...

I love your headline, Jenn, a true Canadian country style headline! LOL
Nice to see an Albertan farmer as second runner-up, in a province known for oil wells and gas guzzling.
Just noticed the tadpole alert in your sidebar. Hope that (a) it survives and (b) you provide tadpole updates, along with Jeremiah updates. (Are they in the same pond? Are you sure Jeremiah is a boy bullfrog?)
Luv, K

Unknown said...

.

Unknown said...

"Saturday. 4 August 2012
Back off government, but send money!

With the drought in Ontario, farmers are lining up for handouts from governments. Isn't it ironic?
Especially in south eastern Ontario, the Back Off Government capital of Ontario!"

...so, are farmers hypocrites or "some of Canada's leading sustainability activists and experts."???

Jenn Jilks said...

Our local farmers are fabulous. You are entitled to getting government support. Farmers feed cities. I respect that. You misunderstand.

This press release is a great way to show that landowners can work with environmentalists, and the government to protect our world. The shrill messages of the Lanark Landowners Association (LLA), which includes those who exploit our trees and wildlife, can be off-putting to tourists. Those of us who want flora and fauna protected are entitled to our opinions.

The LLA is a scary lobby group. The LLA should understand that farmers depend upon customers, too. Their Back Off Government signs are a bad sign.
Hillier (who founded the LLA) has left a long legacy of breaking the law, ignoring the normal channels of working with the government.

Lanark Landowner Association president faces mutiny
" Lanark Landowners Association regroups for another onslaught"
Even the language of the LLA is frightening: battles, war.

We shop locally and support your store all the time.
I'm surprised that you cannot differentiate between politics, policy, legislation and personal attacks.

Jenn Jilks said...

Kay, Jeremiah is now Geraldine!
I checked in with a reptile expert group.
The tadpole is down in the frog pond, which is drying up, as a vernal pool, rather quickly.

Jenn Jilks said...

I'm often shocked with the number of people who are content to anonymously attack people on the Internet.
I was brought up to discuss issues, not attack people.
That said, I thought it worth it to explain my position on the LLA. It is a worthy discourse.

Unknown said...

For the record, I do not own a store and I'm not sure what you're referring to.

Unknown said...

Just read your other comments....attack people? I was looking for clarity over somewhat polarised postings, oh and I'm not a farmer either. Thanks for the opportunity to discuss this matter.