Farmers given update on district ag initiative

About 20 district farmers gathered at Emo Legion last Wednesday to join ag co-ordinator Jeannette Cawston for soup and sandwiches while getting an update on the Rainy River Future Development Corp.’s ag initiative program.
“We have just finished the second year of our two-year program, but it has been extended to December,” Cawston explained.

“After that, I will be working on business retention and the like, and the RRFDC will be applying to FedNor for another three years,” she added.
The program is designed to expand producer opportunities in all aspects of the agriculture industry, with a focus on promoting local food awareness for the producer and the consumer.
Among other things, Cawston actively has been working on bringing new farmers to the district, recruiting a large animal veterinarian, conducting switch grass and reed canary grass trials for the biomass boiler, developing a land inventory, and promoting and co-ordinating local food events and local food distribution through the food box programs, farmers’ markets, and trade shows.
She has booked a row of four booths at the Emo Fair this August to promote and sell food products from the district.
Cawston also recently was involved in investigating the feasibility of a pelletizing plant.
“We will be looking for a unit that can be as flexible as possible once the committee receives the funding to start,” she explained, noting there will be a demonstration of a portable pelletizing plant at the Saw Tech Expo coming to the Memorial Sports Centre in Fort Frances on June 12-13.
The plant they have in mind will be flexible and could make pellets for the biomass boiler, as well as for animal feed and woodstoves.
Cawston noted the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market will be running the canteen at the upcoming Saw Tech Expo and will be offering local fare.
As well, there will be two local food events again this year: an evening meal during the open house at the Emo Agricultural Research Station on July 29 and the annual Harvest Dinner to be held in Emo.
Cawston is seeing local food awareness expanding. There currently are eight district food producers attending farmers’ markets throughout Northwestern Ontario and 16 producers contributing to the food boxes.
She noted anyone interested in selling to the food boxes should contact CVFM manager Carley McCormick. Food box organizers are willing to purchase small lots from a number of producers to make up a full order.
Cawston recently returned from Denver, Colo., where she took in a conference of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, and she was, as ever, full of new ideas—like the “10% Shift,” where consumers are made aware of the positive economic impact of buying 10 percent local.
Also last Wednesday, local ag intern Jeff Hyatt briefly explained some of his work for the Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association.
Hyatt has been working on pre-sort and vaccine protocols to help producers get a higher premium for their calves, noting producers received a 19 cent/pound premium in one example.
Hyatt also developed the ‘Rainy River Raised’ logo, which will be used to promote live cattle, beef, and other products from the district.
Cawston later introduced new RRFDC intern Trevor Bonot. He is planning to continue his studies to become an audiologist but after 20 years of continuous formal education, he felt it was time for a break.
EARS summer students Shannon Darby and Jarrod McQuaker, both back for their second year, were on hand.
One farmer commented it was refreshing to see such a large percentage of young people attending.
“It bodes well for our future,” she remarked.