Chef, author and entrepreneur, James Whetlor founded Cabrito Goat after keeping a few goats to solve a land management problem. Being a successful chef, a few of the goats ended up on the menu. After goat outsold beef the first week (still don’t believe it), James thought perhaps there was a larger market for kid goat meat and it turns out there was. We go deep into the history of why goat meat is considered the poor man’s food and Wendell commits to trying something new. www.cabrito.co.uk
Dec 06, 2018•50 min
Author Harold Rudy has documented 30 years of soil conservation in his book “The Soil Fixers: Land Stewards Committed to the Cause”. From the days when OMAFRA was just OMAF to the pioneers of no-till to the 4 R’s of soil health. As the former Senior Manager with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), his passion for Ontario Agriculture makes this a must read and a great gift idea for the farmer (or non-farmer) on your Christmas list. www.thesoilfixers.com
Nov 29, 2018•31 min
Jenn Doelman is a grain farmer in the Ottawa Valley, but corn and soybeans barely crack the top three on the list of her favorite crops. She is canola’s biggest cheerleader, but likes wheat pretty good also. Bringing leadership home to the farm and giving back to the industry. Please don’t refer to Jenn as a female farmer; just farmer is fine.
Nov 22, 2018•40 min
It’s cannabis, not marijuana and it’s now legal in Canada. Sarah Miner, quality assurance manager at Natural Med Co. gets some funny looks (or smells) picking up kids at daycare. If you work on a pig farm, you smell like pigs; when you work in a cannabis farm…. This female focused company is removing the stigma around weed, while generating green for shareholders. www.evecannabis.ca
Nov 15, 2018•31 min
I believe a cold glass of milk is just about the best drink there is. So, it makes sense that if you want to make superior spirits, you start with high quality, Canadian dairy. Omid McDonald is the founder of Dairy Distillery where they make Vodcow, dairy based alcohol. Listen to the end to find out how to get your free samples. (disclaimer – there are not actually any free samples) www.dairydistillery.com
Nov 08, 2018•29 min
What do the Canadian telecom and grain industries have in common? They can both be a roller coaster of ups and downs and both have benefited from Victoria Berry’s passion for telling their stories. As the new Manager, Communications with Grain Farmers of Ontario, she has embraced the farming community as her own. www.gfo.ca www.goodineverygrain.ca
Oct 25, 2018•34 min
Andrea De Groot traded in a ruthless banker gig to head up the Ontario Pork Industry Council (OPIC) to help pork producers navigate the issues in the swine business. Sometime work/life balance is as simple as saying no and giving yourself permission to not bake cookies. Also, find out what sport is more Canadian than hockey. Hint - it's like hockey, only nicer. www.opic.on.ca/
Oct 17, 2018•32 min
What would possess a hospital IT expert to start raising rare ducks and geese? Apricot Valley Waterfowl is not your typical poultry farm. In fact, one of Colin Davis' goals is to be the exact opposite of a conventional farm. At the end of the day preservation farming still has to pay the bills to be sustainable. www.apricotvalleywaterfowl.com/
Oct 11, 2018•33 min
Succession planning is what you do when you want to overthrow the king. Why Transition Planning is the better way to frame a difficult conversation. This and other great advice from Farm Family coach Elaine Froese. www.farmfamilycoach.com www.elainefroese.com
Oct 03, 2018•35 min
Making that white, liquid gold in the Pacific Northwest, Dwayne is a firm believer in free-market capitalism. He also believes that it's possible to disagree with your neighbours and still be friends. Supply management, fair trade practices and the global dairy market.
Sep 26, 2018•50 min
Manitoulin Island is the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world. It also boasts the largest island in a freshwater lake that’s on an island in a freshwater lake anywhere in the world…. John McNaughton has to deal with rocks, trees, surprising predators and parts runs that involve a 45 minute ferry ride, but this BMO Farm Family of the Year recipient wouldn’t trade it for all the land in Perth County. www.plowingmatch.org/about-us/bmo-farm-family-awards/2018-bmo-farm-family-awards www.f...
Sep 20, 2018•25 min
Sometimes to be successful you need a little luck. Niche markets, why Canada is an export powerhouse and what me and Stewart really think of Americans when no one is listening.
Sep 13, 2018•34 min
Find out who John Greig thinks are the biggest hacks in Ag Media today. Also - how click bait has hurt the credibility of journalists.... As the Editor of the new Farmtario publication, John is utilizing on-line and traditional print media in a whole new way. www.farmtario.com
Sep 05, 2018•29 min
Three years ago, Dylan Sher didn’t know anything about farming and even less about film making. You might be surprised to learn that he has recently wrapped his first full length movie ABOUT farming! Next time you sit down at a fancy restaurant, consider all the steps in the food chain BEFORE THE PLATE. www.beforetheplate.com
Aug 23, 2018•28 min
Sheldon Creek Dairy is one of the first 3 farms in Ontario licensed to sell their own milk to consumers directly from their farm. The whole milk is sold in traditional glass bottles with a plug of cream on top. Sisters Emily and Marianne are involved in the business, but only one of them calls herself a farmer. Emily and Marianne Den Haan give new meaning to “sibling rivalry”…. In the best possible way. www.sheldoncreekdairy.ca
Aug 16, 2018•35 min
Holly McGill on finding your passion in agriculture, the importance of community and the lost art of sucking up to your boss.
Aug 08, 2018•30 min
As young people get more and more removed from where food comes from, Dennis Watson is doing his part to keep agriculture in the classroom. Despite rural school closures, the future for the Bluewater District School Board's - Agriculture Specialist High Skills Major program is bright. Hats off to dedicated teachers shaping young minds. @CDCSAg
Jul 04, 2018•34 min
The Canadian Dairy Industry is made up of hard working farm families and there is no better example than the Schuurmans who operate Milky Wave Inc. from Elmira, Ontario. Jim, Tom and Eric are holding down the fort at home this summer and you can find Henk and Bettina, along with Maple the Cow, somewhere between Elmira and BC. Follow along on: Twitter: @CdnMilkTour Facebook: Milky Wave Inc
Jun 27, 2018•29 min
What do you do when you find yourself on the wrong side of a power struggle at the farmers market? Well, if you’re Erin McLean, you stick to your guns and trust that your customers support you. You couldn’t write this kind of drama – sometimes doing what you believe is right can test your nerve. @mcleanberryfarm
Jun 21, 2018•36 min
The Ontario Pork Congress is a celebration of the industry that gives us bacon! Chris Crump is this year’s OPC President and has spent 35 years probing, measuring and testing pigs all in pursuit of a better pork chop. I approve. https://www.porkcongress.on.ca/
Jun 14, 2018•31 min
When talking to consumers about ag, be prepared to answer two questions: Who Cares and So What? Owen Roberts is the Urban Cowboy and he has turned story telling into a science. Literally.
Jun 07, 2018•30 min
Karen Dallimore has a serious addiction…. To horses. Whether it’s writing about horses, competing in extreme cowboy racing, being a horse midwife or equine personality classification, we cover it all. Also, some fun horse trivia – what part of a horse’s anatomy is the largest of any land mammal? You’ll have to listen all the way to the end to find out.
May 31, 2018•29 min
Larry Miller, Member of Parliament for Bruce, Grey, Owen Sound, will proudly tell you that his Federal Riding boasts the second largest number of cattle in Canada. What would it take to make someone trade their overalls for a suit and tie to fight for agriculture as a career politician? We may use expressions such as "Keen as a cut cat" and "an Arse as wide as two axe handles" Check out The Larry and Darlene Miller Agricultural Bursary http://www.payforschoolgreybruce.com/listing/larry-darlene-m...
May 24, 2018•36 min
Autism Awareness is a cause close to Brianne Brown’s heart. She shares why having a special needs child is a blessing for the whole family. If you’re interested in International perspectives on the Future of Farming, you can catch Brianne on this panel at the Arrell Food Summit. Finally, we find out if this 6th generation dairy farmer could only milk one breed of cows for the rest of her life, is it Holsteins or Jerseys…. https://arrellfoodinstitute.ca/food-summit/ https://ontarioautismcoalition...
May 17, 2018•32 min
My guest this week is Ashely (Captain) Knapton. She loves agriculture and wants to try ALL the jobs before she eventually realizes her dream and takes over her family’s dairy farm.
May 10, 2018•32 min
How would you like a pig farm 10 minutes from Ontario’s hottest summer beach destination? Most farmers hate fighting cottage traffic, but Teresa Van Ray and her family are firm believers in “If you can’t beat em, join em.” Their on-farm store, The Whole Pig, sparks some interesting conversations with their customers and adding 30 acres of garlic to their operation leads to some fairly obvious honey, garlic ribs jokes. Well, obvious to Wendell… www.thewholepig.ca
Apr 26, 2018•39 min
Farming in the UK sounds a lot like farming in Canada, but with a better accent. We talk about tenancy, subsidy and agvocacy. See what I did there? In the Social Jungle, Simon Haley is Tarzan. You should be following these accounts he started: @FarmersOfTheUK @FarmersOfTheWorld @AgriChatUK
Apr 19, 2018•41 min
Who would want to live in downtown Toronto, not own a car and choose almond milk over dairy? I learned a lot from 21 year old, urban planner, Kiana Simmons, but some of what she shared challenged point of view. If you want to know what an urban millennial thinks about food and farming you will want to listen to this.
Apr 10, 2018•47 min
Dr. Jude Capper is a passionate supporter of the dairy industry both in her native UK and around the word. With a PHD in Ruminant Nutrition, she is something of an expert in dairy production, however that doesn’t stop on-line trolls from vegansplaining to her why dairy is bad. They have gone so far as to suggest that the reason she got breast cancer at 26 years of age is karma from eating meat and dairy. If she can keep her cool on Twitter, anyone can. We talk about her #Februdairy campaign. Als...
Apr 05, 2018•31 min
What happens when you return from a successful off farm job to the family and things go badly? Robert Larmer talks about his passion for silage, struggling through stray voltage issues and the mental toll it took. He’s also got stones – curling stones and has competed against Olympic champions.
Mar 29, 2018•30 min
