Field Day visitors taking part in the various information modules at the recent Farmer/Feeders Cattle and Crops Field Day held at RJM Cattle near Elmira.

In continuing to expand on the theme of Ontario’s Farmer/Feeder production model, OMAFRA and Ontario Corn Fed Beef held a Field Day near Elmira ON at RJM Cattle – Randy and Justin Martin and families on September 7th, 2023.

We had an excellent turnout of over 100 producers participating in the six information modules listed below. The format allowed 30 minutes per module which resulted in lots of good information and an opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions with the smaller groups at each module.

The Field Day complimented our “Sustainably Raised “Ontario Corn Fed Beef initiative with our producers being Farmer/Feeders operators in Ontario. The production model of “Circular Agriculture” includes “Continuous Improvement” portrayed as growing crops, producing cattle/beef, animal health, responsible nutrient stewardship, soil health, cover-crops and returning back to the cycle’s beginning. Producers are continually adopting new ideas and technology into there operations and this is good news story of them improving efficiencies and being caretakers of their families, communities, land and livestock.

This concept of describing sustainable beef production resonates very well with the consumer and provides an excellent story the consumer can follow through its cycle and relate too as they travel around the Ontario’s rural countryside.

We certainly appreciate the six local equipment dealers support in taking part in our field day by showcasing the following equipment and products: Husky Farm Equipment – liquid spreader with dribble bar and injector, Tube – Line Manufacturing & ESM Farm Equipment – solid manure spreader with vertical spread pattern and New Holland tractor, Equipment Ontario –Case IH tractors, vertical tillage and specialized zone tillage units, Premier Equipment – John Deere tractor and vertical tillage unit, Roberts Farm Equipment – New Holland tractors and vertical tillage units and Ploughman’s Choice Compost – soil amendment manure compost.

Morning Schedule

  1. Jake Munroe – OMAFRA Soil Management Specialist & Christoph Wand – OMAFRA Livestock Sustainability Specialist – Cover Crops & Annual Forages
  2. Ben Rosser – OMAFRA Corn Specialist – Corn Agronomy
  3. Megan Van Schaik – OMAFRA Beef Specialist & Brent Cavell OCFB -Bunk Management, Cattle Behaviour, Records Importance and Benchmarking

Lunch – Thank you to the Jones Feed Mill Beef Team for providing their BBQ expertise and assistance with the meal!

Afternoon Schedule

  1. Doug Helm – Syngenta Enogen Corn & Colin Cavell and Brad Lindner – IGPC Feeds – New Corn Varieties Improving Feed Efficiency and Corn Derivative Co-Product Feed Ingredient Updates
  2. Christine Brown – OMAFRA & Lois Sinclair – OSCIA Manure Utilization & Incentive Cost -Share Programs
  3. Nicole Penney – FS Partners Precision Ag -4Rs of Nutrient Stewardship, Demonstration of Precision Ag.

Note; Full articles from each module are listed below. Click each link to open a PDF.

OCFB plan to continue the Cattle and Crops Field Day as an annual event and collaborate collectively with OMAFRA to present timely information for our producer’s benefit.

Thanks again for your support with attending our 2023 Field Day!