A Mapleton family is the winner of a national award for sustainable farming.
Clovermead Farms, owned and operated by the Whale family, won the Dairy Farmers Sustainability Award, sponsored by DeLaval Canada. The award was presented at the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) annual general meeting in Fredericton, New Brunswick on July 16.
Accepting the award, which comes with a $2,000 cash prize, were Korb and Kelly Whale, seventh generation farmers who own the Clovermead operation with Korb’s parents, Bruce and Deborah Whale.
“I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of our entire family,” said Korb Whale.
“We are absolutely committed to continue using technology and techniques to produce food on our farm while improving the world we live in. We have the ambition of working towards a carbon-neutral farm.”
Clovermead Farms’ philosophy is not just to take care of the land, but to improve it. The farm is a living example of what happens when the triple bottom line is considered: environmental responsibility, social equity and financial viability.
“Since its inception in 2011, this award recognizes dairy farmers with innovative sustainable practices that improve the social, environmental and economic impact of dairy farming in Canada,” said DFC president Wally Smith. “We are pleased to take this opportunity to award an Ontario family farm who are striving to protect and improve our environment.”
Andrew Ritchie, managing director with DeLaval Inc. – Canada, said, “Sustainability is an integral part of our dairy industry and DeLaval is committed to help dairy farmers’ efforts in becoming more efficient and profitable with less impact on the environment.
“DeLaval is proud to offer Canadian farmers solutions to optimize efficiencies and sustainability on their farms.’’
The selection committee, consisting of nine sustainability experts, was particularly impressed with the Whales’ efforts in producing electricity, bedding and high quality fertilizer by using an anaerobic digester that turns cow manure into biogas.
Additionally, the family is committed to maintaining at least 10 per cent of their land base as wildlife habitat and forest, with wildlife corridors made of tree rows to connect woodlots and streams.
The three other finalists for the award – Dykstra Farms of Knowlesville, New Brunswick; Ferme Clobert Inc. of Saint-Bonaventure, Quebec; and Bakerview EcoDairy of Abbotsford, British Columbia – will receive a trophy and $1,000 prize during the annual general meetings of their respective provincial dairy organizations.
DFC is the national policy, lobbying and promotional organization that represents Canadian farmers living on 12,529 dairy farms.
