Timmins farmer promotes regenerative farming to help with climate change
Raising cattle is new to the Carons in Timmins. They used to grow vegetables and offered a community supported agriculture program, but they said switching to livestock is making it a little bit easier for them at this stage of life and it suits their values better.
“Having growing them in your own yard and feeding the feed we feed them, which is 100 per cent organic feed, we feel like we’ve taken a bigger step in better health," said Lois Caron, co-owner of Hawk Feather Farm.
Her husband John said raising cattle is important on two levels.
"For our own health and nutrition and a solution for climate change," he said.
He added they can sequester a lot of carbon in the pasture grass "through grazing livestock."
John said the regenerative farming practices he employs has to do with building healthy soil, which ensures a bountiful supply of various types of grass in his pastures.
“I move (the cattle) every day so they’re recycling their manure in their area," he said.
"Once I move them out, (the plants) get adequate rest time. I might come back 40 days later or so and the plants are fully regrown."
Something else unique about Hawk Feather Farm is that there is no barn on the property. Caron said the animals are suited for a colder climate and there is ample bush around the property to protect them from the wind.
“They can handle the temperatures as well as moose or caribou can, and they’re still on the land," he said.
"They’re not in a barn and I don’t have to clean out a barn to spread their manure out there."
He added they also practise 'bale grazing.'
"They eat the bale out in the field and whatever’s left acts as compost," said Caron.
Caron said he has never applied synthetic fertilizers to his pastures and he said he's pleased that what he's studied and practised on the farm is working.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.