An Annan area Husband and wife farming team are truly outstanding in their field.
They have been awarded the 2009 Ontario Pasture Award handed out by the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association and the Ontario Forage Council.
Ken and Rosemary Mitchell have 120 cow calf pairs on pasture and they finish their own calves in their own feed lot.
Mitchell says they won the award for their installation of portable watering systems on their farm.
Mitchell says permitting the cattle to remain in the pasture for longer periods of time helps promote more efficient weight gain and better manure management which in turn improves the pasture.
In addition he says they also do frost seeding every second year during the winter months to help thicken up the pastures and rotational grazing to protect the health of the grass.
He says the rotational grazing results in the cattle putting more pounds per acre because this gives the grass time to rest and recharge its nutrients.
The Ontario pasture award recognizes on farm innovation, environmentalism and superior pasture management.
In addition to bragging rights, the Mitchell’s also won 750 dollars and a bag of forage seed.