Courtesy Photo
By Yvonne Seeley
AgriNews Contributor
DALKEITH – Ontario Sheep Farmers District 10 hosted the third installment of their Baaaarnside Chats initiative – bringing members together for mutually beneficial knowledge exchange and hands-on learning.
This time, members were welcomed to Kirkview Farm, a local organic regenerative agriculture operation that recently added sheep to their multi-species rotation. The addition of sheep offered a valuable opportunity to observe how these animals are integrated into an already diverse, rotational grazing system.
The day began with a farm tour (because who doesn’t love a farm tour?) followed by an open and candid discussion about the benefits – and challenges – of incorporating sheep into a regenerative operation.
Next, Kurt MacSweyn of DFI Drones gave a live demonstration of frost seeding using the DJI Agras T50 drone, applying a pasture mix from ProRich Seeds. This led into a broader discussion about the growing potential of drone technology in agriculture. From seeding and foliar fertilizing to crop amendments, field monitoring, and even livestock checks, drones are proving to be powerful tools. The technology not only allows for precision applications but also eliminates the need to bring heavy equipment onto the land – helping reduce compaction and allowing earlier access to fields. There are many promising applications for this technology, making it an exciting option for both small and large-scale operations.
Larry Mastine from DLF Pickseed followed with an informative session on forage seed selection for pastures and hayfields, offering valuable insights and answering attendees’ specific questions.
Caylie Corvinelli from the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) was also on hand to discuss upcoming intake periods for rotational grazing grants and other funding opportunities. As a Knowledge Sharing Event (KSE), this session also allowed participants to count their attendance toward their OSCIA program grant project applications.
