Flock Talk

Mira Lyonblum shares some of her background on how she came to be the executive director of AgScape, what AgScape is, what they do, the current state of agriculture education in schools. Mira also talks about the importance of agriculture and education, building trust with public plus much more! To learn more about AgScape and visit https://agscape.ca

This week Erin and new co-host, Jordan Sloggett interview Martin Gooch of Value Chain Management International to talk about Sheep Grading. Martin talks about progress toward adopting and standardizing sheep grading in the industry, its importance and what yield means to each part of the value chain plus where to learn more. As always, stick around to the very end to hear what's new over at OS...

Dr. Angela Canovas is a Professor and OAC Research Chair in Phenomics and Systems Biology, Distinguished Professor of Excellence in Research Beef Cattle and Small Ruminants Genomics with the University of Guelph. Dr Canovas shares an overview of her education and experience that lead her to her current career. She also breaks down the difference between genetics and genomics, her current projects,...

Sheep farmer and author Barbara McLean talks about her new book, Shepherd’s Sight: A Farming Life which is a memoir and autobiography of a year in the life after 50 years on her farm. Barbara also describes her writing process, inspiration, taking a photo every day and much more! Purchase Shepherd’s Sight: A Farming Life by Barbara McLean Here: https://ecwpress.com/products/shepherds-sight Purchas...

In this educational episode Don Matheral shares how he got started over 30 years ago and gives producers advice on where to find a shearer, when to shear and how a producer should prepare for shearing plus so much more!  For more OSF content, follow us on Social Media Instagram & Facebook: @OntarioSheepFarmers X (formerly Twitter): @OntarioSheep and Visit our Website:  ⁠⁠Ontariosheep.org⁠

Tom & Erin chat with Mark & Chris Ferraro from Brussels Livestock and Ontario Stockyards in Cookstown to discuss their family livestock auctioning business. They share the benefits of buying and selling through auction, best times to sell to maximize profits, future opportunities for lamb producers and much much more! Tune in to get the full scoop as this father/son due share a wealth of i...

We welcome the new Member Relations Coordinator, Heather Johnson who shares how she transitioned into her new role at OSF, some opportunities to increase member engagement and her key areas of focus in support of OSF district committees. Heather also reminds all members to fill out the survey that Heather had e-mailed to members and much more!

On this week's educational episode we interview Kelly Daynard of Farm and Food Care Ontario. Kelly discusses the general perceptions of farming in Ontario and building the public’s trust in agriculture. Kelly also shares some of the projects Farm and Food Care Ontario is working on and much more! As always, be sure to stick around until the end to hear what’s new at OSF.

Erin & Tom chat with Linc Farm operator Juliet Orazetti who previously ran a sheep grazing business within a vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario before moving the business to Nova Scotia. Juliet shares her experience getting started, why she chose a direct-to-consumer sales model and the importance of relationships with processors, social media and e-mail marketing.  Juliet also discuss...

This week we are discussing research with Dr. Cathy Bauman with the University of Guelph and the Ontario Veterinary College. Dr. Bauman goes in depth on the clinical trial for the Ovipast Plus Vaccine, how it was structured and the results of the trial plus much more! For more OSF content, follow us on Social Media Instagram & Facebook: @OntarioSheepFarmers X (formerly Twitter): @OntarioSheep...

Erin & Tom interview Patrick Gossage with First Green Energy & chair of Agrivolaics Canada. He discusses his background in renewable energy, breaks down the concept of agrivoltaics and its benefits, as well as his involvement in the non-profit organization Agrivoltaics Canada. Patrick also talks about the opportunities and support for solar power in Ontario and much much more! Be sure to s...

Ted Skinner is the 5th generation producer on his farm and the 3rd Generation to represent Ontario at the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association. He gives us some history of his background and shares his experiences importing frozen embryos to Ontario to produce Charollais sheep and expanding his flock with Rideau Arcott sheep. Ted is also the recipient of the Outstanding Shepard Award and gives us t...

On this week's marketing episode, Erin & Tom interview Matthew Rowe with the Canadian Campaign for Wool. Matthew talks about the origins of the organization and some of the progress they've achieved thus far plus what's currently in the works. Matthew also sets the record straight on whether or not Canadian Wool is high quality and much, much more! As always, be sure to stick aroun...

For this week's research episode, Erin & Tom interview Charlotte Winder, DVM, DVSc, Associate Professor, Population Medicine. She discusses her role at the Ontario Veterinary College, her work in pain management in small ruminants and talks about some of the clinical teaching opportunities and exposure that vets receive in their training. She also shares her plans for the failure of passiv...

This week Erin & Tom talk with Colin Yates about his company VetsOn and their advanced AI-powered virtual healthcare app that helps veterinarians provide optimal care to their farm clients, all while ensuring reliable and traceable records of their interactions. Listen to this episode to learn more.

In this educational episode, Kim Schneider of 4S Maple Lane Farm shares her practices in improving meat quality, including their breeding program and the incorporation of loin scanning on the farm. Kim also discusses the cost benefits of loin scanning and much much more! Stick around to the end because Erin & Tom will be sharing some updates at OSF! Make sure to subscribe on your podcast platf...

Romy Schill of Revolution Wool Company talks about how her and her family got into making wool products, tips for producers who want to make their own wool, the company's marketing strategy and much more! Don't miss this episode and check out their website: https://revolutionwoolco.com/

For this research episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Bassim Abbassi PhD., P.Eng. regarding the Comprehensive Life Cycle Environmental and Economic Assessment of Ontario's Sheep Industry Project. He discusses the main objective of this project and his findings plus much more. Enjoy!

From pattern to pasture, predation to parasites, Grand Valley farmer Bill McCutcheon goes in depth about his grazing operation offering decades of experience.

This week, the topic is Education! We had Courtney Vriens from Vriens Nutritional Consulting in-studio for an informative conversation. Courtney specializes in dairy and commercial sheep nutrition and discusses different nutritional requirements, dietary options, and gives some advice to anyone starting out in production.

For this Marketing episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Jay Akras of Ovino Sheep Farm Dairy based in Acton, Ontario. Jay discusses how he and the company got started in sheep dairy, some challenges he's faced along the way and future market growth opportunities. To learn more visit the Ovino website https://ovino.ca

This week the topic is research, and we will be interviewing Dr. Emma Borkowski, a researcher ​and assistant professor at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Dr. ​​Borkowski’s research interests include Veterinary parasitology, particularly parasites of ​​livestock, immune responses to ​parasites andsustainable parasite control.

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