🥚 In the Coop – Cracking into Ontario Ag Week with Egg Farmers of Ontario 🐔

It’s Ontario Agriculture Week! Anneke Donkers-Stickney from Egg Farmers of Ontario to celebrate the egg industry and the farmers who keep Ontario supplied with fresh, local eggs year-round.

She shares how she went about building a new barn, finding the best fit for the birds and her busy life as well as how an early adopter can succeed as the pave the way forward. 

From the importance of connecting with consumers, to fun ways to celebrate Ag Week at home or in your community, this lighthearted conversation reminds us why eggs are a true staple—and why Ontario agriculture matters every day.

🎧 Tune in for a cracking good chat about eggs, farming, and celebrating Ontario’s food and farmers!

🌱 In the Coop – Sustainability in Poultry 🐔

Sustainability is more than just a buzzword—it’s shaping the way Ontario’s poultry sector grows, innovates, and connects with consumers.

In this episode of In the Coop, Tom Lewis and Charlotte Wall welcome Christoph Wand to break down what sustainability really means for poultry production. From defining the term in practical farm-focused language to discussing real-world examples, Christoph shares insights on balancing economics, environment, and animal care, while also building public trust in Ontario-grown food.

🎧 Tune in for a lighthearted but meaningful conversation that explores how poultry farmers can approach sustainability with confidence and clarity.

As summer temperatures rise, so does the pressure on poultry farmers to keep their barns comfortable and their birds thriving. In this hot-topic episode of In the Coop, Tom and Charlotte welcome Luke Groszeibl, Poultry territory manager at Trouw Nutrition and owner operator of Site Solutions, to talk all things ventilation. (Contact information below).

Luke shares practical tips and insights on how to manage airflow, reduce heat stress, and avoid common summertime mistakes in broiler and layer barns. Whether you're troubleshooting fan performance, tweaking inlets, or just trying to beat the humidity, this episode offers real-world advice to keep your flock cool and productive.

Tune in for a breezy conversation full of useful strategies, a few laughs, and a fresh perspective on barn management—just in time for Ontario’s summer heat.

🐔 Listen now to keep your barn—and your birds—ahead of the heatwave!

Looking to speak with Luke directly? Here's how:

In this episode of In the Coop, Charlotte Wall and Tom Lewis sit down with Maggy Watson, the newly appointed General Manager of the Feather Board Command Centre (FBCC). Maggy shares her vision for strengthening Ontario’s poultry biosecurity, how FBCC supports producers during disease outbreaks, and what tools and training are available to help you stay prepared. Learn about Rapid Response Teams, proactive planning, and why staying informed matters more than ever.

For more information and resources, visit www.fbcc.ca.

Local Food Week Special

Just in time for Local Food Week 2025, we’re cracking open an important conversation about how farmers can confidently engage with the public about poultry production. Our guest this week is none other than Janelle Cardiff—Field Operations Manager at Grey Ridge Eggs and Chair of Farm & Food Care Ontario.

Janelle brings her passion for farming, her experience in egg production, and her leadership in public outreach to the coop. We talk about why public trust matters, how to tackle tricky questions from consumers, and simple ways farmers can share their stories—whether it’s at the farmers’ market, on social media, or around the BBQ.

Whether you're a seasoned producer or new to public engagement, this episode is full of practical insights and encouragement to help you be part of the bigger conversation about Ontario-grown food.

To learn more about Farm & Food Care Ontario, there resources and more; checkout their website! farmfoodcareon.org

Show your support, and story during Local Food Week 2025. Tag your posts with #loveONfood

To help you on your way to show your love for Ontario you can download posts from Farm & Food Care Ontario here: farmfoodcareon.org/download/local-food-week-2025

🐔💻 Poultry farming meets artificial intelligence! 🎧 Listen now and see what’s possible.

In this episode, I sat down with David Speller from @OptiFarm to talk about how artificial intelligence is already changing barns around the world — and what it could mean for your farm.

We discuss how to get started, and what it can actually do for you. After this you will not only know more about aritifical intelligence, you will understand how it can integrate to make you great!

Better bird health, faster decisions, more efficiency... the future is here. 🔥

Do you still want more? To find more information about OptiFarm, and their solutions with artificial intelligence powered precisions for every step of the supply chain - check out this link: https://optifarm.co.uk/our-ai-solution/

In this episode we will explore poultry manure insights with Christine Brown. She is the Sustainability Specialist – Field Crops, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA). We will discuss what makes poultry manure unique, and the strategies that will sult in the best use as well as profitability of your nutrients. 

You may want to check out the Nutrient Management Act (2002), as well as the AgriSuite to help calculate the value of your black gold!

Manure Monday webinars are posted online by Field Crop News. There is one that directly addresses poultry, and could be a great place to start with their series. You can check it out on YouTube with this link: https://youtu.be/iiDSh0nxzCM?si=dTXBzdztkdInYq6k

We hope you enjoy this podcast!

In this epsidoe we will discuss the methods of deadstock management. Key themes will include the importancce of proper deadstock management, common deadstock disposal methods, and biosecurity best practices. Guest speakers include Al Dam, and Dan Ward from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. Al is the Provincial Poultry Specialist, and Dan is the Agricultural Engineer.  They will discuss the methods, and techniques of each method, as well as what you might need to be prepared to manage if you are choosing to invest in  a particular method. They will use their years of experince, and knowledge of the regulations to help you understand the pros and cons to options for your management of deadstock. Please feel free to check out the regulations for your self here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/deadstock-management-farm-animals-ontario

Tom Lewis and Charlotte Wall interview Michelle deNijs, from the Canadian Mental Health Association

The agricultural community plays a vital role in ensuring Ontario has a healthy economy and local food security – supporting the well-being of all Ontarians. Their programs are tailored specifically for the Ontario agricultural community to provide for their well-being as well. 

Listen to their podcast to find out how you can access resources, and support your community. 

For more details check out their website: agriculturewellnessontario.ca

To speak with Michelle, feel free to contact her at: [email protected] 

In this episode of In the Coop, we will talk about the business that keeps the operation moving! Farm Management Canada's Executive Director; Heather Watson, will share her experience and expertise. How Farm Management Canada has grown to support Canadian agriculture navigating challenges with resources and programs. The conversation will focus on collaboration, the future of farming and feature an annual event celebrating family farms. Farm transition appreciation day helps families begin the new year with a united plan and shared goals. We hope you enjoy this episode.