A Durham farm tour brought more than 120 participants to West Port Dairy to examine technology, succession planning and the future of local agriculture.
The Durham Agricultural Advisory Committee held its 24th annual tour on September 17. This year’s theme was “future focused farming in Durham Region.”
Robotic barn and calf care featured
Participants toured the robotic dairy barn and learned about daily operations. Presentations covered calf raising, farm succession planning and social media’s role in connecting producers with consumers.
The Region said the topics demonstrate how family farms combine long-term planning with new technology.
Agriculture remains a major industry
Durham Region reports the area is home to about 1,200 farms covering 264,518 acres. Local agriculture contributes more than 350 million dollars to Ontario’s farm production.
Since 2003, the advisory committee has showcased more than 40 farms and agricultural facilities to over 1,600 participants.
