Farm of the Year

Judges were farmers Robert MacLeod and Bonar Morton, and Gerry Chevrier of the Department of Agriculture in Fredericton while sponsor for the awards was Pioneer Seed.

Each of the farms named as Farm of the Year by the five individual associations across New Brunswick were judged on a number of criteria including environmental issues, nutrient management, soil and crop condition during the current year, soil and crop management, leadership in crop technology and new varieties, record keeping and planning system as well as Soil & Crop participation.

2008 Farm of the Year Cowassaget Brook Farms is managed by Fraser & Helen McCallum and is located in the Tabusintac River and Cowassaget Brook area. Cowassaget Brook Farms manages a total of 230 acres. They produce forages, barley, strawberries, raspberries, and sweet corn and graze 60 acres rotationally with a Simmental herd. They also operate a floral green house. Fraser regularly uses the Soil & Crop notill seeder to invigorate his pastures. A willow riparian and fencing project is onsite and clearly showing benefits to the stream. Although they have been managing their grazing with rotations for a number of years, a more intensive plan is being utilized this year to get full value from the pastures and maximize the grazing period. Water conservation measures are in place with the biennial raspberry plantings utilizing drip irrigation. The strawberries are also irrigated.

Fraser has held the positions of President and Treasurer for Miramichi Soil & Crop. He was President of New Brunswick Soil & Crop for 2 years. Fraser currently serves on the Soil Conservation Council of Canada. In addition to many hours on the farm,

Helen is involved with the Tabusintac Country Market, selling fresh produce, flowers and meat there weekly in the summer. The teenage children are also actively involved in the farm operation. Through out the summer strawberries and raspberries are sold U pick and already picked from the farm and the market. Sweet corn is also available. Cowassaget Farms has a Certified Environmental Farm Plan and is a member of the North Shore Agri-Conservation Club.