“This is a significant investment by Maizex that not only supports the ability of our seed business to meet the needs of farm customers into the future but also represents a commitment to Canadian- grown seed corn for Canadian farmers,” said Casper Kaastra, chief executive officer, Sollio Agriculture.

“Maizex has always used a unique approach to seed corn processing to ensure product quality. This new facility will emulate the single storey flow-through design of our Tilbury facility but with additional automation and capabilities,” said Blake Ashton, general manager, Maizex Seeds.

He credits the Tilbury plant design to company founders Dave and Brenda Baute.

“They had a vision of how a seed corn plant could be more efficient with a focus on seed quality as the underlying criteria to the plant design.”

Kaastra said the $8.8 million investment is “an important part of our business strategy. When we initially partnered with Dave and Brenda Baute in Maizex Seeds, the goal was to build a national seed business with the capabilities to offer a best-in-class product line to farmers. Our commitment to being a Canadian company owned by farmers and focused on offering products that are adapted to our unique Canadian environment, continues to drive our growth.”

Maizex Seeds produces seed corn hybrids in the Chatham-Kent and surrounding region of Ontario. This area is unique in the world given a long frost-free growing season and consistent moisture patterns driven by a location between the Great Lakes. Ashton said this environment provides the ability to produce high-quality seed corn hybrids for all Canadian farmers in every maturity range and regional specifics across the country.

“We are truly fortunate to grow seed corn in one of the best seed corn production areas in the world. This investment confirms our savoir-faire and expertise, and our desire to support our customers, the profitability of their farms, and our commercial growth for the future,” said Ashton.

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MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company in Bath earned the top prize in the New Farm Enterprise category, ahead of the other finalist, Matt & John McRae of Alvinston.

 Luymes Farms & Custom Farming in Moorefield earned the top prize in the Farm Succession category.

Sollio Agriculture, the agribusiness division of Sollio Cooperative, said in a release the Sollio Next Generation Award is the only recognition of its kind for Canadian agricultural businesses. For the second year in a row, the contest included a category for clients of The Agromart Group, a Sollio Agriculture partner network in Eastern Canada.

“The Sollio Next Generation Award plays an important role not only by recognizing entrepreneurs who have successfully managed a farm succession or started a new farm enterprise, but also by highlighting innovative farming practices from across Canada,” said Casper Kaastra, chief executive officer of Sollio Agriculture.

“When farmers share their best practices and inspiring stories, everybody wins,” he said.

About the winners:

MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company (Bath)

MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company produces its own beer using malted barley and hops from the MacKinnon family farm, which has been in operation since 1784. The brothers behind the brewery, Ivan and Daniel, are an engineer and an agronomist who decided to pursue their passion for brewing. The farm takes a strong sustainable approach to brewing and is also a destination for agritourism, with a tasting room, a reception hall, and a music festival. The Sollio Next Generation Award aims to celebrate farmers like the MacKinnons, who are innovating and adding value to their products.

Matt and John McRae (Alvinston)

Matt and John McRae are brothers who grew up dreaming about having their own farm, following the footsteps of their parents Alfred and Joan. Today, they run an 870-acre grain farm while working day jobs at a refinery and a chemical plant. They grow a variety of crops including soybeans, corn, and wheat, in addition to producing high-quality seed for both their customers and their local Agromart retailer. They also extend their services to neighbouring farmers, and tend to a maple grove, adding another dimension to their farm enterprise. Their passion for innovation is evident in their constant search for new opportunities and avenues for expansion within the agricultural industry.

Luymes Farms and Custom Farming (Moorefield)

Luymes Farms and Custom Farming is a family business that specializes in grain production and contract farming. The enterprise is the brainchild of brothers Rob and Mark Luymes, who took over from their parents John and Elaine. The contracting service started in the 1970s as part of John and Elaine’s dairy business, which was struggling to expand at the time due to the lack of available quotas. They’ve since diversified, and revenues are growing steadily and organically by word-of-mouth alone. The family business has 2,000 acres under cultivation and services 8,000 acres in 500 fields for neighbouring companies. They excel at managing their machinery fleet and have extensive knowledge of the area’s specific needs. Their transfer plan focuses on communication strategies and the family values of the Luymes clan. They take pride in maintaining good relations and creating jobs for the future generations – should they want to take over the company.

Farmers who would like to apply for the 2024–2025 Sollio Next Generation Award can now talk to their Agromart partner or visit the Sollio Group Cooperative website. Applications must be received by April 1, 2024.

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