Sustainability

The County of Hastings County includes Hastings County, the City of Belleville and the City of Quinte West and the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, with its forests, farmland, lakes, rivers and small and large communities, is well situated to lead in the field of alternative energy development, conservation of natural resources, sustainable agriculture and forestry and artisan food production.

Harvest Hastings is about living lightly on the land. Sustainability has four sections on land stewardship, tree planting, managing woods and wildlife at Caring for Land; discussion about Climate Change; finfd out about Green Communities, and read about what's happening in Local Agriculture. There are Audio, Videos, and a Photo Gallery. Look for "Know your farmer" video or audio interviews with local farmers and other producers. Web links has l links to local organizations as well as provincial ones. Check Coming Events to find workshops, agricultural events, community meals and much more. Above all get outand explore

Latest Articles

February 13, 2013 by Louise Livingstone

The Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan are new categories for the Habitat Enhancement Program with funding available at various levels for specific projects, if you meet project eligibility requirements. The funding zone has been expanded for the categories of Livestock Fencing and Planting/Buffer Zones. There is more information

Caring for Land

Hay for Horses

The horse hay market has been a stable market for many farmers for a number of years. The demand for "quality horse hay" is strong with price fluctuations depending on availability. The 1996 Ontario Horse Industry Study indicates that hay valued at $100 million is consumed by horses in Ontario annually.

Local Agriculture

Horse Hay As A Cash Crop?

The rural landscape in Ontario is changing, and we are seeing more and more horse farms. There are about 300,000 horses in Ontario, and the numbers are increasing. To put this in context, there are about 350,000 dairy cows and an equal number of dairy heifers. There are also approximately 400,000 beef cows, an equal number of beef calves, and about another 450,000 cattle on feed. The U.S. has over 9 million horses. Many of these are located in the eastern States, within trucking distance from Ontario.

Local Agriculture

Horses Feeding and Pastures

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculutre, Food and Rural Affairs has resource material about keeping horses.

Local Agriculture

Buying Horse Hay When Supplies Are Tight: OMAFRA technical update

Many horse owners are finding it especially challenging this year to find and purchase suitable hay at a price they can afford. Hopefully, the low hay yields due to dry weather in 2012 will be short term in nature. However, there are also long term economic factors in play that are limiting hay production. Tighter hay supplies may be the new reality of the future. Horse owners need to become astute hay buyers, develop good business relationships with hay producers and dealers, learn how to manage large bales on their farm, and minimize hay storage and feeding losses.

Local Agriculture

Higher Level Stewardship marks 10,000th agreement

Higher Level Stewardship agreements have reached a landmark 10,000, in the same year that marked 25 years of agri-environment schemes.

"I'm very proud of the amount of old hedges we have already re-laid and restored. It is wonderful to see the large flocks of migrant fieldfares and redwings feeding on the hedges in the winter."Tedney Farm's John Walker.

Local Agriculture

USDA’s First Ever Farm to School Grant Connects Schools to Local Agriculture

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced a $4.5 million grant for the USDA’s first ever Farm to School Grant, designed to cultivate a larger connection between school cafeterias and local farms. The program includes 68 projects in 37 states under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. The projects will serve 3,700 schools and 1.75 million students, half from rural areas.

Local Agriculture

Is local Hamilton food better for you?

Less than 20 minutes from downtown Hamilton, the fields at Morden's Organic Farm are already filled with sprouting spinach.

But it's far more likely that a typical Hamiltonian's dinner table will feature imported spinach that travelled thousands of kilometers from farm to table.

Local Agriculture

Report: Climate change could devastate agriculture

A comprehensive USDA study concludes rising temperatures could cost farmers millions as they battle new pests, faster weed growth and get smaller yields as climate change continues.

Climate Change

Report: Warming bringing big changes to forests

Big changes are in store for the nation's forests as global warmingincreases wildfires and insect infestations, and generates more frequent floods and droughts, the U.S. Department of Agriculture warns in a report released Tuesday.

Climate Change