|
Mark McKeown
Acreage: 700 acre farm
Acres and acres of energy When Marc McKeown views his 700 acres of crops, does he envision the food that will be made from his fields? No. More and more, Marc sees energy. The bio-fuels industry means new opportunities for today’s traditional crop farms. Spread over his acreage, Marc has a combination of canola, soybeans and wheat. Started by his father and supported by his younger brother, Marc has always known he wanted to be a farmer. After graduating from the University of Guelph, Marc returned to the farm 15 years ago to continue the family tradition. With him came the latest technological and environmental practices. "What we do now, we do more accurately. For example, we now take more soil samples in different parts of the field. As a result, we use fertilizer more effectively and efficiently. By sampling the soil, we can write a ‘prescription map’ and the equipment will automatically vary the rate of fertilizer based on the map. Not only is it an exact science, it’s a use of good business practices." Sourced by Ontario Canola Growers’ Association
|