Egg farmer Samuel Lanctôt of Ferme Bec-O Lanctôt and agri‑advisor Béatrice Hamel of Sollio & Vivaco Agriculture coopérative see themselves as a ship’s crew, scanning for waves before they hit.

“Samuel’s the captain. And I’m the one in the crow’s nest, eyes on the horizon,” says Béatrice. For both Samuel and Béatrice, having a successful layer farm is about observing the birds and sweating the details. “We’re proactive,” adds Samuel. “We try to solve problems before they come up.”

Jean-Michel makes no secret of his caring side. In his 28 years as a manager, his warm approach and sincere desire to help have consistently made an impression on those around him. He comes from a family of poultry farmers, and his work has always been closely linked to agriculture and nature. 

Farmers who want to adopt best practices for sustainable agriculture need look no further than Sollio Agriculture’s agri-environmental agri-advisors, who are always up on the latest innovations and developments in the field.

As part of Congrès végétal 2024, agri-environmental agri-advisors from across Québec and Eastern Ontario came together for two day–long training sessions on sustainable farming.

AgroCarbone Grandes Cultures is a program aimed at developing viable business models to help field crop farmers reach the targets for reducing agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Our governments are aware of the impact of climate change and will continue to tighten regulations in the coming years. The challenge for farmers is twofold. They have to:

1. Adapt to climate change

2. Change course when GHG reduction targets change

Dairy farmer Mikael Breton and his Sollio & Avantis Agriculture Coopérative agri‑advisor, Caroline Jacques, have a strong trust‑based relationship infused with a healthy dose of humour. Farm performance is no laughing matter, but that doesn’t mean the business partners can’t crack a good joke or two (or three).

“It’s only because Mikael loves it so much,” says Caroline with a smile. Mikael nods in agreement. “Well, it’s also because you’re so... spontaneous and... nice,” he adds, laughing at his own hesitation.

At Sollio Agriculture, we’re constantly adapting our fertilizer supply strategies to reduce costs and meet the many challenges facing the industry. And that flexibility pays off! Our warehouses are stocked up and ready for planting season.

We all know that fertilizer is a major investment for any farm business. That’s why every farmer needs a reliable supplier who can provide quantity, quality, and on‑time delivery at a competitive price.

Through its corporate responsibility process, Sollio Agriculture has developed several tools to help farmers adopt agricultural practices that are more sustainable and just as profitable. Here are our top five wins of the past year.

1) Inaugurating the CRF AgriTech plant

The CRF AgriTech plant in St. Thomas, Ontario, produces controlled‑release fertilizers (CRF).

For dairy farms, sustainable agriculture and animal welfare go hand in hand. Why? Because ensuring cow comfort contributes to a high productivity and aligns operations with consumer expectations.

Sustainable agriculture is commonly associated with reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.

But it doesn’t stop there.

Farmers need to adapt to climate change. And to do that, they need a solid game plan. That’s where Sollio Agriculture’s sustainable farming diagnostic tool comes in. The easy‑to‑use, customizable tool gives farmers a clear picture of their situation so they can find viable solutions.

The road to robotic milking hasn’t always been smooth at Ferme RJM Côté in Hébertville-Station, Québec. In addition to having to learn a whole new production method and set of equipment, the owners had to completely rethink their routine. Luckily, their agri-advisor was there to provide careful advice and help them along the way.

“The hardest part of implementing robotic milking is changing farmers’ habits,” says Mélanie Dufour, Agri-advisor, Ruminants and Crops, Nutrinor Coopérative. “Cows aren’t the only ones who like to stick to their routine.”