In winter as in summer, cows are subject to thermal stress. And while you can’t control the weather, you can reduce its impact on your herd and improve milk production efficiency.

“Winter brings its share of herd management challenges,” says Jean-François Lemay, a technical and business strategy coordinator, Ruminant sector for Covris and Novago Coopérative.  “And if the cold isn’t managed properly, it affects productivity.”

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.”

To make one of the top robotic dairy farms in Québec in terms of kilograms of fat produced per day, you’ll need a ton of hard work, a generous helping of support and just a dash of thinking outside the box. That’s exactly the recipe for success at Ferme Rewill in Alma, Québec, where the farmers have been supported for over 10 years by Mélanie Dufour, Agri-advisor, Ruminants and Crops at Nutrinor Coopérative .

The Sollio Agriculture website is a reliable source of information that gives farmers in all sectors access to a treasure trove of tips, trends and expert advice. While you wait for new content, don’t miss our top 5 articles of 2023!

For the past two years, Sollio Agriculture’s research farm has been testing management practices and conducting research to train agri-advisors and help farmers adopt new sustainable farming practices. Like these three projects:

1. Harvesting rainwater with an irrigation pond

Although it isn’t a research project per se, the farm pond collects rainwater that is used to irrigate the fusarium nursery.

Ferme Gasser, located in Pike River, Quebec, has 470 kilos of quota in three barns—two of which are equipped with robotic milkers. It was one of Sollio Agriculture’s first clients to use the technology over 20 years ago. Today, the farm is supported by Sollio & Agiska Cooperative Agriculture ruminant agri-advisor Noémie L’Étoile, who ensures its continued excellent performance.

When our agri-advisors receive a question from a farmer, they answer based on the technical and practical knowledge they have gained over the years, as well as all the first-hand experience they have gained in their careers. Our agri-advisors include agronomists and professional technologists, some who grew up on a farm and some who did not, but they all bring their full knowledge to the table when it comes to making informed recommendations to farmers.