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.

Despite her 35 years with Sollio Agriculture, Chantal Lecavalier still speaks as passionately as ever about her job. Having worked to raise awareness of Sollio Agriculture’s mission in the industry, she now wants future generations to discover the cooperative movement so that they can find a job that they love. 

Sollio Agriculture’s crop production research farm has been innovating for 45 years. These days, scientists at the farm are busy testing seed varieties and agricultural practices aimed at helping farmers adapt to climate change while optimizing crop profitability.

At the Sollio Agriculture crop production research farm, scientists are testing seed varieties and agricultural practices to help Canadian farmers adapt to climate change while optimizing crop profitability. Here’s what they’re working on in 2024.

Virginie Barbeau does a lot: training for running, cycling and swimming, pursuing continuing education, visiting sites, managing several projects at once. You’d need a ton of energy to keep up. Rigorous, disciplined and, above all, hungry for knowledge, this communications expert builds her career like an athlete. 

In 2023, after several years as a senior communications advisor, Virginie became Sollio Agriculture’s corporate responsibility communications lead.

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 .