With a history stretching back 236 years, Prospect Acres farm has built not only a firm knowledge of agricultural practices, but also a heritage steeped in the rich history of the Tantramar region.
The farm and its partner-owners were recently named Farm of the Year by the Chignecto Soil & Crop Improvement Association during its annual general meeting and awards evening held recently in Sackville.
Part of a provincial organization, the Chignecto Soil and Crop Improvement Association is comprised of many area farmers and agricultural producers concerned with maintaining good farm practices and keeping abreast of new programs and government instituted policies. Through meetings, workshops and regular newsletters it provides its members with information on up-to-date equipment, innovative farm practices and improvements in the many different aspects of food production and agricultural technology today.
Owned and operated by Ronald, Mary-Ellen and James Trueman; a father, daughter and son operation, Prospect Acres currently comprises more than 500 acres. The land is used for pastureland, to raise mixed legume forage, grow wild blueberries and for woodland; and also includes a pond administered by Ducks Unlimited.
Eighth generation farmers, Mary-Ellen and James became official partners with their father on January 1, 2004 and since that time the three have continued the strong agricultural traditions of their ancestors. After spending some years off their parents farm pursuing post-secondary educations (she with a degree in anthropology from St. Mary's University in Halifax and he in business and economics from Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro), the brother and sister made the decision to join the family business.
"It was the best decision, for both of us," the two said at Prospect Farm on Saturday.
Mary-Ellen oversees the dairy operation which currently supports a herd of some 110 Ayrshire cows milked in a freestall barn and fed year-round on an exterior concrete yard.
"We follow the Canadian Quality Milk program and feed our herd high quality forage, barley and top-quality vitamins and minerals. And we also have an environmental farm plan and nutrient management plan, both of which are important to the success of our operation," she noted.
In addition to the three partners, Prospect Acres also employs one full and one part-time worker.
James administers the financial portion of the business as well as growing the forage which sustains the livestock; about two-thirds of the forage produced on the farm is grown on rich dykeland soil. Ronald, a mentor to his son and daughter in the first years of the partnership, is now the senior partner, taking care of the machinery and a host of other tasks in the day-to-day operation of a large farm.
"It's worked well; sure, there were a few bumps along the way in the beginning, but things usually run pretty smoothly now-a-days," Ronald admitted.
"We have a good balance," Mary-Ellen added.
With a keen interest in the future of agriculture in New Brunswick, both Mary-Ellen and James take part in a number of agricultural organizations in addition to the Chignecto Soil and Crop Improvement Association, she as vice president of the board of directors of the New Brunswick Young Farmers Forum, and member of the Ayrshire Breeders Association and the Atlantic Ayrshire Club. John sits on the Moncton area local milk committee as part of the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick organization, as well as the Isthmus Recreation Inc., a local committee created recently to promote recreational activities in the Point de Bute region. He also attends many other agricultural information meetings in the region to keep abreast of pertinent agricultural issues.
The three partners noted the importance of the Chignecto Soil and Crop Improvement Association, adding that they are grateful for the recognition received in being named Farm of the Year.
"Prospect Acres has always been a member of the Soil and Crop; it's a good organization, gives lots of information and helps members with issues when we need it. We're pleased to be named Farm of the Year," Ronald said.
Chignecto Soil and Crop Improvement Association handed out a number of annual forage awards at its recent annual general meeting, including the following: Round bale hay - Allan Goodwin; Square bale hay - Roga; Corn silage - RA Farms; Chopped silage - Alan Prescott; Grass round bale - Alan Prescott; Chopped silage, grass - Alan Prescott; Legume round bale silage - Forks View Farm.
