Pen Farm Herd Co-op

"Wanna Be a Farmer?” - Help Save the Herd !

Goal: To preserve a core of the Frontenac Institution Pen Farm dairy herd, with the intention of returning the cows to the prison farm when the Frontenac prison farm is restored.
We believe that at some point we’ll sell the cows back to the new government for a return on your investment.

Background: At the sale on August 10, Kingston area residents purchased four milking cows and two young cattle. As well, there are 15-20 milking cows and several calves still at the prison farm because the cows were too close to their calving dates to be trucked. Correctional Service of Canada plans to sell these cattle at noon on August 23 at Selby Livestock facility, near Napanee.

1) Working with OPIRG (Ontario Public Interest Research Group, based at Queen’s University), we are investigating establishing a non-profit co-operative to oversee the ownership and care of 15-20 cows and 5-10 calves purchased from the Pen Farm dispersal. OPIRG Kingston is part of a network of OPIRG groups and has the capacity to oversee the finances of this project.

We will recruit an interim group of directors to set up the co-op and draft its bylaws, in consultation with community members. The shareholders will elect a board of directors and vote on the bylaws.

A share in the co-op will cost $300.00. We estimate that we will need to sell 60-70 shares ($18,000 to $21,000) for the Co-op to purchase the number of cows and calves indicated in step 1. About four shares will cover the purchase cost of one cow, but shareholders will not be seen as owning a particular cow, but rather having a share in the herd. We will develop an agreement to present to local dairy farmers. These people would care for the cattle until the prison farm is restored.

The Co-op will purchase cows and calves at the sale and loan them to local farmers who commit to properly caring for our cows. The farmers will be able to ship the milk from the Co-op cows through their quota, thus receiving payment for caring for the cattle. Any calves born to the cows will belong to the Co-op. ...turn over

Those who are interested in buying shares in the Co-op, please write a cheque for $300.00 per share, made payable to OPIRG. If possible, please bring your cheque to the picnic in City Park on Thursday, Aug. 19, at 6 pm., or contact Jeff Peters at 613-353-2403.

NOTE: The Co-op is not involved in selling raw milk shares which would conflict with the principles and guidelines of our farm organizations.

The Agreement between the Co-op and the farmers who are loaned a Co-op cow:

The farmer would pay vet bills if the cow requires that service.
The farmer would re-breed the cow, if and when needed, preferably by a registered sire.
The Co-op owns any calves born to the cows; these calves could be raised by other farmers, if desired.
The farmer will give two weeks notice to the Co-op, if the cow is not wanted anymore.
No-one is liable if the cow dies accidentally or from illness.

We prefer the cow is on a milk recording program, to maintain her milking history.

Cows and the Co-op will be insured for liability.

Questions?
call Jeff Peters: 613-353-2403 or Dianne Dowling: 613-546-0869