Arsenault Acres

Ray and Joey Arsenault have farming in their blood. Born and raised on a 150 acre mixed dairy farm in the low-lying, wide open farming landscapes of Miscouche (St.Nicholas), in western Prince Edward Island, the brothers grew up milking cows; tending to the family’s sheep, pigs and chickens; and growing potatoes and feed. Neither initially intended to farm. Ray worked as a RCMP officer for twenty years before returning to work on the farm in 1988; and Joey worked construction before deciding to partner with his brother in running Arsenault Acres, in 1995. The brothers, who are the eldest (Ray) and youngest (Joey) boys in a family of 14, feel keenly the responsibility that they have as fifth generation farmers. As Ray says:

Our great, great grandfather Isaiah established this farm in 1853. When we were growing up, this was a farming community with 12 active farms. Now there is just one. It used to be a farming community, but now we are farming the community.

Over the years, Ray and Joey have shifted from dairy to beef, and then back to dairy. Realizing the need to identify and expand into new markets, the Arsenault brothers started growing soybeans, barley, oats, and forages. Out of concern for the impact of synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers on the health of their children, and after noticing that many of their weeds were becoming resistant to the sprays they were using, in 2000, Ray and Joey started experimenting with growing organically. In 2007 they certified the first of their fields, and in 2008 they started selling organically certified milk.

Today Ray and Joey own 860 acres of land and rent an additional 507 acres. In 2009, they planted 200 acres of barley and oat mixture; 50 acres of oats; 375 acres of forage; 50 acres of corn; 275 acres of soybeans (45 acres of feed grade, and 230 acres of food grade). They currently raise 160 dairy cows for organic milk, and are planning on starting to sell Island-raised organic beef. They grow as much of their own forage as possible. With over 50% of their farmland forested, Ray and Joey also manage almost 500 acres of forestland, which has been placed under a forest management plan. They sustainably harvest 400 chords of wood from their land every winter, which supplies firewood for their own family, with plenty extra to sell to their community. One of their main goals is to be as self-sufficient as possible.

The Arsenaults are extremely dedicated to maintaining the ecological health and integrity of their farm. They are careful to plant winter rye, buckwheat, oats, and barley as cover crops to help reduce erosion and improve the natural fertility of the soil. They also incorporate lime, and aged manure produced on-farm. Their farming methods, the thick tree cover, and the presence of a duck pond created by Ducks Unlimited all contribute to creating an environment that attracts a wide diversity of wildlife onto the farm. Muskrats, coyotes, and foxes are a common sight. Ray enjoys watching the great big ravens soar overhead, and says that when he works the ground turns white with seagulls swooping in to enjoy the grubs exposed by overturned earth. Joey has noticed an increase in the swallow populations on the farm since they went organic. He says: “I used to see swallows all over the farm as a child, but had not seen any for the last 15 years or so. But last year I started seeing them again.”

Both Ray and Joey are happy with their decision to make the shift over to organic farming. As they work at amending the balance of nutrients in their soil, they are noticing that it is the soil that produces a healthy crop, not them. This shift is one that requires patience, but that both brothers find extremely rewarding. As Ray says:

I have a passion for working the land, harvesting the land. I like to see it turning over, growing, producing…seeing it do what it is supposed to do. I have been farming for the past 21 years, but it has only been in the last five years, since I started working with the natural balance of the land, that I have actually started learning how to farm.

Joey says:

It is great to be my own boss. I love working with the animals. I am also really interested in learning more about soil health. It just feels good to be producing food that is good to eat, rather than food that just looks good to eat.

Ray and Joey plan on continuing to experiment with the farming methods that will produce the highest quality product, and believe that their desire to learn; their commitment to maintaining healthy farming communities on Prince Edward Island; and their passion for what they have dedicated their lives to will ensure the success of their business. For the Arsenaults, a successful farm is about relationships of trust, cooperation and mutual understanding within their family; between themselves and the land; and themselves and their customers. Ultimately, as Ray says,

each of us is called to do certain things in life, and when that desire is placed in you, you know you have to pursue that calling with everything that you’ve got. When you devote your life to what you love, the rest will follow.

Judging by the good results that the Arsenaults have enjoyed so far, what will follow is bound to only get better with time and experience.