Venez nous visitez! I Come visit us!
Venez nous visiter le 13 septembre, dans le cadre de la Journée portes ouvertes sur les fermes du Québec.
Le dimanche 13 septembre, de 10 h à 16 h, partez à la rencontre des femmes et des hommes qui nourrissent le Québec et découvrez les coulisses de l'agriculture d'ici. Profitez d'une foule d'activités gratuites et apprenez-en davantage sur le quotidien, le savoir-faire et les réalités des productrices et producteurs agricoles.
La ferme du Campus Macdonald de l'université McGill est là où se croisent la recherche, l'éducation et la communauté. D'une superficie de 240 hectares — la plus grande sur l'île de Montréal — elle regroupe un troupeau laitier primé, une installation avicole, une unité de recherche sur les grands animaux, un centre de recherche et marché horticole, ainsi que le centre de recherche agronomique Emile A. Lods. Véritable laboratoire vivant, elle fait progresser des domaines comme l'agriculture intelligente face au climat et le bien-être animal, tout en formant la relève en recherche.
Programmation
Animaux et production laitière: Apprenez-en sur l'anatomie animale, apprenez comment on fabrique le beurre, et informez-vous sur la recherche en méthane qui rend la production laitière plus durable.
Plantes et horticulture: Apprenez-en sur le centre de recherche horticole et le kiosque du Mac Market avec dégustation de melon, découvrez l'effet de l'éclairage sur la croissance et la durée de conservation des plantes, et jetez un œil à notre équipement de microscopie végétale de pointe.
Recherche et technologie: Voyez les capteurs et robots utilisés en agriculture de précision et découvrez comment nos chercheurs suivent les impacts des changements climatiques sur l'agriculture.
Volaille et œufs: Visitez le centre d'interprétation des œufs et informez-vous sur la production d'œufs SPF (exempts d'agents pathogènes spécifiques).
Terrain, équipement et accueil: Approchez-vous de la machinerie et des tracteurs, visitez la station sirop d'érable et bois (en provenance de l'Arboretum Morgan), et arrêtez-vous à la station de bienvenue ou discutez avec des étudiants et le personnel du programme de technologie de gestion agricole des études en sciences agricoles et environnementales.
Sur place : tables de pique-nique et BBQ (achat sur place).
Comment se rendre à notre ferme?
Le stationnement est disponible au Centre horticole du campus Macdonald, 17, rue East Cottages, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (Québec) H9X 3V9. (Astuce : si votre GPS ou Waze ne reconnaît pas cette adresse, cherchez « Mac Market » - vous serez dirigé au même endroit.) Une navette gratuite fera la liaison entre cet endroit et la Ferme du campus Macdonald tout au long de la journée.
Join us on September 13, as part of the Portes ouvertes sur les fermes du Québec (Quebec Farm Open House).
On Sunday, September 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., meet the women and men who feed Quebec and discover the story behind local agriculture. Enjoy free activities and learn more about the daily life, expertise, and realities of Quebec's farmers.
McGill University's Macdonald Campus Farm is where research, education, and community meet. Spanning 240 hectares — the largest on the island of Montreal — it's a dynamic hub for agricultural and environmental innovation, home to an award-winning dairy herd, a poultry facility, a large animal research unit, a horticulture research centre and market, and the Emile A. Lods Agronomy Research Centre. As a living laboratory, the farm drives advancements in areas like climate-smart agriculture and animal welfare, shaping the future of sustainable farming.
Program
Animals & dairy: Learn about animal anatomy, learn how butter is made, and hear about the methane research helping make dairy farming more sustainable.
Plants & horticulture: Learn about the Horticulture Research Centre and the Mac Market display with a melon tasting, see how lighting affects plant growth and shelf life, and get a look through our high-tech plant microscopy setup.
Research & tech: See the sensors and robots being used in precision agriculture, and hear how our researchers are tracking climate change impacts on farming.
Poultry & eggs: Visit the Egg Interpretation Centre and learn about SPF (specific-pathogen-free) egg production.
Grounds, gear & guidance: Get up close with farm implements and tractors, visit the maple syrup and wood station (brought in from the Morgan Arboretum), and stop by the welcome station or talk to Farm Management Technology students and staff about studies in agricultural and environmental sciences.
On site: picnic tables and a BBQ with available items for purchase.
How to get to the farm?
Parking is available at the Macdonald Campus Horticultural Centre, 17 Rue East Cottages, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9. (Tip: if your GPS or Waze doesn't recognize this address, search "Mac Market" instead — it will take you to the same location.) A free shuttle bus will run from there to the Macdonald Campus Farm throughout the day.
Marché Mac Market
The Mac Market is open to the public from July to November, selling seasonal vegetables and fruits produced on campus, as well as transplants in the spring. For opening hours and more information, email macdonaldmarket [at] gmail.com (macdonaldmarket[at]gmail[dot]com) or visit the market's Facebook page.
Farm visits
The Macdonald Campus Farm is not currently open to the public. These measures protect the animals’ safety and assure the success of ongoing McGill research into their health and well-being.
McGill Feeding McGill
Each year, McGill Feeding McGill supplies over 25,000 kg of fresh produce from the Horticulture Research Centre at Macdonald Farm to the University's Food and Dining Services, used in residences and dining halls across the University's two campuses. Ten years on, what started as a pilot project rooted in student research and a passion for sustainable, local food, is now a successful and award-winning sustainability initiative.
Lactanet
McGill University's Department of Animal Science and the Macdonald Farm have made significant contributions to Canada's flourishing $2.7 billion dairy industry, which produces over 3.3 billion litres of milk annually. With Quebec accounting for 37% of this production, the research program, originally initiated by McGill Professor John Moxley (1922–2014), has turned into an influential entity known as Valacta. Today, Valacta offers comprehensive advice on various aspects of dairy production, including milk component analysis, quota projection, nutritional advice, dry-cow transition, and animal comfort and welfare, both in Canada and globally.
The impact of McGill's research extends further through Lactanet, a collaborative initiative between CanWest DHI, the Canadian Dairy Network, and Valacta, situated on Macdonald Campus. This partnership unites leading dairy herd improvement organizations responsible for milk recording, genetic evaluations, and knowledge transfer in Canada. Lactanet equips Canadian dairy farmers with the necessary tools for success and prepares them to face future industry challenges, ensuring Canada's continued global leadership in dairy production. In essence, McGill's contribution to Valacta and Lactanet has been pivotal in shaping the landscape of the Canadian dairy industry.