THAMESVILLE A Kent County business that designed dust deflectors for planters was named the agriculture innovator of the year by the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 26. Kearney Planters, in Thamesville, about 20 minutes outside of Chatham-Kent, created the dust deflector, which is now being credited as part of the reason for the reduced number of incidents of bee deaths in Ontario. A farmer can attach the deflector to his planter, and the deflector blows dust from neonicotinoid-coated seeds toward the ground instead of into the air. Other award winners included Sarah Campbell of Chatham, who was the 4-H member of the year, and Clara and Louis Roesch of Roesch Meats and More at Kent Bridge, who was agriculturists of the year.
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