Nation Vale Farms

Nation Vale Farms is a true family enterprise, rooted in decades of hard work, dedication, and a passion for dairy farming. Jim and Carol Ann Byveld, along with their son Dan and daughter in law Jen and their children, Ila, Hope, and Cole proudly operate the farm, continuing and growing a legacy that began in 1958 when Jim’s parents immigrated to Canada from Holland. Their journey took them first to New Brunswick where Jim’s parents worked on a farm and eventually to the fertile flatlands south of Ottawa in Chesterville, Ontario where they purchased their own farm and began milking cows in a tie-stall barn, laying the foundation for the operation that exists today. Jim and Carol Ann officially took over the farm in 2000 from Jim’s parents, and in 2013, Dan returned home to the farm. Each member plays an essential role in the farm’s success: Jim oversees feeding, Dan manages breeding, herd health, and overall herd management, while Carol Ann focuses on raising calves. Their strengths complement each other, and teamwork remains at the heart of everything they do.

A major milestone came in December 2025, when Nation Vale Farms transitioned into a brand new GEA robot barn, a move that marked a significant step forward for the operation. Today, they milk 84 cows with three GEA robots in a six row barn designed to house their entire herd comfortably. Before the move into the new barn, the cows were producing 38L per cow per day in the old barn and have adapted well to their new environment. The Byvelds are excited about the barn’s potential as they work toward returning to their previous production levels and achieving a 40 litre average in the future. For their herds nutrition needs, the Byvelds have turned to Murray Link and Dundas Feed & Seed for the past 7 years and Murray notes that the Byvelds make his job easy with their focus on producing high quality forages. The partnership between Murray Link and the Byvelds runs deeper than a supplier-client relationship; as neighbours and friends their connection is built on trust, familiarity, and shared community roots.

Beyond the dairy, the farm is diversified with Jen running an equestrian riding school on the property and helping on the dairy as needed. Jen notes that it is uncommon to have the opportunity to work with family for your whole life and hopes that if their children choose to be the next generation on the farm that they realize how special and rewarding it is to work as a family in agriculture. The family also manages 1,000 acres of cropland, growing soybeans, corn, hay and wheat. Their crop program supports the dairy with high quality forages and grains, feeding a PMR consisting of corn silage, haylage, dry corn, roasted soybeans and a custom Purina supplement, complemented by Purina’s RoboTech HS 20% fed through the robot. For the Byvelds, success is defined by far more than the numbers. It is reflected in the everyday moments that speak to the health of their cows and the quality of their operation: stepping into the barn to find calm, well cared for cattle, and watching a dedicated team work in unison toward shared objectives. They take considerable pride in what they have built and remain focused on the opportunities that lie ahead. As Dan aptly states, “The sky is the limit.”