Jake Burlet runs an 8,000 acre ranch west of Edmonton. With 3,400 head of cattle and a rotational grazing program, Burlet knows the importance of managing pasture resources, especially when conditions are dry.

“We appreciate the support of programs like Growing Forward. It’s been very, very tough for four or five years. Subsoil moisture is depleted,” says Burlet. He adds that the program allowed him to offset some of the capital costs associated with reducing environmental risks on his ranch.

Burlet created water pens at the end of his dugouts to keep the livestock out, and to allow him to move cattle from one pasture to the next by simply opening a gate. The end results included better quality water, better pasture and grass management, and less labour associated with moving mobile water troughs and pumping systems.

Burlet also fenced many of his dugouts, revived a dormant well, added a pipeline to move water from the well to his pasture, and set up additional solar-powered water systems that can be moved from pasture to pasture.

“When livestock have a readily-available, clean water supply, they don’t pound out other environmental areas,” says Burlet. This increases the lifespan of dugouts and provides a nesting and landing place for waterfowl.

Robert Purdie has also seen environmental benefits since completing his Growing Forward Stewardship project. Purdie and his wife run a 2000-acre custom-grazing operation near Red Deer. They recently installed an above-ground pipeline to pump water to eight water stations over approximately 600 acres of pasture. The pasture had been cultivated several years ago, and the existing water bodies were drained.

“By putting in water stations, we’ve actually made the natural water bodies better. The cattle don’t use them now because they come for fresh water,” Purdie says. Along with speeding the recovery of the wetlands, the water stations allow for better grazing management and manure distribution.
With few permanent fences, Purdie’s grazing system and the watering system are designed to be flexible. Each water station is at the end of a 100-foot feeder line, and can be moved as needed. Since the cattle aren’t always drinking from the same spot, there is less impact on the area around the stations.

The Grazing and Winter Feeding Management program is one of three programs under Growing Forward’s Stewardship Plans. The Stewardship Plan programs also include the Integrated Crop Management program, and the Manure Management program. All the programs are designed to promote environmental stewardship and protect the food chain.

To be eligible for any of the programs, producers must have completed an Environmental Farm Plan. Currently, producers can apply to both the Manure Management program and the Grazing and Winter Feeding Management program, however the Integrated Crop Management program will not be accepting applications until early summer.

Contact the Ag-Info Centre at 310-FARM (3276) to connect with extension staff. Extension staff will work with producers to complete a work plan that provides more information on environmental risks on their operation.
Once the work plan has been approved, producers can start planning specific projects that will reduce the environmental risks identified in the work plan. The Grazing and Winter Feeding Management program will cover 50 per cent of approved costs, up to $15,000. The Manure Management program covers 50 per cent of approved costs, up to $50,000.

For more information, contact the Ag-Info Centre at 310-FARM (3276) or visit the Growing Forward website at www.GrowingForward.alberta.ca

Contact:
Diana Bingham
780 632-5487