A Guest blog by Mattie Elliot/Lethbridge County
Lethbridge County hosted the annual Sustainable Agriculture Tour on September 24 for nearly 120 citizens and students looking to learn more about sustainable production practices some producers are using throughout the County.
The first stop on the tour was Crystal Springs Cheese Ltd., located just east of Park Lake. This family- owned and operated business incudes a cheese production facility and retail store. Participants watched the workers make feta and Greek yogurt and learned how wax is applied to cheese to preserve its flavour and freshness. The cheesemakers explained how they use milk from a nearby dairy in their products. In addition to their cheese and dairy products for sale at the retail store, Crystal Springs offers hot and cold menu items in the café, live artisan cheesemaking demonstrations, and plant tours by appointment. Visit their website at www.crystalspringscheese.com.
Goats enjoying a snack (Creekside Goat Company). Photo by OWC.
After the tour of Crystal Springs, participants were given a presentation by the Oldman Watershed Council on the importance of watershed health in our region. OWC Executive Director Shannon Frank and Education Program Manager Sophie Forsström provided information on the organization’s recent and upcoming activities, including willow-planting programs in the Castle Mountain river areas to preserve the health of the river and the wildlife within it, as well as work with the Kainai and Piikani Nations to preserve the health of the watersheds in those areas. The OWC staff also emphasized the importance of volunteers to the success of their programs. More information on the OWC’s programs and volunteer opportunities are on their website at https://oldmanwatershed.ca.
Participants were then given a presentation on humane pest control from Beaten Path Extermination Systems. For the safety of consumers, food production facilities must remain pest-free, especially as many pests carry bacteria and diseases. Beaten Path’s system uses a strong vacuum to humanely euthanize pests as opposed to traditional trapping or poisoning methods.
The second stop on the tour was to Van Diemen Poultry, where participants learned how chickens are raised and what conditions they require for optimal growth and health. The farm, located just east of Picture Butte, provides chickens to several companies, including KFC. Owner Rob Van Diemen is a Director for Alberta Chicken, a farmer-run, not-for-profit marketing board that regulates chicken production, with over 250 producers who must follow national food safety and animal care programs. To learn more about the chicken industry in Alberta, visit Alberta Chicken at https://www.chicken.ab.ca.
Rob Van Diemen (Van Diemen Poultry Farms). Photo by OWC.
After a tour of the farm, participants received a presentation on Clubroot from Mike Harding, a research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. Clubroot is a soil-borne disease that affects cruciferous plants, such as canola. Once it has spread to a field it is very difficult to eliminate, however controlling the spread is possible and Mr. Harding provided some useful tips for farmers. Cleaning dirt off equipment before moving on to another field can prevent the transfer of clubroom between fields. It is also important for farmers to check fields and identify areas that are suspected of having Clubroot. For more information on Clubroot and pest management visit the Lethbridge County Agricultural Services webpage at http://lethcounty.ca/departments/agricultural-services.
Following Mr. Harding’s presentation, participants learned about the many different insects that are considered pests in Southern Alberta. Scott Meers, an insect management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestrygave a presentation on these pests and why they are harmful to crops in our area. The Government of Alberta has detailed information on the Insect Pest Monitoring Network on their website at https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-insect-pest-monitoring-network.aspx.
The third stop on the tour was a visit to Kolk Farms, a family-owned feedlot near Picture Butte. The participants learned about the steps taken by the feedlot to ensure the cows receive proper care and remain in good health. The tour of the feedlot included a look into the check-in process, where each cow is vaccinated for respiratory illnesses and tetanus, as well as given an RFID tag that is updated with its health and veterinary information throughout its time at the feedlot. Participants also learned that much of the food eaten by livestock is grain that humans will not consume, and rainwater from the pens is collected to fertilize nearby crops. Kolk Farms was involved in a research project with Alberta Agriculture that found there was a benefit to converting the flooring in the livestock pens to a material that reduces mud. For more information on Kolk Farms, visit their website at https://www.kolkfarms.com.
Following the tour of the feedlot, participants received a presentation about the Verified Beef Production Plus program, which Kolk Farms is a part of. VBP+ is a national on-farm food safety program that offers training and verification services to beef producers that want to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, food safety, and animal care. Participating producers are also given a third-party audit to ensure they are operating up to the VPB+ standard. To learn more about VBP+, visit their website at http://verifiedbeefproductionplus.ca.
The final stop on the tour was north east of Picture Butte in one of the County’s many Riparian areas. These are classified as the moisture-rich vegetation areas between the land and water. Riparian areas are essential to health ecosystems as they help to maintain water quality. The participants were given a presentation by Norine Ambrose of the Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society (also known as Cows and Fish) on the importance of these areas to the overall health of our region. For more information on the Society, visit their website at http://cowsandfish.org.
Norine Ambrose (Cows and Fish). Photo by OWC.
Participants also learned how Riparian areas can be protected by using innovative practices like solar powered water systems to provide water to grazing cattle. Lethbridge County’s Rural Extension Specialist, Dwayne Rogness demonstrated a pump that takes water from the river and deposits it in a trough uphill, away from the sensitive river bank. Cattle walking to the river for water can damage the plant species surrounding the river bank that filter out sediment and other harmful materials. For additional information on practices to improve Riparian health, contact Dwayne Rogness at (403) 328-5525.
Dwayne Rogness (Lethbridge County). Photo by OWC.
Lastly, participants watched a demonstration from Creekside Goat Company in which a herd of goats were being used to control invasive weeds in the area. The use of goats eliminates the need for pesticides and is an effective way to control species like Leafy Spurge, which is a noxious weed. For more information on Creekside Goat Company, visit their website at https://www.creeksidegoatcompany.com.
Lethbridge County would like to thank all the producers who welcomed the participants into their businesses, as well as to the speakers and presenters for sharing their knowledge.
See you at next year’s tour!
