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Photo: Laura Ung
The producers of the Big Meadows Soil Conservation Association have been working together since the early 90’s to address soil conservation and environmental issues. The Association began with a focus on reduced tillage and direct seeding. Over the years they have expanded their focus to include good grazing management, riparian management and nutrient management practices.
Tara Lea, Program Agrologist with Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association (SARDA), has been working with the Association for the past eight years. “This group is very interested and willing to try new things,” says Lea. “The members take the time and make the effort to do demonstrations, which is really good.” Today, many members remain active in the Association, and 75% of them are using practices to extend the grazing season, and to improve grazing management practices.
The group has demonstrated a range of practices including growing corn, other crops for swath grazing, alternative pasture watering systems and other practices to extend the grazing season. Some of the producers have established year-round watering systems, while others have focused on summer grazing watering systems. One of the cooperators has developed his cattle operation to be primarily pasture or swath grazing, except for a three-month period before and during calving season.
“Many of our current demonstrations have been going on for the past four years to provide some long term information,” explains Lea. One small plot demonstration is helping to assess pasture fertility. “We have had manure management trials going on over the past seven years. We’ve finished putting on the manure, and now are measuring the time it will take for the effect of the manure to wear off.” On another 6-acre stockpile forage demonstration, the objective is to compare different grasses and legumes to determine which ones are better suited for fall grazing.
“The Big Meadows Soil Conservation Association is a great example of a group of producers who work very well together and continue to be committed to the Association over the long term,” says Lea. “They are very willing and open to learning about and exploring new ideas.” The members meet once a month during the winter, and during field days and tours over the summer. SARDA, Big Meadows and the MD of Big Lakes work together on the annual SARDA summer tour. “All of the members are active in the community in organizations including the local Agricultural Society, Wild Rose Agricultural Producers and others. They share information and ideas with other producers, and some members sit on the local MD Ag Advisory Committee.”
The Big Meadows group is a model of a successful producer association that has worked together for many years, always with a conservation and environment focus. Their initial focus on direct seeding for cropping and rejuvenation of forage stands, which included a group decision to jointly purchase a direct seeding drill to be shared among group members, has evolved over the years. Today their priorities include extended grazing, riparian health and nutrient management, and the group continues to work together to find new ideas and new ways of managing their operations successfully.
For more information, contact:
Tara Lea at (780) 837-2900 or email: sarda@telusplanet.net |
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