| | Brenda Schoepp
“I strongly believe in walking the talk, that as a member of AESA it’s my responsibility to lead by example,” says Brenda Schoepp. Although she’s new to AESA Council, she has been walking the environmental stewardship talk for many years.
Schoepp grew up on a dairy farm near Edmonton. When her family changed from dairy to beef production, she managed their feedlot for 11 years, and from there she went on to manage their cow-calf operation, and now their yearling operation near Rimbey.
“We have just moved here, and we’re starting over again. And where we’re starting at is the land,” says Schoepp. “We have a lot of riparian issues and grazing issues to address here, so in the next year we will be allowing the land to speak to us. We’ll be carrying a light capacity to rest and revive the land.”
She adds, “In our previous operation, we had 50 pastures that I managed. I really enjoyed not only the challenge of it but also reaped the benefits of the productivity in allowing the land to rest, protecting the shelterbelts and waterways, and addressing wind and water erosion. All these aspects come into play and they are all worth some money in the end.”
Schoepp also has a beef and beef cattle marketing analyst company, called Beeflink, with clients nation-wide and a bi-weekly newsletter. She’s a professional speaker, making presentations on such topics as beef production, marketing, grazing management, and the importance of agriculture.
And she’s active on various agencies and committees related to agriculture. On AESA Council, Schoepp represents Agriculture and Food Council (AFC). It is composed of representatives from a wide range of agencies in Alberta’s agricultural industry. Its mission is to be a catalyst for the industry’s growth and sustainability.
She says, “Agriculture and Food Council collaborates and partners with industry stakeholders and governments on key issues, such as environmental goods and services, and thus the relationship with AESA. I am proud to be a member of Agriculture and Food Council and of their participation and leadership in agriculture – as I am proud to be part of the AESA team.”
AESA Council’s focus on adoption of sound environmental practices is especially important to Schoepp. “From my perspective, there’s real value in [the objective of increasing] adoption of sound environmental practices because it’s not only measurable in the short term, but it benefits future generations, and at the end of the day, that’s the ultimate Canadian agricultural dream.”
Alberta Milk
Alberta Milk is a producer-run organization that promotes the viability and sustainability of Alberta’s dairy industry. “We focus on helping our producers – whether it’s managing on the production side, or developing or funding research that will help them on the farm, or taking part in developing and distributing the beneficial management practices manual,” says Alberta Milk chairman Bill Feenstra.
Feenstra, who has a dairy farm near Didsbury, notes that the organization has several core functions. “The first is that we manage the milk supply, coordinating the production levels on the farm. Another [function] is developing policy and implementing policy. And we are involved in marketing and nutrition education.” As well, Alberta Milk participates in research initiatives like its partnership with Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and the University of Alberta in the Dairy Research and Technology Centre.
Alberta Milk’s efforts to enhance the dairy industry’s sustainability include activities related to environmental sustainability. For example, it is partnering with Dairy Farmers of Canada and other Canadian livestock agencies on an advisory committee to review research proposals under the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program. One recently approved project will be based in Lethbridge.
Feenstra explains that the Lethbridge project aims “to investigate new practices and technologies that effectively mitigate methane emissions on dairy farms.” Alberta dairy farmers will be co-operators on the project. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers will monitor methane emissions and determine how emissions relate to herd size, productivity, feeding and management. The results will be communicated to dairy farmers to encourage adoption of practices that reduce emissions while maintaining or enhancing dairy farm productivity.
Alberta Milk also recently worked with Alberta Agriculture to develop a beneficial management practices (BMP) manual as a handy reference tool for dairy producers. (BMPs are practices that benefit the environment, are practical, and meet or exceed regulatory requirements.) Alberta Milk has distributed the manual to all Alberta dairy producers. Funding for the manual was provided by the AESA Program, Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development Fund, Agriculture and Food Council, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Feenstra adds, “I think it’s important when we talk about any of these projects – mitigating greenhouse gases, beneficial management practices – that producers are involved so we can help address and determine policies and programs for our own dairy farms, and to show that we are responsible and that we take the environment seriously.”
Alberta Milk is represented on AESA Council by Bruce Beattie. For more information on Alberta Milk, visit www.albertamilk.com. |
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