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Manitoulin Farm Family Wins 2006 Environmental
Stewardship Award
February 21, 2006 (Toronto) –
The Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) is pleased to
announce that Gerald and Anna Armstrong of Gore Bay, Ontario, are the
winners of this year’s Environmental Stewardship Award (TESAward),
sponsored by RBC Royal Bank and OCA. The Armstrongs operate a cow/calf
farm outside Gore Bay on Manitoulin Island.
When Gerald took over the century-old family farm, it
was with the goal to increase productivity and improve environmental
conditions on the land. It soon became apparent to him that in order to
fulfill those goals, water management was the key.
“With a farm located in an area of shallow soils with
little moisture reserve in dry summers, it was important to have a large
enough water supply available to aid in crop production,” he says.
The first major project was the construction of a dam
that could capture and control run-off. During the first spring
following construction, approximately six million gallons of water were
available for habitat and irrigation. The pond was fenced to establish a
buffer strip of approximately seven acres, with no access for cattle,
which provided habitat for nesting waterfowl.
Gerald is also a strong believer in large scale
rotational grazing. His plot sizes are approximately 150 acres and every
pasturing area has a minimum of a 2-month uninterrupted rest period to
allow re-establishment through self-seeding. This method extends the
Armstrong’s pasturing season into early winter.
The second major farm project was the creation of a
wetland swamp to serve as a water source for pasture irrigation. This
project created a wetland area of approximately 60 acres, holding
approximately 20 million gallons of water. The Anderson’s have already
seen a wide variety of wildlife and plant species become
well-established in the area.
During the last growing season approximately 4 million
gallons were used for irrigation purposes with the remaining 22 million
gallons utilized by various species in the wetland habitat.
The reservoir also permitted the Armstrongs to increase
forage yields on 17 acres through the use of subterranean irrigation.
This non-mechanized irrigation system is possible because the reservoir
is ten feet above the existing field. The tile drainage is used to
primarily drain excess moisture, but is able to add needed moisture
during dry seasons.
With the increased water supply, Gerald has increased
crop production through irrigation and subsequently increased his cattle
herd.
The Armstrongs have also completed an Environmental Farm
Plan and profiled their farm for nutrient management strategy purposes.
Due to the shallow soils of the farm, both the Environmental Farm Plan
and sections of the Nutrient Management Act have identified manure
storage as an area of concern on the Armstrong farm. Construction of a
new barn for indoor manure storage and composting of manure is currently
in progress.
Gerald has contributed his environmental stewardship to
the agricultural community in many ways. He has presented at Cattlemen’s
meetings on his two wetland projects and has encouraged other producers
to participate in environmental programs. He has also hosted fencing
demonstrations, and is a representative in many agri-environmental
groups in his community.
The 2006 Award was presented at the 11th Annual
Cattlemen’s College program (part of the OCA Annual General Meeting) on
February 21, by Sheila Smart of RBC Royal Bank.
The Armstrong’s will go on to represent Ontario at the
National Environmental Stewardship Award competition to be held next
August in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
TESAward recognizes the outstanding environmental
stewardship of an Ontario cattleman. Special consideration is given to
producers who have taken innovative approaches to environmentally
sustainable cattle production.
The deadline for applications for the 2007 Environmental
Stewardship Award is November 17, 2006. For details visit the OCA
website at
www.cattle.guelph.on.ca
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For more information contact:
Lianne Appleby, Ontario Cattlemen’s Association: (519)
824-0334
Gerry Armstrong, TESA Winner: (705) 282-3397
Sheila Smart, RBC Royal Bank: (519) 376-2441
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