B.C. operation | Environmental programs help rancher put more cattle in pasture
LUMBY, B.C. — Keith and Cheryl Altwasser had a lush crop of grass late last month on their 160 acres near Lumby in British Columbia’s northern Okanagan Valley.
That considerable grass cover might not have been possible without long-term planning with the Environmental Farm Plan program, the Farm Riparian Interface Stewardship program and the B.C.’s agroforestry initiative.
Altwasser had previously run a purebred Charolais operation but switched to backgrounding 250 to 300 calves two years ago. He needs maximum grass production.
“On a small farm we need to produce more dollars,” he said.
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He began working with environmental programs 15 years ago to extensively rehabilitate a creek that runs through the ranch and plant more trees to restore a degraded riparian zone.
The creek was a flat, swampy bed fed by groundwater.
It was excavated to create a defined channel and fenced off. Shrubs, fir, spruce and willows were planted on the newly formed banks. A dense growth now borders the creek, which is a healthy fish stream that also provides habitat for deer, porcupine and owls, which keep the mice under control.
Three watering sites were placed along the creek so cattle can walk on a graveled path to drink. No grazing is allowed in the riparian zone.
Planned grazing allowed the rest of the ranch to produce a healthy stand around the trees and in the open areas.
Altwasser figures he gained 15 acres of land with these improvements. He can place one cow-calf pair per acre, which means he could add 15 pairs and earn more income.
Besides healthy grasslands, the farm also has a woodlot. The entire area is green and picturesque.
Local agroforestry co-ordinator George Powell said programs such as this one give ranchers a social license to operate because the public can see green fields and plenty of trees with streams running through the landscape. This shows they are taking care of the environment, he added.
The trees provide additional cash.
“When you have got trees, that is money in the bank,” Powell said.
“How I manage my trees can be a benefit to forage and cattle production.”
