Merv and Shirley Furlong of the Double Diamond Furlong Inc. ranch at 150 Mile House are this year’s winners of the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association environmental stewardship award.
The Furlongs own and operate a 1,600 acre ranch where rotational grazing is practised to maintain healthy pastures and prevent noxious weed infestations. Weed sites are recorded for future monitoring, and plants are usually pulled by hand. To also prevent weed spread and soil loss, disturbed areas are seeded to grass species for ground cover.
They use rotational grazing to encourage significant plant regrowth before winter on deeded and nearby crown lease land. Early-winter grazing of sedge meadows provides essential forage and because the ground is frozen, soil compaction on the meadows is minimized.
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The Furlongs have maintained traditional wildlife routes through their property for moose and deer. A research study area for small birds has been established on the edge of the ranch property.
Their water projects include water storage for irrigation, off-stream stock watering, a waste management plan and fencing off riparian areas.
Since the Double Diamond ranch has substantial private timber and is surrounded by crown forests, they monitor forest health to prevent bark beetle spread. Beetle-attacked trees are identified and selectively harvested using draft horses or a small skidder. Stumps are hand peeled and debris is burned to limit beetle spread. Trap trees are also used to manage the beetle infestation.
