EDMONTON – Providing wildlife habitat and growing ample forage for livestock earned the national environmental stewardship award for ranches on far sides of the country.
J2 Ranch at Canal Flats, B.C., near the Kootenay River and Onondaga Farms owned by Gil and Molly Henderson of St. George, Ont., tied for the award presented at the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association convention in Edmonton.
The J2, run by Gerard and Chris Breton and Blake Taylor, grazes 500 cows on land leased from the crown in co-operation with the British Columbia Forest Service. Working with the forest service, they use fire to manage forest growth and have increased habitat for elk and big- horn sheep.
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The floodplain of the Kootenay River is used for winter grazing on a planned rest rotation system. Fences were erected to protect waterways.
The Hendersons in Ontario raise 400 head of purebred Herefords on 750 acres of permanent forage pastures in a rotational grazing system that prevents soil erosion. They work with Ducks Unlimited to preserve wetlands drained for cultivation as well as a variety of other programs that benefit bluebirds, wood ducks and trumpeter swans.
Also nominated for this award were Bernie and Nancy Regner of Alberta, Tom and Lois Wood of Saskatchewan and Stuart and Mary-Lou Briese of Manitoba.
