ALUS Parkland and Farming Forward Field Day
Farming Forward would like to thank the producers Wayne and Jesse for allowing us to go to their pasture! We also would like to thank ALUS Parkland for allowing us to host with them!
We started off at the Keephills Community Hall; a very nice facility in the Hamlet of Keephills! We had speakers from Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA), Blue Rock Animal Nutrition, Alberta Community Bat Program, and our Keynote speaker Garry Richards!
Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) - EFPs - https://areca.ca/
Sonja presented on the new online workbook that has been rolled out for completing your Environmental Farm Plan (EFP). She also touched on how most current funding does require a EFP to be completed. Both ALUS Parkland (Chad) and Farming Forward (leigh-Anne and Amber) have EFP tech(s).
Blue Rock Animal Nutrition - https://bluerocknutrition.com/
Abby presented on results from a grass sampling project that Blue Rock is currently working on. She then compared the current results to the nutritional needs of cattle at different stages of gestation.
Farming Forward will share these results when the project is finished, so stay tuned!
Alberta Community Bat Program - https://www.albertabats.ca/
Cory spoke to the importance of bats in the ecosystem and in farming. During the pasture walk he also talked about the best areas for bats to live and if you were to set up bat houses where the best places would be.
To read a Bat-friendly farming article: https://www.albertabats.ca/wp-content/uploads/Ag_BMP_Brochure.pdf
Keynote Speaker Garry and Lynn Richards - https://alus.ca/alus_news_and_events/growing-change/
Garry spoke to the importance of regenerative agriculture and the benefits it can provide to the ecosystem. These also coincide to the long term benefits to farm profit and longevity!
We would also like to thank our caterer for the amazing lunch!
To reach out to us:
ALUS Parkland Coordinator
Chad Ritter
https://alus.ca/alus_community/alus-parkland/
Farming Forward
Carri St. Pierre, Leigh-Anne, Amber and Justin
“For every 1% of organic matter is added to the soil it can hold 1 inch of rain.”
