The Rural Voice, 2004-10, Page 33dust and runs electric fencing either
side of the crossing, keeping cattle
completely out of the water.
"I feel the cattle have done better
on well water," notes Lippert. "The
water quality in the stock tank is better
— it's colder and there's less algae."
Couple this with the cattle getting
more mileage out of pasture with
rotation — he's expecting a minimum
200 lbs. gain from May to September
— and he's more than pleased with the
set-up. Not only have the cattle
benefitted, but the stream is improving
as vegetation stabilizes the banks and
buffers any nutrient run-off from the
pasture.
Kathy Velocci, Co-ordinator for the
Bruce AESI initiative, worked through
various commodity groups and
Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)
workshops to promote the program.
"The primary goal from the
Federation's viewpoint was to reduce
pathogen entry into the water – to
show that farmers were doing their
part to ensure protection of water
resources," explains Velocci.
Average cost per project was
$2,000, of which each
participant contributed a
portion. with an upper grant limit of
$5,000. Velocci credits the farmers
who participated in the program.
"Despite the BSE crisis in May 2003.
21 applications for projects were
approved, 19 of which are complete.
representing 36 Best Management
Practices implemented on Bruce
County farms." Bruce County
partnered with the Federation to
provide additional financial support.
AESI is funded by Agriculture and
Agri -Food Canada and administered
through the Agricultural Adaptation
Council (AAC) and the Ontario Farm
Environmental Coalition. An approved
EFP is a requirement of funding. The
Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement
Association is reporting on behalf of
AAC.
Another program participant,
Darryl Diemert, farms 100 acres near
Mildmay. He also advocates rotational
grazing, pasturing about 50 sheep and
70 head of cattle, including 42
breeding cows. Otter Creek flows
year-round through his property with
the headwaters just one and one-
quarter miles upstream. "There's lots
of water here, including three springs,"
says Diemert.
JOHN WILKINSON
MPP
Perth -Middlesex
55 Lorne Ave. E.,
Stratford, ON N5A 6S4
519-272-0660 1-800-461-9701
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OCTOBER 2004 29