A joint initiative between:
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Manitoba Forage Council
Participating Agri-Business
February 810th, 2010 Russell Inn and Russell Community Centre Russell, Manitoba
Western Canadian Holistic
Management Conference February 13 & 14, 2007
Victoria Inn
Brandon, MB
Western Canadian Holistic
Management
Conference
Western Canadian Holistic
Management Conference February 13 & 14, 2007
Victoria Inn
Brandon, MB
Western Canadian Holistic
Management Conference February 13 & 14, 2007
Victoria Inn
Brandon, MB
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EXHIBITORS Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives – Agro-Woodlot Program
Lake of the Prairies Conservation District
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Holistic Management International Hearts of the Country Gallagher Power Fencing Kane Vet Supplies Sundog Solar/Powerflex Fencing Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Manitoba Forage Council
On- Farm Food Safety Agro-Plow Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve Manitoba Food Charter
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE For more information contact:
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (204) 648-3965 Manitoba Forage Council (204) 726-9393
Pam Iwanchysko, Larry Fischer, Marc Boulanger, Jo-Lene Gardiner, Marylou Goshulak - Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Grant Lastiwka and Stephanie Kosinski - Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
Lorne Klein - Saskatchewan Agriculture Janice Bruynooghe - Saskatchewan Forage Council
Wayne Digby - Manitoba Forage Council Stan McFarlane - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Don Campbell, Blain Hjertaas, Len Piggott - Saskatchewan Cynthia Nerbas, and Perry Koss - Manitoba
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AGENDA
Monday, February 8 8:00 pm RUSSELL INN - Wine and Cheese Reception Tuesday, February 9 8:30 AM – Registration and Trade Booth Displays 9:00AM – Welcome—Don Campbell - Vice Chair 9:30 AM – Keynote Address – Pam Iwanchysko - MAFRI - What does Holistic Management Really Mean? Finding meaning in life is important, but do we really know what we want? Find out how Holistic Management has found meaning for so many people and why. 10:30 AM – Coffee and Trade Booth Displays 11:00 AM – Keynote Address: Rolande Kirouac – “Disaster Proof” - Tools for managing life’s ups and downs. Farming is a tough job and sometimes there is not a whole lot to laugh about. She believes that people who build balanced lives, can create a contagious positive environment, one that leads to better relationships, increased productivity and confidence. We will examine tools that will: STOP the isolation, confusion, indifference, regrets, and procrastination! STOP the drama, self-doubt, stress, regrets and indecision! WHY? Connect, focus, energise, lighten-up and create harmony! 12:00 PM – Lunch 1:30 PM – Breakout 1 – Hall – Dr. Rene Van Acker – Re-constructing Ownership in Your Cropping System - The ability to reap value from a cropping system depends very much on the ownership model represented in the system. Ownership provides rights both in terms of control and also in terms of reward. A careful consideration of your ownership position in relation to your cropping system can reveal both problems and opportunities in relation to your expectations for returns and what types of returns you expect from your cropping system. Breakout 2 – Hall (small room) – Manitoba Food Charter - Where we Started - Where We are At - The Manitoba Food Charter emerged from Manitobans’ common vision for a just and sustainable food system. The Charter provides vision and principles that will guide and inform all levels of government, businesses, non-profit organizations, communities, families and individuals in planning, policy development, programs and practice in mutual effort toward food security and community development. It was drafted through broad public consultation and is to be endorsed by Manitoba food system stakeholders. Breakout 3 – Yellowhead Room – Panel Discussion - Jolene Gardiner - MAFRI - Last Child in the Woods - Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder Reconnecting children with the farm for healthier, better-adjusted kids who have an appreciation for where food comes from. Shuttle Service – 1:00 and 1:15 PM 2:30 PM – Coffee and Trade Booth Displays Shuttle Service – 2:30 and 2:45 PM 3:00 PM – Ann Adams - Living at Home with Holistic Management - Ann will discuss simple decision making processes that guide you, thoroughly and carefully, through the steps of gathering critical information and easily using it to come to a solid decision. Instead of stressing over whether you made the right decision, you end up with clarity of what you want from life, then are able to apply that clarity to any decision/choice-situation that arises. Decision making thus becomes a process to focus on what you REALLY want. 4:00 PM – Keynote Address: John Ikerd - Finding Purpose in Peril. Science, at its best, is about attempting to understand the basic principles of nature – the higher order, the transcendent whole – by
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observing and studying the consequences of actions. The ecological, social, and economic principles of purposeful living are the focus of this session, but the path away from fear and toward true fulfillment and happiness in life, even in these times of great peril, begins with the principles of faith, love, and hope. In faith and love, there is always hope – even in the most perilous of times. 5:00 PM – Cocktails, Dinner, Evening Program 7:00 PM – Entertainment - Scott Cornelius and Doug Arden and Silent Auction - Russell Community Center and Socializing - Yellowhead Room - Russell Inn Wednesday, February 10 7:00 AM - Breakfast at Hotel or Hall 8:00 AM – Open Bear Pit Session Breakout 1 – Cropping and Land Management – Blain Hjertaas and Tony McQuail, Ralph Corcoran Breakout 2 – Financial Management - Hall – Kelly Sidoryk and Allison Guichon Breakout 3 – Personal Goal Setting – Brian Luce, Fran McQuail and Linda Corcoran 9:30 AM – Coffee and Trade Booth Displays 9:50 AM – Welcome - Len Piggott 10:00 AM - Keynote Address – John Ikerd - Building a new Economy in the Current Economic Crisis - Small Farms are Real Farms! Agriculture has become industrialized, and rural communities in agricultural areas have lost their fundamental purpose. The farming future and rural communities is in the sustainability paradigm for farming and rural community development. 11:00 AM – Keynote Address – Terry Gompert –How to Survive and Be a Profitable Farmer! - Holistically speaking, grazing is the only known way to heal the land. Terry will share the principles of ultra high stock density grazing and the success stories of several graziers from around the world. 12:00 PM – Lunch Shuttle Service – 12:45, 1:00, 1:15 PM 1:30 PM – Producer Testimonials – Applying Holistic Management to Your Farm Breakout 1 – Don and Marie Razuicka - Alberta Breakout 2 – Len Larsen - Saskatchewan Breakout 3 – Marc Boulanger- MAFRI Breakout 4 – Rejan Picard – Bale Grazing Shuttle Service – 2:30, 2:45, 2:55 PM 2:30 PM – Coffee and Trade Booth Displays 3:00 PM – Grand Finale Keynote Address: Darci Lang – Focus on the 90%
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There are other contributors who have contributed to the silent auction/raffle. We apologize that these were not mentioned here but we did not receive confirmation before this book went to print.
CONTRIBUTORS SOLAR HM CLUB MANITOBA DAIRY PRODUCERS MANITOBA FORAGE COUNCIL MASC NERBAS BROS – INGLIS, MB CANWAY INN – DAUPHIN RUSSELL INN DARCI LANG BERNIE BROWN LEECH PRINTING HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL
FARM BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS PICKSEED
DAUPHIN CO-OP BIG GRASS HM CLUB CROSS COUNTRY HM CLUB GALLAGHER ANDREW AGENCIES ROBLIN CREDIT UNION VERIFIED BEEF PROGRAM - MB NORTHWEST LIVESTOCK FOUNDATION ROBLIN CREDIT UNION SUNDOG SOLAR AGROPLOW CITY OF DAUPHIN KAREN EMILSON KELLN SOLAR CANADA’S NATIONAL UKRAINIAN FESTIVAL
DAUPHIN’S COUNTRYFEST HEIFER INTERNATIONAL
BOUNDARY TRAIL HM CLUB PASTURE PIPELINE SYSTEMS RUSSELL FLOWER AND GIFT HEARTS OF THE COUNTRY RUSSELL VET SERVICES PARKWAY CO-OP PERRY & KAREN KOSS & FAMILY ASESSIPPI HM CLUB ASSINIBOINE-BIRDTAIL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION GROUP
ROBLIN VET SERVICES KANE VET SUPPLIES
VANGAURD CREDIT UNION -RUSSELL AGGASIZ FEEDS RBC – RUSSELL BRANCH JACKSON SEEDS - INGLIS BIRCH CREEK ENTERPRISES WORNESKI SEED PLANT - RUSSELL TWIN VALLEY CO-OP - RUSSELL TWIN VALLEY CO-OP - NAPA VITERRA - BINSCARTH MAPLE FARM EQUIPMENT - RUSSELL PATTERSON GRAIN - BINSCARTH BRENDON HOLDINGS – BRENT SHUYA RONALD COMMUNICATIONS GLAMBIA NUTRITIONALS - ANGUSVILLE ASESSIPPI SKI AREA AND RESORT COWBOY’S N CAMO GUEST RANCH
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Platinum ($2,000.00 +)Platinum ($2,000.00 +) Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Agriculture Sustainability Initiative Succeeding Generations Initiative Manitoba Forage Council Greencover Canada Western Producer The Manitoba Co-operator Sustainable Development Innovations Fund – Manitoba Conservation Holistic Management International Gold ($1.000.00 +)Gold ($1.000.00 +) Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council – MRAC Western Farm Leadership Council Russell Inn Assiniboine-Birdtail Soil and Water Conservation Group Bronze ($500.00 + )Bronze ($500.00 + ) Heifer International Power Flex Fencing Northwest Livestock Foundation
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WESTERN CANADIAN HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 9th – 10th 2010
RUSSELL COMMUNITY CENTRE Russell, Manitoba
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPEAKER PROFILES: (IN ORDER OF PRESENTATION)......................................................................................... 8
WHAT DOES HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT REALLY MEAN – PAM IWANCHYSKO ........................................ 20
DISASTER PROOF –TOOLS FOR MANAGING LIFE’S UPS AND DOWNS - ROLANDE KIROUAC ............. 21
RE-CONSTRUCTING OWNERSHIP IN YOUR CROPPING SYSTEM – DR. RENE VAN ACKER ................... 22
THE MANITOBA FOOD CHARTER – WHERE WE STARTED, WHERE WE ARE AT – KREESTA DOUCETTE ........................................................................................................................................................................ 23
LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS – SAVING OUR CHILDREN FROM NATURE-DEFECIT DISORDER – JOLENE GARDINER........................................................................................................................................................ 24
LIVING AT HOME WITH HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT – ANN ADAMS............................................................... 27
FINDING PURPOSE IN PERIL – JOHN IKERD.......................................................................................................... 31
CROPPING AND LAND MANAGEMENT – BLAIN HJERTAAS, TONY MCQUAIL, RALPH CORCORAN .. 32
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT – KELLY SIDORYK AND ALLISON GUICHON.................................................. 33
PERSONAL GOAL SETTING – BRIAN LUCE, FRAN MCQAUIL, LINDA CORCORAN................................... 33
BUILDING A NEW ECONOMY IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS – SMALL FARMS ARE REAL FARMS – JOHN IKERD ................................................................................................................................................... 34
HOW TO SURVIVE AND BE A PROFITABLE FARMER – TERRY GOMPERT ................................................. 35
PRODUCER PANEL - APPLYING HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT TO YOUR FARM ............................................ 36
FOCUS ON THE 90% - DARCI LANG........................................................................................................................... 39
Western Canadian Holistic
Management Conference February 13 & 14, 2007
Victoria Inn
Brandon, MB
Western Canadian Holistic
Management Conference February 13 & 14, 2007
Victoria Inn
Brandon, MB
8
SPEAKER PROFILES: (in order of presentation) DON CAMPBELL – CHAIRPERSON Don was born and raised at Meadow Lake Saskatchewan. He is as second generation rancher and now, the third generation is involved. He received his DVM degree in 1967. Don and Bev Campbell have been married for 37 years and have 4 children, 2 sons and 2 daughters. Don jointly owns and operates B-C ranch Inc. with his wife Bev and his two sons and their wives. Scott and Jenna and Mark and Bluesette. The ranch is about 4500 acres, it is a grass based operation running about 650 cows and marketing long yearlings. Don has taken numerous holistic management courses including a 5 day core course with Kirk Gadzia and Roland Kroos, financial planning with Allan Savory, biological monitoring, Building the Effective Organization with Don Green and a leadership course with David Irvine. Don has also facilitated financial planning courses for 3 years with Noel McNaughten. Don operates a private holistic management facilitation business dealing with people, land and finances. He has introduced holistic management to non farm businesses and has facilitated intergenerational farm transfers. Don is a past member of the Canadian Board of Holistic Management and currently a member of the Devon and Hat Management Clubs. Through his 20 years of experience in Holistic Management, Don has worked in 4 Canadian provinces and 2 American States. The results have been impressive, a better quality of life, improved land and adequate profit. Don is anxious to share his success and would like to see more people living successful, fulfilling lives. Don Campbell can be reached at: Box 187 Meadow Lake, SK S9X 1Y6 Phone: (306) 236-6088 Fax: (306) 236-2973 E-mail: [email protected]
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PAM IWANCHYSKO Pam was born and raised in the Sifton area approximately 20 miles North of Dauphin, Manitoba. Growing up she always knew she wanted to be involved in agriculture in some capacity. After completing high school, Pam went on to complete her undergraduate degree in Agriculture at the University of Manitoba majoring in Animal Science and then continued on to complete her Master’s degree at the University of Saskatchewan in ruminant nutrition. Following the completion of these educational goals she was offered a position with Manitoba Agriculture based in the Ste. Rose Ag office where she began her consulting career as a Forage and Livestock Technician. Pam then had the opportunity to pursue some traveling goals and worked in Ukraine for 6 months on the Forage and Beef Development project through a CIDA funded project teaching students about extension and forage and beef production on developing private farms there. Following her return she was moved into the Forage Specialist position based out of the Dauphin Agriculture office where she continues in a consulting capacity. Pam has three children, Alexander(9), Oksana(7) and Talia(4) and is currently building a new home with her husband Gary on an acreage outside of Dauphin to provide a “rural” farm environment to their children as they grown up. Pam Iwanchysko can be reached at: MAFRI 27-2nd Ave SW Dauphin, Manitoba R7N 3E5 Phone (204) 648-3965 Fax (204) 638-2854 E-mail [email protected]
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ROLANDE KIROUAC How difficult can it be. That’s Rolande Kirouac’s mantra and the common thread in her seminars designed to help work forces implement changes and achieve maximum productivity! As a proud member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, Rolande has trained dozens of leaders about the health benefits of dreaming big and creating a dynamic game plan to make things happen. She is bilingual and speaks in both official languages. Her seminars and keynotes in change management, leadership development and team building help organizations become more effective and efficient. She lightens a room with her careful attention to individual needs, her constant smile and her ‘at the ready’ energy. Rolande connects with her whole self. She is unique because she can inspire change - even when some of us refuse to move forward! Rolande can be reached at: Box 93, 208, Provencher Blvd. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2H 3B4 Phone (204) 256 6215 Toll-Free 1 866 842 1517 Email [email protected]
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DR RENE VAN ACKER Dr. Rene Van Acker is Associate Dean, External Relations for the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph and Professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture. Rene was previously a professor of weed science and crop management at the University of Manitoba. His research interests include weed seedling recruitment biology and ecology, robust cropping systems, multifunctional agriculture and the coexistence of GM and non-GM crops. He conducts field-based research, supervises graduate students and teaches courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed works to-date and has made over 250 other non-peer reviewed contributions. His research work on coexistence of GM and non-GM crops has lead to international collaborations and presentations, and consulting work with governments and organizations in Denmark, Australia, Switzerland, Australia, the US and Canada. Rene grew up on a farm in southwest Ontario. Rene also serves several agricultural organizations and is currently on the board of the Ontario Institute of Agrologists. Rene holds BSc and MSc degrees in crop science and weed management from the University of Guelph and a PhD in crop-weed ecology from the University of Reading in the UK. Rene and his wife Susie have three children and live in Guelph. Dr. VanAcker can be reached at: Department of Plant Agriculture University of Guelph 50 Stone Road East Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 Phone: 519-824-4120 x. 53533 Fax: 519-763-8933 Email: [email protected]
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KREESTA DOUCETTE Kreesta Doucette grew up in the North and has worked with communities and food for the last 11 years in Canada and in Africa in the areas of rural development, inner-city food security, urban agriculture, food needs of people living with HIV, community development, and direct food assistance. She completed her undergraduate degree in Agriculture and a Masters in Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph. As part of her graduate studies she undertook course work from the Ryerson Centre for Studies in Food Security and her thesis focused on Sustainable Livelihood issues of Manitoba farmers markets and Community Shared Agriculture. She is the executive director of the Manitoba Food Charter Inc. and from 2005-2006 worked with many volunteers and project partners to conduct over 70 province-wide government, community, and organizational consultations on food in Manitoba. These consultations resulted in the creation of the Manitoba Food Charter. Kreesta Doucette can be reached at: Manitoba Food Charter 641 St. Matthews Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3G 0G6 Phone (204) 943-0822 Toll free: 1-800-731-2638 Fax (204) 774-1847 Email [email protected] Manitoba Food Security Website www.manitobafoodsecurity.ca
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JOLENE GARDINER Jo-Lene farms with her husband Keith and son Joe on a farm just outside the small community of Clearwater. Keith and Jo-Lene practice Holistic Management on their farm and credit HM as the most practical training they have ever taken. HM has enabled them to make decisions both personally and in their business to adapt in the ever changing Agricultural economy and landscape. Jo-Lene currently works as an Extension Coordinator with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives. Besides servicing the immediate farming and rural residents of the area with agricultural resources and extension,she has been involved a number of provincial and national initiatives these include the promotion of “Local Food”, “ Holistic Management” and “Low Stress Livestock Handling”. Through her position with the department she has been involved on a number of projects with various government agencies and NGO’s. These projects include conference planning for the annual Manitoba Grazing School, the Western and the Canadian Holistic Conferences, educational projects with the Harvest Moon Society, the Pembina Valley Conservation District, the University of Manitoba Environmental Sciences & Architecture Departments and the Prairie Spirit School. Locally she works with the Border Agricultural Stewardship Association, local 4-H groups and the Clearwater Women’s Institute. One of her greatest achievements is raising 5 children on their farm and instilling a sense of curiosity in them regarding the natural world they live in. She continues this work with student from local schools, universities and with her 4 grandsons to explore the natural world that we are blessed to live in. Jolene Gardiner can be reached at: Box 23 Clearwater, MB R0K 0M0 Phone: (204) 873-2620 e-mail: [email protected]
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ANN ADAMS Ann Adams is the author of At Home with Holistic Management and is a Holistic Management® Certified Educator. She received her BSED in English Education and her PhD in American Literature from Indiana University and has taught in a variety of venues to numerous audiences. She is Senior Director of Education for HMI as well as Managing Editor of IN PRACTICE, HMI's bimonthly journal. For the last eleven years she has worked to provide educational and outreach materials for Holistic Management practitioners and Certified Educators. She has edited the compilations Holistic Management: A New Environmental Intelligence and Improving Whole Farm Planning Through Better Decision-Making and has taught Holistic Management courses. She raises goats and chickens on a small 60-acre farm in the Manzano Mountains with her family. Ann Adams can be reached at: Holistic Management International 1010 Tijeras Ave. NW Albuquerque, NM 87102 Phone (505) 842-5252 E-mail [email protected] JOHN IKERD John Ikerd spent the first half of his thirty-year academic career as a traditional free-market, neoclassical economist. He served on the faculties of four major state universities during his career: North Carolina State University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Missouri. Growing concerns for the lack of ecological, social, and economic sustainability of American agriculture during the 1980s led to broader concerns for the lack of sustainability for American society in general. As an economist, Dr. Ikerd eventually came to understand that growing threats to ecological and social sustainability are rooted in the neoclassical paradigm of economic development, which is inherently extractive and exploitative, and thus, is not sustainable. Dr. Ikerd spent the last half of his academic career and much of his time since retirement developing and testing the concepts and principles of an alternative development paradigm, the economics of sustainability. John Ikerd can be reached at: Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Economics University of Missouri Columbia College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources 5121 S. Brock Rodgers Road Columbia, MO 65201 Phone: 573-874-0408 Fax: 573-874-0408 E-mail: [email protected]
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BLAIN HJERTAAS Blain is married and has 3 grown children. Blain has farmed for 35 years starting as a high tech grain farmer and evolving to a low tech grass farmer. Blain and his son Martin custom graze cattle, have their own cows with long yearlings and graze hogs, sheep, turkeys and chickens. They are trying to direct market all of their production. Blain recently became a CE in holistic management Blain Hjertaas can be reached at: Box 760 Redvers, Saskatchewan S0C 2H0 Phone 306 452 3882 E-mail [email protected] TONY AND FRAN MCQUAIL Tony & Fran McQuail are the owners of Meeting Place Organic Farm which has been organic for over 30 years. They took their first Holistic Management course in 1995 and have been using HM to guide their farm and family since then. They are Holistic Management Certified Educators so that they can share the benefits of HM with other farm families. The McQuails are founding members of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario and have been active in many farm and community organizations. Meeting Place Organic Farm is a 100 acre diversified operation with a freezer meat business featuring grass fed beef and pastured pork, a market vegetable garden, an apple orchard and 25 acre wood lot. The McQuail’s also produce heirloom tomato and other bedding plants in their attached greenhouse. They do much of their farm work with Belgian work horses they raised on the farm. They also utilize other forms of renewable energy in their farming operation. You can visit their farm on the web at www.meetingplaceorganicfarm.ca or e-mail them at [email protected] Tony and Fran McQuail can be reached at: 86016 Creek Line Lucknow, ON N0G 2H0 Phone 519-528-2493 E-mail [email protected]
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KELLY SIDORYK Kelly Sidoryk is a Holistic Management Certified Educator from Lloydminster, Alberta. Her family has been involved with Holistic Management for over 20 years. Their operation is forage based and has gone through a number of changes over the years. Kelly commends the people of Manitoba for again hosting a Holistic Management conference. Kelly Sidoryk can be reached at: Box 72 Blackfoot, Alberta T0B 0L0. Phone (780)875-9806 Work (780)875-4418 E-mail [email protected] ALLISON GUICHON Allison Guichon is a new Certified Educator from the interior of BC. She and her family have been ranching in the Nicola Valley for five generations. As a Certified Educator, she is hoping to increase the knowledge and practice of Holistic Management in BC and Quebec. Allison Guichon can be reached at: Box 10 Quilchena, BC V0E 2R0 Phone: 250-378-4535 Fax: 250-378-4539 E-mail [email protected] RALPH AND LINDA CORCORAN Ralph and Linda have ranched near Moosomin, Sask. in the parkland region for 25 years. Holistic Management entered their lives in 2001 when thier daughter, Haley, took the course. Since taking the Holistic Management course in 2002, they have experienced many benefits such as a lighter more fun work load, more profit, land and grass improvement, family involvement, and an overall more peaceful life. They have 3 daughters Haley married to Doug McMillan who are mixed farmers near Aneroid, Sk. They have 3 children Emily, Alex and Taylor. Kelsey who is married to Kyle Nagy and they live near Moosomin. They have 2 children Tyrell and Tess. Krysten is currently working in Moosomin and living at home. They have recently changed from cow/calf to a custom grazing operation. This change has allowed them to take the Holistic Management Educator Training. And to share their Holistic Management experiences with more people. Ralph and Linda Corcoran can be reached at: Box 36 Langbank, Sk. S0G 2X0 Phone (306) 532-4778 E-mail [email protected]
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BRIAN LUCE Brian is located on a 4th generation farm NW of Red Deer, Alberta (in the Crestomere area). His parents continue to be active on the farm and their presence is greatly appreciated as he and his wife Gail and raise their kids, ages 14, 13, 9 and 7. They started rotational grazing in the early 80’s and switched to planned grazing in 1994 after attending the Grey Wooded Forage Association Pasture School and the Introductory course in Holistic Management. Since then the family has been part of one of the longest running HM clubs in Canada and his training as a CE has been greatly enhanced by their expertise and wisdom. He has been a member of the GWFA since 1993 and served as a director for several years. He served several years as their representative on the Alberta Forage Council and then became the AFC representative on the Western Forage Beef Group. He was also involved in the process of transitioning the AFC into the Agriculture Research and Extension Council of Alberta. Brian and his family have great optimism about the future opportunities in agriculture as their family continues to learn and grow together. Brian Luce can be reached at: RR4 Ponoka, AB T4J1R4 Phone 403 783 6518 E-mail [email protected] LEN PIGGOTT - CHAIRPERSON Leonard was raised on a mixed farm in southwest Saskatchewan. Leonard and his wife Janet now ranch at Dysart Saskatchewan. He holds degrees in Arts and Science and Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan. He has also been a registered educator for Holistic Management for over twenty years. They have been raising grass fed beef and trying to market it locally for over ten years. He enjoys training horses and playing guitar. Len can be reached at: Phone 306-432-4583 E-mail [email protected]
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TERRY GOMPERT Terry Gompert is a veteran UNL Extension Educator located in Knox County, Nebraska. His focused program area includes grazing education. He recently became a Certified Educator for Holistic Management. He has a cow/calf operation near Center, Nebraska on rented and owned land. Some yearlings are retained and some grassfed beef are produced. Terry considers himself a low-cost producer who grazes nearly year-round, not forsaking the opportunity to use crops to graze. Terry believes locally-grown foods, family farms, sustainable agriculture, Holistic Management® decision making and grass-based agriculture are the most valuable aspects of Nebraska’s future. Terry has had the opportunity to speak at many conferences in the Midwest. He particularly likes speaking at farmer/rancher groups. Terry Gompert can be reached at: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator 308 Bridge Street P.O. Box 45 Center NE 68724 402-288-5611 fax - 402-288-5612 [email protected] http://www.knox.unl.edu
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DARCI LANG Darci shares one idea that is an easy-to-apply message that everyone can relate to, Focus on the 90% that is positive in your life. The message is simple; you have a choice when it comes to your attitude and the choices you make affect everyone around you.
All Darci speaks on is from her own life experience. By the age of 24, she was running three separate businesses. She has won and been nominated for over a dozen entrepreneurial and business excellence awards. She knows first hand that working well with others means you have to work on you and your own attitude first.
Darci started speaking over 16 years ago when people wanted to hear about her "focus on the 90%" philosophy and how it shaped her life. As the demand increased, she sold her two other retail companies and focused full-time on her speaking career.
Everything Darci shares in her presentations, she has lived. Darci grew up working in her Dad's Volkswagen garage; she has waited tables, worked retail, taken a company from bankruptcy to award-winning and started two of her three companies from scratch.
She has five sets of parents and 10 brothers and sisters. Darci owned three companies by the age of 24 and now at 40, she is a professional speaker, an author, mom to two joy-filled children, Jayda and John, and wife to Darren, a 10-year-old boy trapped inside a 40-year-old man's body. She is truly a speaker who lives her message. Darci Lang can be reached at: Box 32077 Regina, Saskatchewan S4N 6E0 Phone (306) 569-1354 Fax (306) 569-1356 E-mail [email protected]
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WHAT DOES HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT REALLY MEAN – PAM IWANCHYSKO
Holistic Management has been a management technique used by many producers, businesses and people for many years and is gaining popularity as a management tool to strengthen relationships, business techniques and finances. In this ever increasing fast-paced world people are searching for security, happiness and struggling with the difficulty of finding it. It has become increasingly hard to find happiness in this world of “bigger is better” mentality. In the urban centers people are struggling to have bigger homes, faster vehicles, more “toys” and many of them are not living life to the fullest. The perception is that if they have more they will be happier. Farming and all it has to offer – although not a fancy, frivolous lifestyle can offer benefits that urban people will never recognize. The complexity of Mother Nature will never be recognized by any of them. Many of these people are now trying to release the fast pace of their lifestyles by moving into rural acreages, buying cabins on the lakeshore etc. Farmers are at a huge advantage in today’s society because they still have the ability to work with Mother Nature and “live off the land” in a sustainable way. The simplicity of the farming lifestyle can not be overlooked. It is a gift that is given to only the people who are capable of being able to carry it forward. We as farmers take this for granted. We need to realize what knowledge we have been given by our ancestors and by experience and capture that as an opportunity to be happy.
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DISASTER PROOF –TOOLS FOR MANAGING LIFE’S UPS AND DOWNS - ROLANDE KIROUAC
When you smile your world changes! When you laugh your troubles disappear, your problems vanish! As leaders, we all need to increase the laughter in our lives so that we can weather life’s challenging moments and put everything in perspective. The power of laughter is being rediscovered, particularly in the workplace. It’s an innovative way to combat stress, dramatically improve morale, and significantly increase camaraderie and motivation. Benefits • Adopt innovative ways to promote healthy environments • Implement strategies to get through difficult times • Develop appropriate laughter in the workplace • Build strong relationships that nurture you • Find the key to a healthy and productive life.
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RE-CONSTRUCTING OWNERSHIP IN YOUR CROPPING SYSTEM – DR. RENE VAN ACKER
The ability to reap value from a cropping system depends very much on the ownership model represented in the system. Ownership provides rights both in terms of control and also in terms of reward. A careful consideration of your ownership position in relation to your cropping system can reveal both problems and opportunities in relation to your expectations for returns and what types of returns you expect from your cropping system."
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THE MANITOBA FOOD CHARTER – WHERE WE STARTED, WHERE WE ARE AT – KREESTA DOUCETTE
Manitoba Farming and a more just and sustainable food system
Join us for a discussion on how rural communities and farmers can become more involved in the increasing public discussion about our food system.
Food Matters Manitoba; home of the Manitoba Food Charter, is a registered charity that works to engage Manitobans towards healthy, fair and sustainable food for all. Started in 2005 the organization began by conducting 71 consultations throughout Manitoba with over 1500 Manitobans from across the food system. The Manitoba Food Charter, a one page vision statement of what a just and sustainable food system could look like was drafted in 2006. Municipalities, agencies, individuals and communities from across the province are turning the vision of the Manitoba Food Charter into a reality by taking action steps that range from learning new food skills, implementing new policies, changing purchasing habits, and thinking about food. Northern residents are leading the way, implementing food self sufficiency initiatives such as community gardening, chicken production and food storage and engaging local grocers, community members, and leaders.
While direct marketers bridge the rural-urban divide, the voice of those that produce much of the food we eat has been conspicuously silent in an increasingly public discussion around our changing food system. Hear about interesting Manitoba food initiatives and share your thoughts and ideas around how the food system can be more just and sustainable for Manitoba farmers, rural communities, and ultimately all of us food consumers.
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LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS – SAVING OUR CHILDREN FROM NATURE-DEFECIT DISORDER – JOLENE GARDINER
The restorative power of nature doesn’t display itself in our lives everyday. In farming communities we tend to look at nature at times as a bit of a problem; a creek that needs to be cross fenced again because the spring flood took last years fence out, a grove of bushes in the middle of a field that should be bulldozed out to make room for our ever larger equipment. I know a lot of you attending this conference have different views about the natural landscapes that you live or farm in and enjoy the opportunity to spend a day fencing in the valley and understand the importance of wildlife habitats to our ecosystems.
Personally, I have always had an interest in the beautiful area where my husband Keith & I farm. I spent many hours with our children picking wild flowers and wandering the banks of the Cypress Creek. I knew that I enjoyed being outdoors; I loved picking berries and making jam. Are these simple seemingly passive pastimes important to our physical or mental health? Yes I believe so.
I have been fortunate to witness a couple of “Acts of Nature” that piqued my interest in this subject. The first occasion was a few years ago when youth group from a Winnipeg inner city Boys and Girls club came out for a weekend to our community of Clearwater. These youth ranged in age from 13 – 17. I helped coordinate rural youth to interact with these urban kids, many of the youth from the Boys and Girls club had never been on a farm; a couple of the boys were refugees from the Sudan.
The first evening we held a bonfire and the youth played games outside under the stars. The 2nd day the students went to different farms and took part in daily farm chores, these included feeding chickens to gathering garden produce for our supper.
On the last day it was suggested that we take a hike in valley that surrounds the town of Clearwater. I can tell you all of the kids at this time were dealing with a bit of sleep deprivation and were not very enthused about a trek to the “valley”, but they did follow along as we walked across town to the bridge where we crawled through the barb wire fence near the creek. This part of the walk took approx 10 minutes, now you have to understand that these 10 minutes were torturous on the kids and they let all the adults know it; you can imagine the negative comments.
As we walked along the creek bank and stopped to see the beaver stumps and slides I could feel the energy in the group changing, we moved along enjoying the scenery and ended up at a grove along the trail where the creek turns north. There is a beautiful bridge at this spot; it was really a glorious day one of those beautiful calm summer days and this is one of the best places on the earth to appreciate a day like this.
There was no planned agenda on this walk, we just let the youth enjoy nature and they did, before too long they had their shoes and socks off and were wading in the creek. They caught frogs and tadpoles, walked across the beaver damn, gathered clam shells, splashed and played in the creek laid down on the shale banks and soaked up the sun. Long before they wanted to it was time to head back. I don’t know where those tired unenthusiastic youth went, but it was a different group of kids that left that valley, they were full of questions all
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the way back to the van that was taking them back to Winnipeg. I really believe that this unintentional hike in the valley had an impact on the youth that day.
The 2nd occasion was a grade 3 & 4 field trip last June. This field trip was with a local early years' school. The focus of the field trip was sustainability and local food, due to the kitchen facilities in the community curling rink and the proximity to the valley this was the head quarters for the field trip. I was helping the Harvest Moon summer student with the event, we planned a couple of activities around local food, made pizza’s from local ingredients, played a food miles game, made cement prints of rhubarb leaves and lastly took a hike in the valley.
I will concede that 8 and 9 year olds are fairly easy to impress and tend to find the “Awe” moments without us having to point them out, but there was 1 child in the class with Asperger syndrome. A very simplistic definition: Aspergers syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder, and children/people with it therefore show significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.
There was some concern about this student and his ability to keep up with the group on the hike; he had a tendency to become too hot or too tired to take part in his school physical education program. We started off on the hike down into the valley to explore the creek and the riparian area that surrounds it. All of the students were full of questions; why do the beaver cut down the whole tree when they just want the small branches? What kinds of trees grow here? Are there fish in the creek? What kind of frog is this? All the students were captivated with the hike; we climbed out of the valley and continued the walk around the town to a couple of the historical sites. I had forgotten about the “concerns” the teachers had about the “special student”. This student was walking beside me and seems to be enjoying himself, I asked him what he thought of the hike, he responded “yeah it was good, I usually don’t like to walk this far”. His teacher and his aide both commented on his engagement with the activities and his attentiveness.
Both of these incidents struck a cord with me and I was inspired to learn more about our relationships with nature. This fall and winter I had the opportunity to read the book “Last Child in the Woods” Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder. The book was written by Richard Louv. Richard Louv was the recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal and the author of 7 books.
In this work “Last Child in the Woods” he brought together studies that pointed to direct exposure to nature as essential for a child’s healthy physical and emotional development. In his book Richard Louv describes “nature-deficit disorder” as the human cost of alienation from nature, among them diminished use of senses, attention difficulties and higher rates of physical and emotional illness.
I don’t think anyone would argue about the physical and mental health crisis in North America. The instance of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure at all ages has sky rocketed. Yes, children are now being treated for high blood pressure.
In 2003, the journal of “Psychiatric Services” reported the rate at which children are prescribed antidepressants almost doubled in five years. The largest increase 66% was among preschool children. Data analyzed in 2004 by Medco Health Solutions found between 2000 and 2003 spending on antipsychotics, benzodiazepines and antidepressants
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(this included medication for attention disorders) surpassed spending on antibiotics and asthma medications for children.
An increasing circle of researchers believes that the disconnection from nature even when it is available has an enormous implication for human health and child development. The study of Ecological Psychology is not new, but the relatively new field of ecopsychology has fueled research into the impact of nature on human and physical and emotional health. The Wikipedia definition of Ecopsycholgy is that while the human mind is shaped by the modern social world, it can be readily inspired and comforted by the wider natural world, because that is the arena in which it originally evolved. One also has to include the relationship of humans to other species and ecosystems. Humans are dependent on healthy nature not only for their physical sustenance, but for mental health, too. The destruction of ecosystems means that something in humans also dies.
We live in the age of technology with TV’s, DVD’s cell phones, computers, I pods, MP3 players, Blackberry. We are plugged in, turn on, and tuned in 24 hours of the day if we want to be. We can see nature at the click of a mouse or by changing the channel. Superficially the world has become small and known, we have been everywhere and done everything, we are experiencing nature only at one or two senses often sight and hearing.
As human beings we need direct natural experiences. Nature is about smelling, hearing, tasting, seeing and touching. Increasingly we are seeing retailers using nature as an advertising medium, to encourage us to purchase a product or experiences. Large corporations understand the human draw to nature. Many shopping malls offer a nature experience with your shopping trip!
Are we distancing ourselves and our children from nature? What is your personal relationship with nature? What can we do as individuals or Holistic Management clubs to make a difference? Do we need to slow down and reconnect with nature?
Taking a child, grandchildren, nieces, nephews on a nature adventure, see the world through their experiences may be as rewarding for us as it is for the child. Make time to share your nature stories/experiences with them. Learn more about the areas you live in the natural vegetation, trees, and animals. Find a senior in your area that has stories to share about the “Old Days”; they love to share their nature stories.
You may enjoy the day fencing or checking the cows even more if you take some help with you!
The beautiful natural landscape in an around our community of Clearwater led to collaboration with the local Harvest Moon Society, Alexis Knispel a University of Manitoba masters student (at the time) and Sherry Dandgerfield an interpretive trail designer. Through Sustainable Development Initiatives Funding a series of 3 trails were envisioned for area around Clearwater. The first trail, “Lessons from the Land” was completed and the official opening was held last year. The “Old Town Trial” has been mapped and the 3rd trial which will follow the Cypress Creek north to the Pembina River System is still a dream. Video presentation “Time Spent In Clearwater”
I believe that we need to relive these experiences with our children or grandchildren. Make it an adventure, share your nature knowledge with children.
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Resources/partnerships; Last Child in the Woods – Book author Richard Louv http://richardlouv.com
Conservation Districts http://mcda.ca
Holistic Management International http://www.holisticmanagement.org & local
management groups, local schools & School Divisions
Education for Sustainable Development guides Kindergarten – Grade 4 and Education
for Sustainable Development guides Grade 5 – 12
http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/esd/index.html
Manitoba Envirothon; http://www.mbenvirothon.com Manitoba Foresty http://www.mbforestryassoc.ca Children and Nature Network http://www.childrenandnature.org Ducks Unlimited Canada http://www.ducks.ca/resource/index.html
Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation http://www.mhhc.mb.ca
MB Agri Woodlot http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/woodlot
MB Conservation http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation
Manitoba Agriculture Food & Rural Initiatives http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture
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LIVING AT HOME WITH HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT – ANN ADAMS Holism & Synergy To manage holistically requires the understanding of holism. Holism means understanding the importance of the relationships between component parts of a whole. You must work on developing symbiotic relationships through understanding how those parts interact and function within the whole. That is the way to create synergy. The holisticgoal is so powerful because it keeps us focused on what we want and we are not resisting against what we don’t want. We accomplish what we want to accomplish by moving with nature (including human nature) instead of resisting against what we don’t want. That reframing is the beginning of practicing Holistic Management. Practice & Plasticity There’s a reason we use the word “practice” with Holistic Management. Practice is about training or retraining our brain. We have incredible regenerative and adaptive capabilities, but we need to believe we can make the change. That is the power of stories. We are each a story, a role model for others. If we can do it, so can others. Holistic Management has provided us the training or retraining wheels to make the shift from negative or reductionist thinking that wasn’t serving us to a holistic perspective and an adaptive management process that has us functioning at a higher level than we were before. Mastery When people first start managing holistically, they often ask some variation of the question, “When do we get there?” They want Holistic Management to be the silver bullet. It is only a tool that will help us live our life more in line with our values. The more we practice the greater our mastery of the tool. The more we offer opportunities to others to learn about Holistic Management and practice it with us, the more they are able to have mastery in their practice. Monitoring Indicators One sign outcome of mastery is knowing what to look for to determine if you are on the right course. With soil health we look at soil cover, organic matter, and biodiversity. For local economies we look for diversity of income sources, labor pool, and opportunities for collaboration. For thriving families we look at body language, attitude, ability to communicate and signs of respect. We need to become experts within our only families on the behaviors we have said we will do in the forms of production in our holisticgoal. We must come to these conversations with curiosity. If you engage with others out of a place of true curiosity, then you can’t be judgmental. Judgment assumes right or wrong, good or bad. That weed is bad, that grass is good. With Holistic Management we know we focus on the landscape improving with healthy water cycle and mineral cycle and energy flow with a diverse community of species. We need to stay focused on the big picture in our families as well and make sure that we are not judging actions just because we wouldn’t take them toward the holisticgoal. If we become curious enough, we can explore with other family members how they think their actions are leading toward the family’s holisticgoal.
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Resilience One of the new concepts that is being articulated within sustainability or environmental circles is the concept of resilience and resilience thinking. With Holistic Management we are constantly working for economic, social, and ecological resilience. Resilience is the capacity of a system to absorb CHANGE while still maintaining its basic structure and function. In other words, a resilient landscape can handle change in weather better than a less resilient landscape. Likewise, a resilient business can handle the change in markets than a less resilient business, and a resilient family can handle the changes that come from illness, births, deaths, divorces, wars, etc. than a less resilient family. These resilient entities are more flexible and open to multiple options or uses, and they are more forgiving of management mistakes. Resilience thinking also talks about how ignoring or resisting the element of change and surprise increases risks and vulnerabilities. If you manage for only one factor whether it is maximum yield or family dynamics the way they were when you were a kid, then you are actually diminishing the “system’s” resilience, because you are resisting change. Biodiversity is key to a system’s resilience. Think potato famine, coral reef loss, bark beetle deaths in pine forest. Monocultures are extremely vulnerable to the inevitability of change. We know this and accept this in nature, but we are scared to death of change and difference in our families. We have to embrace change and diversity within our families and communities if we are to create resilience. Remember, we have our holisticgoal pointing us toward what we value. We know lack of diversity and change is not good in nature so why do we think it is good for humans? Communication & Connection When we look at the ecosystem processes—water cycle, mineral cycle, energy flow, succession, we want them operating in a way that indicates health & vitality in all areas to provide resilience in challenging times like drought or flooding. The results, if we work with nature to improve these processes, are increased complexity, productivity, and resilience. So too with family health. If we use the analogy of the ecosystem processes then we must look at emotional, physical, spiritual/intellectual, & communal health. We need vitality in each of those areas as well to provide resilience in challenging times. The results are increased complexity, productivity, and resilience. To create that resilience requires good communication. We all know the people stuff is the hardest so we often avoid it, feel like we aren’t good enough. But with the holisticgoal as our North Star, we have a tool to help us learn how to communicate better. But, we have to believe it is important and that we can do it. We have to believe that communication is a critical skill we need to improve—that it is the herd effect for people because it gets the energy moving. Communication is energy and connection, engagement. Just as grasses need to be grazed as part of the symbiotic relationship between grasses, soils, and animals, people need to communicate and engage with each other in a way that creates a healthy symbiotic relationship. As we know, timing is everything. If we look at the sigmoid curve, we see it is about optimizing the energy stored in the plant, looking at when we graze it and how much we graze it. How much we graze it will
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determine how much recovery it needs. We need to consider overgrazing, overrest, and severe grazing. We look at how we are grazing. So too we have to look at how we are communicating. Conclusion If we commit to using this adaptive management tool to the best of our abilities and recognize how much better we can use that tool when we include others in the feedback loop, then you and your family will be on the path of living a life of meaning.
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FINDING PURPOSE IN PERIL – JOHN IKERD We are living during a time of great peril. The global economic recession isn’t simply the consequence of the greed and corruption of a few wealthy or politically powerful individuals. The current economic crisis is a symptom of our modern way of life – of an economy and society that are inherently unsustainable. There is just cause for uncertainty and even fear. For the past 30-years we have been living in a state of denial, a retreat from reality. We have been systematically depleting the productivity of the natural and human resources upon which our economy and our society ultimately depend. The future of humanity is in peril. The forces that perpetuate the current crisis are powerful, both economically and politically. In addition, extraction and exploitation are basic traits of industrialization, which has dominated economic development for the past two centuries. What can we, as individuals, possibly do to meet today’s challenges and create a new sustainable, post-industrial society? The answer: we can do whatever we have the ability to do; that’s the most we can do, but that’s enough. If our life has purpose, then we must have the ability to fulfill that purpose. If we fulfill our purpose, we will have done what we were meant to do; we will have done our part, and will have made our greatest possible contribution to the good of humanity.
We can’t prove that our life has purpose; but we know it – by faith. Without purpose, it simply doesn’t matter what we do. Without purpose, life doesn’t make sense. If we are concerned about the sustainability of life – of our life and life on earth – then we must believe that life is good. We can believe in the goodness of a thing, an idea, or a person – of nature or life in general. Love is the belief that something is inherently good. If we express our love of life in everything we do, we will be led to fulfill our purpose. If we fulfill our purpose, will that be enough to bring about necessary change? There is no way of knowing for sure, but there is reason for hope. Hope is not the certainty of success or even a belief that the odds are in our favor. Hope is the possibility of success – of something good. In faith and love, there is always hope
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CROPPING AND LAND MANAGEMENT – BLAIN HJERTAAS, TONY MCQUAIL, RALPH CORCORAN
When we think of cropping and land management from a Holistic Management perspective we are planning to design crop rotations that mimic nature. Nature covers bare soil, moves toward diversity and retains nutrients. It maximizes energy flow and community diversity while maintaining strong water and mineral cycles. If we design rotations that keep the soil covered most of the time with growing plants we are maximizing the amount of sunlight photosynthesizing into materials we can either sell, feed or return to our soil production base through roots and residue. Actively growing plants provide shade and protection for the soil surface and their roots take up soluble nutrients while releasing exudates into the soil which feed fungi and bacteria that further increase the plants ability to draw nutrients from the soil. A crop rotation that has a variety of crops growing in different years achieves diversity through time. A rotation that includes mixed grains or grains and legumes growing together has diversity at one time. Underseeding a crop with legumes like red clover or sweet clover that come on strongly after the main crop is harvested is another way to achieve this. Growing cover crops or green manure crops between main cash crops can also increase diversity. Crops with different root types and depths also improve the diversity of the system. Cocktail cropping is an approach where a large variety of different seeds are planted at one time and a polyculture of plants grown either for feed or as a plow down. Some are experimenting to design cocktails where some of the plants growing in the cocktail can be harvested as seed. The more complex a mixture the more challenging it can be to get different plants to mature and be harvestable at the same time. If plowing down or using livestock to harvest the cocktail crop by grazing this is not as significant a concern. Designing a good crop rotation is as unique as your holistic goal, your soil type and farm topography and local ecosystem. Figuring out and then adjusting a crop rotation involves using your holistic goal. It helps direct the choice of crops and the design and then adjusting it over time to ensure that it leads toward the quality of life and future landscape you’ve described with increasing environmental sustainability. Below are some resources which may be helpful in thinking about cropping and how you are managing your land. Organic Field Crop Handbook, Second Edition – Section 3 –
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Designing crop rotations. http://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/naturalagriculture/cropdiv.html Increasing Crop Diversity http://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/naturalagriculture/covercrops.html Cover Crops and Green Manures http://www.holisticmanagement.org/n9/Education/In_Practice/InPractice_Archives/cocktailmixes.pdf Cocktail Mixes & Integrating Livestock http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/faq7979?opendocument Improving Soil Fertility With Green Manure Legume Crops - Frequently Asked Questions http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex133 Legume Green Manuring http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/covercrop.html Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures http://www.sare.org/publications/covercrops/covercrops.pdf Managing Cover Crops Profitably (third edition) Burleigh County Soil Conservation District www.bcscd.com Dakota lakes Research Farm www.dakotalakes.com FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT – KELLY SIDORYK AND ALLISON GUICHON
Why do we do Financial Planning? What can Financial Planning do for us? Financial Planning can show us: • How to plan for and produce a profit • How to select the best enterprises to run • What to spend money on and when • How to meet your financial challenges effectively • If managing livestock, how to coordinate the build up of both livestock and infrastructure
while remaining profitable Come join us to discuss any questions or issues you may be having in regards to Financial Planning.
PERSONAL GOAL SETTING – BRIAN LUCE, FRAN MCQAUIL, LINDA CORCORAN
The Holistic goal is our compass. It gives us direction. Formation of a holistic goal and familiarity and use of the testing questions are the heart of Holistic Management. In this session, we will review these key features of Holistic Management and share ideas and experiences within the group about using them.
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BUILDING A NEW ECONOMY IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS – SMALL FARMS ARE REAL FARMS – JOHN IKERD
The economic, social, and political trends of the past cannot continue indefinitely into the future. Our current economy is not sustainable and cannot continue to sustain our society. This is not a matter of opinion it is a scientific certainty. Everything that is of any use to us, including everything of economic value, ultimately depends on energy. It takes energy to make and to use our cars, houses, and food, even energy to fuel our thoughts and emotions. According to science, energy can neither be created nor destroyed. However, each time energy is used, some of its usefulness is lost – the law of entropy. When its usefulness is gone, it has no value. Our current industrial economy is very efficient in using and reusing energy, but does nothing to renew or regenerate the usefulness of energy needed to sustain future generations. Our society increasingly is driven by the economic bottom line. Economic value is inherently individualistic in nature. Thus, it makes no economic sense to do anything solely for the benefit of someone else, certainly not someone of some future generation. A society that is motivated solely by economic value, as is increasingly the case, is not sustainable. A sustainable economy must meet the needs of the present while renewing and regenerating the productivity of nature and society, so those of future generations will be able to meet their needs as well. The post-industrial economy must be ecologically sound and socially responsible if it is to be economically viable. Agriculture has been pulled along by the economic forces of industrialization. We have seen farms become more specialized, more standardized, routinized and mechanized, with control consolidated under fewer larger operations. These strategies of industrialization have been motivated by economic efficiency – by the economic bottom line. However, these trends are not sustainable. Sustainable farms must function in harmony with nature and society. Nature and society are holistic, diverse, and interdependent. Farms of the future must be holistic, rather than specialized, and diverse, rather than standardized, with control dispersed among many smaller interdependent farming operations. Farms of the future must be managed not simply for the economic bottom line, but also for the overall quality of life of farm families, their communities and customers, and the long run well-being of society and humanity. We must find ways to ensure the economic viability of ecologically sound and socially responsible systems of farming.
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HOW TO SURVIVE AND BE A PROFITABLE FARMER – TERRY GOMPERT Holistic decision making is a key to success. The decision making process will be explained with practical examples. The presentation will focus on the principles of Ultra High Stock Density with ample examples of producer experiences and success. Other key words in the presentation will include: cow evaluation; Hazard’s “be tight” principle; William’s “sell-buy” principle; key holistic management principles; managing for dung beetles; litter 1 @ 2; Brix level; enhancing symbiosis; working with nature; raw milk as a fertilizer; and year-round grazing.
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PRODUCER PANEL – APPLYING HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT TO YOUR FARM
DON AND MARIE RAZICKA In 1983, Marie Don and their three children, Anna, Matt and Paddy moved to the farm that his maternal grandparents purchased in approximately 1910. The local school district was named “Sunrise.” His grandfather named the farm “Sunrise Farm” and they are proud to carry on the name and tradition of this third generation family farm. The farm is situated in East Central Alberta in Flagstaff County, northwest of Killam.
They farmed conventionally until 1995. A course in Holistic Management changed their lives, how they farm, and most of all, how they have come to view the land.
They 800 acre farm consists of 600 acres of mixed grasses and legumes and 200 acres of native prairie, all certified organic since 2000. The farm is holistically and organically managed. They believe that if the land is managed well, it will reflect on the health of the plant communities, resulting in healthy, nutritious and great tasting meats. The pastures are divided into paddocks and the cattle are rotationally grazed. They raise certified organic Angus/Galloway cross cattle, chickens, laying hens, turkeys and natural pork, all on pasture. They also custom graze yearling grass cattle.
Their adult children are all away from the farm working in various careers. However, the fact that one or all of them may like to return to farm at some future date, motivates Marie and Don to continue farming using this model. Don and Marie can be reached at: Box 579 Killam, AB T0B 2L0 Phone (780) 385-2474 E-mail [email protected] Website www.sunrisefarm.ca
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LEN LARSEN Len Larsen, his wife Lisa and kids Josh and Renee operate Lars Acres Ltd, a 2000 acre ranch at Rouleau, Saskatchewan. Their land is mostly located along the Moose Jaw River in area commonly referred to as the Regina plains. The soil is heavy clay and the topography is flat. Over the last several years they have changed from a straight grain farm to a straight livestock operation. The focus of the operation is: Multispecies grazing with a bonded flerd of sheep, cattle and horses Developing locally adapted livestock able to lamb and calve on grass without assistance Extended grazing seasons with the goal of 300 plus days of grazing Low cost high profit livestock production Reducing the reliance on outside inputs including fuel, feed, equipment Using horses as much as possible because it reduces livestock stress and provides a profitable sideline selling well broke saddle horses and chore teams Len and Lisa can be reached at: Rouleau, SK S0G 4H0 Phone (306) 776-2427 E-mail [email protected] MARC AND LINDSAY BOULANGER Marc was born and raised on a beef and grain farm north of Grande Clairiere, MB. After completing high school in Hartney, MB he attended the University of Manitoba and attained his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Degree with a major in Agronomy. In the fall of 1998 he married Lindsay Mullin from Bowsman, MB and worked in Winnipeg with Feed Rite. In the fall of 1999 after making enough money to buy plane tickets, Lindsay and Marc went to Australia for a year on a working holiday VISA and did some custom combining, bug scouting, cotton picking, surfing, scuba diving, and white water rafting. Upon their return Marc went back to Feed Rite and worked as a Beef and Dairy Specialist until he started working for Manitoba Agriculture and Food as the Ag Rep in Souris in the fall of 2001. Marc and Lindsay have 3 small children, Peyton 6, Ainsley 4 and Graeme 2 and enjoy playing hockey in the winter and spending time at the lake in the summer. Marc and Lindsay can be reached at: Box 383 Hartney, MB R0M 0X0 Phone (204) 858-2353 E-mail [email protected]
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REJAN PICARD Rejean was born and raised in a Quebec City. He developed an interest in agriculture from visiting and working on a relative’s dairy farm during his teen years. Following his interest in agriculture, he undertook to complete a degree in agriculture at Laval University in Quebec City. Rejean majored in soils and crops during his studies at the university. Rejean first came to work in Manitoba as a university student and returned to stay after completing his degree. He initially worked on a dairy farm when located in Manitoba after graduation, then worked as a lender for a variety of financial institutions before taking the position of ag rep with Manitoba Agriculture in Somerset, a bilingual community. Rejean has been working with MAFRI since and is now a farm production advisor in the same Somerset location. Rejean developed an interest in HM in 2007 when a course was offered and delivered by Don Campbell in the La Riviere area. At the time, the presentation on bale grazing showed great promise for this practice but relatively limited amount of information on the resulting changes in soil nutrient levels. In the fall of 2007, ten sites were identified before bale grazing took place so we could soil sample these sites and follow up in future years to measure what happens to the soil nutrient level when bale grazing is applied. Rejan can be reached at: Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives Box 189 Somerset, Manitoba R0G 2L0 Phone: (204) 825-8054 Fax: (204) 744-4060 Email: [email protected]
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FOCUS ON THE 90% - DARCI LANG Darci believes we hold a magnifying glass out in front of us in our lives and only we can choose where we focus it, on the 90% or the 10%.
We go to motivational sessions and we hear great messages and we are totally motivated until at least...the car ride home. How can we carry that message forward? Focus on the 90% is one simple idea and how it applies to all areas of our lives. One idea, not 19 ways or 27 ideas, just one. Focus on the 90%. Darci will ask one simple question throughout her humorous and thought-provoking presentation. Where do you focus your magnifying glass, on the 90% that is positive in your life or the 10% that is not? How do you know where your focus is? • What do you say about your job on the coffee break and at the end of the day? • How do you interact with the 90% and the 10% at work? • How do you feel about "serving" clients all day? • How do you feel about yourself? • What do you give to your family at the end of the day? Your 90% or your 10%? Darci will challenge the audience with the fact that we do have a choice in how we view our lives. This idea of seeing the positives in their lives is something that we all know works. We know we should do it more but the ultimate challenge is … are we doing it? And if we aren't, how can we start to see our lives in a more positive way? Each audience member receives their own magnifying glass and a strong reminder that life is short and only they can choose how they live their life.
