Everyone benefits from programs that encourage best management practices

Maurice Boisvert was growing tired of seeing his calves born into freezing cold water, which would routinely flood his corrals during periods of high spring runoff. The Notre Dame de Lourdes area farmer knew that the health of his cows, which might be standing in the water for several days, was also being effected and that the manure-laden runoff was causing problems downstream.

His neighbour, Laury Brisson also had cows that were getting their feet wet in the winter corrals that occupied the creek bed on his farm.

Thanks to a joint federal/provincial program, which encouraged producers to implement changes within their designated watershed areas, Boisvert and Brisson have solved these ongoing problems on their properties.

The Equivalent Agri-Environmental Plan (EAEP) program, funded by Agriculture Canada (through the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration) and MAFRI, provided 50% of all costs to implement best management practices (BMP’s) that contributed towards better water quality within a watershed.

The Boyne River Watershed Action Group (BRWAG), which included representatives from the Pembina Valley and La Salle Redboine Conservation Districts, local producers and various levels of government, had identified five BMP’s that were eligible for funding through the EAEP.

They included measures to improve manure storage and handling, control farm runoff, manage riparian areas, control erosion and relocate livestock confinement areas.
Over half of the 500 producers in the watershed area attended various informational meetings organized by BRWAG to explain the EAEP program.

Boisvert and Brisson were two of the 24 producers residing within the Boyne River Watershed to access the EAEP program.

With a further 20% in top-up funds from the conservation districts, they were able to implement some changes that they had wanted to make for some time, but had been hesitant to commit to at a time when the financial outlook for cattle was far from rosy.
“Either I was going to get out of cattle or go ahead and do it, but at that time, with BSE, the price of cattle was so low that I didn’t want to invest too much money on my own,” says. Boisvert. “When I found out about the EAEP program I thought, that’s great, they will pay half, so I jumped at the program right away.”

Boisvert was able to build a dike around his corral area to hold back the water, and prevent it from picking up manure and carrying it downstream.

Brisson ended up constructing a proper crossing for his cattle to traverse the creek and built a secure water storage system, which meant he could move them away from the watercourse for over-wintering. He has also protected the riparian areas on his farm with additional fencing to prevent the cattle from eroding the banks of the creek.
“The effectiveness of the EAEP program went far beyond the projects that were done,” says Keith Wallcraft, who acted as EAEP coordinator. “Everyone who came to a meeting went away with more knowledge of the watershed to help make them make effective decisions on their farm.”

These projects are an example of how individual producers can cooperate with groups like conservation districts, municipal and provincial government and stakeholder groups to help solve problems and achieve goals that benefit all residents and users of a watershed area.

All agree there is much more work to be done and they are hopeful that the new “Growing Forward” agricultural policy to be unveiled next April, will include more projects like the EAEP to assist producers in doing their part for their shared environment.