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2008 Conservation Award - Breezy Dawn Farms
Intermountain Conservation District is pleased to announce the Conservation Award winner in our district.
Family Name : Ernie & Al Bayduza
Farm Location : Dauphin, MB
Farm Background
Ernie and Al own and operate Breezy Dawn Farms near Dauphin, Manitoba. Ernie has been farming all of his life and says that Al has been his right hand helper since they got married.
Farm Description
Ernie and Al currently farm 1800 acres, approximately 1200 acres are cultivated and the remainder of land is in hay and pasture. The number of cattle in their herd peaked at about 195 head but has since been reduced in recent years. Ernie and Al have registered charlois cattle as part of their herd for the past twenty years.
Conservation & Farming Practices
Breezy Dawn Farm has adopted minimum till techniques into their farming practice to reduce soil erosion.
Cereal crop rotation including wheat, oats and barley are also an aspect to their farming practices.
Shelterbelts have been planted around farms and yard site to reduce erosion.
The Bayduza’s have installed two miles of pasture pipeline to protect the waterways and provide the cattle with clean drinking water. The watering system includes seven paddocks and seven hydrants for trough hookup. In conjunction with the watering system cattle are managed on a rotational grazing system.
The Bayduza’s have renovated their corral set up for a one or two person operation for vaccination and separation and have installed video cameras into the calving barn.
Water quality and protection is also an important issue to the family and as such they have sealed abandoned wells on their properties to eliminate possible ground water contamination.
Conclusion
Aside from farming, Ernie and Al have been involved in many community groups and organizations over the years such as The Dauphin Agricultural Society, 4H Club, Dauphin Lake Advisory Board and Dauphin Farmers Club just to name a few.
They received an award from the Manitoba Agricultural Society and are now honorary lifetime members.
Ernie is a Board member on the Intermountain Conservation District and sub-district Chair of the Wilson River Sub-district. The opportunity to be involved in soil and water management and the impacts those decisions will have on the landscape for today and for future generations is something he takes great pride in.
In closing, Intermountain Conservation District is honored to have selected Ernie and Al Bayduza for recognition in the fields of agriculture and land & water stewardship.
2008 Youth Display Winner - Courtney Kovachik
What is in the future?
Why is your watershed important?
We all live in a watershed. Watersheds are the places we call home, where we work and where we play. Everyone relies on water and other natural resources to exist. What you and others do on the land impacts the quality and quantity of water and our other natural resource.
Healthy watersheds are vital for a healthy environment and economy. Our watersheds provide water for drinking, agriculture and industry. Many people also enjoy lakes and streams for their beauty and for boating, fishing and swimming. Wildlife also require healthy watershed for food and shelter. Managing the water and other natural resources is an effective and efficient way to sustain the local economy and environmental health. Everything that is done in a watershed affects the watershed's system. A partnership among all who live, work or play in the watershed can help identify concerns, educate those involved and encourage them to take action. Watershed management plans focus on long-term sustainable water and land use practices. To identify the issues and concerns in your watershed will allow the stakeholders to correct these issues. This is easier and cheaper than trying to cleanup a watershed after the fact. Understanding your watershed is the first step in protecting the water and other natural resources.
The Intermountain Conservation District, in partnership with the Department of Water Stewardship and the eleven partnering municipalities of the district, has now recognized the best way to protect the vital natural resources is to understand and manage them on a watershed basis.
The completion of the Valley River and Vermillion River State of the Watershed reports have provided valuable information to the conservation district with regards to the current condition of the watersheds and water quality.
Current work being done on the Wilson Watershed will also provide a perspective of some of the issues that are concerns in that watershed.
The conservation district is in the initial stages for the development of an Integrated Watershed Management Plan. The plan is developed by all stakeholders in a watershed and will address all concerns or issues of the watershed that affect water quality and water management. This plan will serve as the basis for all management decisions being carried out in by all resource management agencies or groups.
For more information on the Intermountain Conservation District or any of our programs contact:
Intermountain Conservation District
Box 328, Ethelbert, MB R0L 0T0
Ph: 742-3764 Fax: 742-3721
Email: imcd@mts.net
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