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Using cattle to reduce wildfire risks

Using cattle to reduce wildfire risks

The B.C. Cattlemen’s Association will investigate using livestock to manage fine fuels in parts of the province

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

British Columbia is investigating a new tool in the battle to keep residents safe from wildfires.

On Saturday, British Columbia’s Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Development announced a $500,000 investment to the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association to “develop partnerships and investigate an initiative that will use grazing livestock to manage fine fuels in parts of B.C.”

The province defines fine fuels as “fuels that ignite readily and are consumed rapidly by fire.” They include grass, fallen leaves, needles and small twigs.

Taking a unique approach to wildfire prevention can help support the ag industry, said Agriculture Minister Lana Popham.

“B.C.’s beef producers are well known for raising high-quality grass- and range-fed beef, and we’re working with them to find ways to combine that practice with reducing vegetation that fuels wildfires,” she said in a statement Saturday. “It’s an intriguing model that I’m hopeful will become a mainstay in our efforts to protect our communities and resources from fires, as well as supporting B.C. ranchers and B.C. beef.”

Some communities are already using farm animals to control wildfire risks.

In San Francisco, for example, at least one farmer rents out some of his 3,500 goats to help people concerned about the chance of wildfires.

Some of Mike Canaday’s clients include the Ventura County Fire Department, which is thankful for the goats’ assistance.

“When we gaze goats in an area, all of the fuel is removed before fire season and it doesn’t grow back until the following season,” Kenneth VanWig, chief of the Ventura County Fire Department, told Sierra Club in September 2018.

Wildfires have become an increasingly serious issue in B.C.

More than 2,100 wildfires burned 1.349 million hectares (3.33 million acres) across the province in 2018. The fires resulted in a state of emergency which lasted from Aug. 15 to Sept. 7.

Using livestock to reduce the risks can show how important the ag industry is, said Kevin Boon, general manager of the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association.

Wildfire events have “shown us the value of agriculture, specifically cattle grazing, in mitigating the start or spread of fires while assisting firefighting efforts,” he said in a statement Saturday. Cattle grazing reduces the fine fuels available for fires to take hold. This funding will allow us to develop partnerships in interface areas to help protect our lands, forests and communities, while producing some of the best quality food in the world.”

Farms.com has reached out to the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association and local beef producers for comment.


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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