Better Pork - February 2007

Environment

'Yellow Fish Rural' where farmers and environmentalists come together

What if farmers and respected conservation groups could sit down and openly discuss meaningful, measurable and achievable farm-based conservation efforts? With this project, it's actually happening

by IAN JAMES

Once in a while things fit together. Bacon and eggs, peanut butter and jam or a combo meal from any fast food hamburger outlet - they all just "fit." At first glance, farmers and environmentalists don’t look like they should belong together, but they do, and here’s why.

Before I go any further I need to say that I'm an OAC (82) Aggie grad and darn proud of it. Back in the mid 1980s, I farmed pigs. Now, I make a living as a fly-fishing guide and author. Over the years, from my farming days and through time spent in rivers, I have somewhat reluctantly become a conservationist.

On speaking tours across the continent, it saddens me to hear folks blaming farmers for the degradation of water quality. "It's always the farmers, " they say. "They don't care. It's those 900,000-head factory pig farms... " Imagine their surprise when I casually mention that I was once a pig farmer?

On the other hand, when I am hanging out with my old OAC classmates, they like to give the environmental groups a going over. "Darn buffer zones," they say. Imagine their surprise when they discover I am a conservationist.

I got to thinking, what if there was a way to bring farmers and environmentalists together, but with no hidden agendas? What if farmers and respected conservation groups could sit down and, without judgment, persecution or mud slinging, openly discuss meaningful, measurable and achievable farm-based conservation efforts?

One Saturday afternoon, about three years ago, I was out on the Grand River near Fergus, with Keith Robbins, the director of communications with Ontario Pork. I ran my idea past him and he asked if I could help him find an open-minded conservation group. I suggested both Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC) and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, (OFAH). A meeting was set up and, over lunch, they eyed each other like three very suspicious and battle-hardened roosters.

However, there was some very solid common ground. Imagine the look of surprise when TUC and OFAH learned that in some hog operations you have to shower in and shower out, and that pig farming is different in Ontario than in the United States.

The farmers took notice when TUC mentioned that, although it's still in the preliminary stages, they have been working on a system to turn drainage ditches into free-flowing "streamlets," requiring very little upkeep or expensive ditch cleaning.

Those seeds were sown almost a year ago and since then the Ontario Cattleman's Association and the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency have taken their seats at the table. Things move on and the project, now dubbed "'Yellow Fish Rural," finished its 15-farm pilot in the summer of 2006.

In the pilot, two highly capable summer students visited the farms - when it was convenient for the farmers and not when they happened to be in the neighborhood. They assessed the watershed areas, comparing their findings with a five-minute self-assessment, which the farmer had previously filled out. The data was delivered back to Ontario Pork, and several of the farmers' suggestions were added to the project.

It's now time to get more farmers involved. To do that, you can contact Sam Bradshaw at Ontario Pork
(tel: 519-767-4600).

The Grand River Conservation Authority has now agreed to co-ordinate the project and help farmers implement some of the changes they want to make.

Remember: very small changes can make a very big difference. "Yellow Fish Rural" can help you make those changes. BP

Professional fly fisherman and guide Ian Jamees is based in London, Ontario