Land, Livestock & Innovation

Monday, September 22, 2025

Green Beach Farm’s Recipe for Adaptation & Growth

By Mary Loggan

In Strathclair, Man., a fifth-generation farmer quietly leads the charge toward a more resilient, regenerative future for Prairie agriculture.

Green Beach Farm & Food, managed by Zack Koscielny, serves as a testament to how tradition and experimentation can work hand in hand to revitalize both the land and rural livelihoods.

Better Farming recently connected with Koscielny to learn how his philosophy, adaptability, and practical innovations not only sustain the operation but also inspire a broader vision for farming across the Prairies.

Through continuous experimentation and a willingness to adapt, Koscielny demonstrates how operations can flourish even when faced with uncertainty and evolving challenges.

Farm beginnings

Koscielny’s roots run deep in agriculture: “Growing up surrounded by animals and the rhythms of farm life gave me a strong passion for agriculture and the environment,” he says.

After completing his studies in Agroecology at the University of Manitoba, he returned home in the fall of 2018, eager to apply new ideas to the family business.

Originally known as Salt Lake Charolais, the farm has evolved considerably since the BSE crisis, shifting toward a diversified cow-calf operation that produces pasture-raised beef, pork, and chicken.

He explains, “We have taken the time to diversify our operation to what it is today, helping us expand and become more profitable.”

Koscielny credits his parents’ open-mindedness as an important factor in his ability to experiment and innovate. “As long as I could show some solid research or examples from other successful producers, they were supportive of trying new approaches.

“That support has given us the freedom to pursue regenerative agriculture on our scale.”

This mindset allowed the farm to integrate organic grains and livestock in mutually beneficial ways, making full-time farming a viable reality.

He points to his time in a university class on regenerative agriculture that reshaped his vision. “I realized we didn’t have to follow traditional models; we could adapt and adopt practices that improve soil health while making the farm economically sustainable.

“This approach allowed us to both expand and integrate our operations.”

Innovations

Innovation drives almost every aspect of Koscielny’s farm management. He realized that traditional approaches, while tried and true, could not always meet the challenges facing small-scale, family-based agriculture today.

Instead, he works on integrating regenerative methods that benefit the operation at all levels.

Intensive rotational grazing: A centrepiece of Koscielny’s system is intensive rotational grazing. “Now, we’re moving cattle every day all summer, sometimes multiple times a day. We shorten the grazing period and extend rest periods for the pasture.

“That’s really helped us grow – our forages are thicker, the ground is more resilient, and the cattle are healthier.”

Building on that, he explains, “There’s actually a long history of rotational grazing on our farm. My uncle started it in the mid-1980s. I was interested in moving the cattle more frequently, which reduces feeding costs.

“In 2021, we made some changes to adapt to drought, and we were able to add more cattle because we grew more forage and built more buffer with our pasture moves.”

This system mimics the natural migrations of wild herds, maximizing manure distribution and preventing overgrazing. “It’s more work, but the benefits are undeniable. We’re seeing more plant diversity and wildlife, fewer weeds, and a big jump in drought tolerance.”

Diverse cover-cropping and perennial integration: Instead of just seeding single-species fields, he sows a diverse blend. The farm’s philosophy prioritized biodiversity, natural nutrient cycling and ‘soil armour,’ he explains.

“My goal is always to have two crops come off every year, making full use of the land. We practise intercropping and use plants like Italian ryegrass to save on costs.

“Being vice-chair of the Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association helps me stay connected to what other producers are trying, and I attend conferences to keep ideas fresh.

Integrating more perennials alongside annuals helps build soil organic matter and provides year-round root growth, further stabilizing the ecosystem, he says.

Multifunctional enterprise stacking: Rather than focus solely on cattle, Koscielny has adopted enterprise stacking, a method of combining several complementary forms of production.

“I’ve really bought into the whole stacking enterprises thing,” he says. “The pigs are in the bush, and the hens are in mobile coops following behind the cattle. The hens eat bugs from the manure and help break up parasite cycles.

“The pigs fit right where the cattle can’t go – they love rooting through the bush, and they turn under roots and fertilize spaces we’d otherwise ignore. It’s a win-win for land and livestock.”

This diversity reduces market risk and improves land utilization, with each species playing a role in the cycle.

Customer relationships: Recognizing the importance of controlling their own narrative and economic destiny, the Koscielnys began selling beef, pork, and chicken directly to consumers.

“Direct marketing has been a game-changer,” he says. “We know our customers by name. We can explain how their beef was raised, what it was fed, and why we do things the way we do. That relationship adds real value for both sides.”

He reflects on how customer relationships bridge a wider disconnect: “People today are more interested than ever in where their food comes from, which is rewarding for us. Farmers can sometimes be disconnected from consumers, too, so bringing both sides together is important.”

The feedback loop with customers informs everything from pasture management to packaging.

Focus on resilience: More than a list of practices, Koscielny’s approach stems from a regenerative philosophy. “I think that regenerative agriculture is better than sustainable; it's actually rebuilding and rejuvenating degraded soils, while improving the broader environment for future generations.”

In a region known for unpredictable weather and cycles of drought, resilience is critical. “We’ve seen big improvements in drought resiliency. It seems like a constant challenge with the weather, but it's where we live, and we have to deal with whatever comes our way.”

He notes, “We breed 80 to 90 commercial cows each year and custom graze an additional 60 pairs, totalling 140 to 150 head.

“We’ve made room to add more cattle. Sourcing bulls with resilient and adaptive genetics suited to our environment is key to success.

“With costs rising, finding ways to cut winter feeding expenses is critical, especially as hay prices fluctuate. Efficiency in forage management saves money and helps maintain a viable operation.”

Adaptation also means refining the cattle herd for hardiness and forage efficiency.

Through “careful culling and selection for animals well-adapted to forage-based systems,” Koscielny says, they’ve built a herd that can thrive with minimal external feed.

“It’s not always about the biggest or fastest-growing animal – it’s about what fits our land best.”

Looking to the future

Koscielny’s mindset is one of experimentation and observation, always questioning and adapting. “Regenerative agriculture is, first off, a practical measure to reduce inputs and increase margins,” he says, “but it’s also deeply rewarding to see our land improving every year and know we’re making a positive impact.”

He adds, “I’m getting more confident in our forage production and potential to grow the herd further. Growing the custom grazing side is a big opportunity.

“We’re also exploring working with other grain farmers to make good use of land that might otherwise be underutilized. Collaborations like that are rewarding, and I hope to do more in the future.”

He encourages other producers to take advantage of learning opportunities and be open to new ideas.

“The Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association holds conferences every November and provides producers the chance to connect and learn from others in the industry and see the different methods they have adopted.

“At the end of the day, every operation is unique, so you have to do what suits you best. But if there are ways to improve and adapt, I say go for it. BF