New Off the Creek TV Channel: the Hoppenbrouwers / White Creek Meats

Check out the Off the Creek TV Tab above, or just click this link: http://youtu.be/bRl82F5REOY

This is the latest in the series of videos that Red Deer County is developing, called "Stewards of the Land".  These videos recognize some of the great work that County residents are doing to care for and enhance their land.

Don't forget to check out the other videos on Off the Creek TV!

Upcoming Events and a New Off the Creek TV Channel

A new Off the Creek TV Channel is available.  Just click the Off the Creek TV Tab above.  This new channel shows a recent slide show with pictures of some of the projects that Off the Creek Landowners have completed.

Some events you don't want to miss:

1. November 7-10: AgriTrade (Westerner Park, Red Deer).  Stop by the Red Deer County booth and say hi!  This year, our Ag Services Board and Staff put together a "Classroom Reporter" program.  Grade 12 students from Chinooks Edge School Division will be roaming AgriTrade, learning all about Ag and writing news stories about things that catch there eye. 

2. November 15: Clear Water Landcare's Celebrating Our Success (Rocky Mountain House).  Learn what other stewards of the land are doing around Central Alberta and beyond.  For details, contact Gary Lewis at Clearwater County (403.845.4444 or glewis@clearwatercounty.ca )

3. November 20: Working Well Workshop (Pine Lake).  Our 7th!  These workshops are great opportunities to come and learn how to look after your water well.  For info or to register, contact Ken Lewis at 403.342-8653 or klewis@rdcounty.ca .

4. November 27-29: Western Canadian Grazing Conference (Red Deer).  This premier grazing extension event comes to Red Deer this year...and the speakers look great.  Details at: http://www.westerncanadiangrazingconference.com/ .  Register before November 1 for earlybird pricing! 
*Remember: Red Deer County landowners can get up to half their registration costs back for this event, thanks to the Agricultural Service Board's Ag Education Initiative (call Red Deer County Ag Services for info).

New Off the Creek TV and More

The Red Deer County Communications staff have put together 3 great little videos showcasing the Pine Lake Restoration Society.  Check out the videos by clicking the Off the Creek TV tab above.  You'll find a link to these videos there, along with the other Off the Creek videos that have been put together so far.

Other news:

1. Time for re-visits! 

The Off the Creek Program and its predecessor program, the Riparian Fencing Initiative, have been around long enough now that we're able to go back for the formal "re-visits"... after 4 or 5 years, we go back to the projects, and re-do any Riparian Health Assessment work completed when the project first went in, to see how the project has helped improve or maintain Riparian Health over time.  We'll post information on these re-visits (while protecting the landowners' anonymity of course!), here on the Off the Creek Blog.

2. Don't wait...time and resources are running out

• Remember that the Growing Forward funding programs are nearing their end.  Deadlines and other information are posted at http://www.growingforward.alberta.ca/
• Over half of the 2012 Off the Creek Program budget has been allocated so far, to 10 great projects.  If you're a Red Deer County landowner thinking of doing a  project with the Off the Creek Program in 2012...get your application in soon!

Last Chance to Register for the Controlled Grazing School

Here's the Schedule for the upcoming Controlled Grazing School, being hosted by Grey Wooded Forage Association, Kneehill County, Mountain View County and Red Deer County.

Please note: June 12 is the last day to register...we've only got a few spots left...be sure to call to register as soon as possible.

Each evening is different...attend them all, or attend the specific sessions that interest you.

EVENING 1: JUNE 19, 2012.  At Don Bezjack's Cross Bar Anchor Ranch

• 5:30 PM Registration and Supper
• 6:00 PM Principles of Controlled Grazing (including a pasture walk)

EVENING 2: JUNE 21, 2012.  At Don Bezjack's Cross Bar Anchor Ranch

• 5:30 PM Supper
• 6:00 PM Nutrient Cycling on Pastures
• 6:45 PM High Quality Pasture = High Gains
• 8:00 PM Pasture Economics

EVENING 3: JUNE 26, 2012. At Don Bezjack's Cross Bar Anchor Ranch

• 5:30 PM Supper
• 6:00 PM Stockpiling Forages for Extended Grazing
• 7:00 PM Electric Fencing and Water Systems

EVENING 4: JUNE 28, 2012.  Supper at Reed Ranch School, Pastures at Dean Duquette's

• 5:30 PM Supper
• 6:00 PM Forage Species
• 7:00 PM Pasture Design and the Grazing Plan

SPECIAL BONUS: FOLLOW-UP VISIT TO JIM BAUER'S RANCH

• July 3, 2012.  Details and Sign-up at the Controlled Grazing School

To Register: Call (403-505-9038) or email (klewis@rdcounty.ca).  $15/night includes supper!

Growing Forward News

A quick update regarding water and environment related Growing Forward Programs.

Growing Forward Water Management Program: Still open, still has funding, and still accepting applications.

Growing Forward Grazing and Winter Feeding Program: Still open, still has funding, and still accepting applications.  Will close August 31, 2012.  Projects must be completed by Oct 31, 2012

Growing Forward Manure Management Program: Still open, still has funding, and still accepting applications.  Has new application forms, which must be used.

Growing Forward Integrated Crop Management Program: Closed

Remember: If you need assistance with the planning work that is required for these programs, I can help you.   Contact me any time.

If you are considering Growing Forward funding, to ensure you get the latest news, be sure to check the Growing Forward website:

www.growingforward.alberta.ca

This site also presents information about  the many other Growing Forward Programs.

New on Off the Creek TV

Randy Radau of Coulee Creek Herefords, discusses the new winter watering system he installed.  Click here to watch the video: Stewards of the Land - Caring for the Coulee.

Check out the other Off the Creek TV channels, by clicking the Off the Creek TV Tab above, then find the links to the other stories.

Off the Creek TV: All off the Creek, All the Time!

Spring Time Reminders

Seedings pretty much in full swing now...maybe it's a good time for some reminders?



1. UPCOMING EVENTS

• May 12, June 9, July 7: Head to Hoof Horsemanship Clinics, with Geoff Hoar. For info or to register contact Meghan Marshall at 403.596.6084 or mmarshall@rdcounty.ca
• June 14-15: Ladies Livestock Lessons, at Pine Lake. For info or to register, see the LLL2012 BlogPage at http://ladieslivestocklessons.blogspot.ca/, or you can contact Ken Lewis at 403.342.8653 or klewis@rdcounty.ca
• June 19, 21, 26, 28: Controlled Grazing School, with Albert Kuipers (Grey Wooded Forage Association). For info or to register contact Ken Lewis at 403.342.8653 or klewis@rdcounty.ca .
• July 19: 10th Annual Enterprising Ag Tour in Red Deer County.  Stops include: Yff Dairy's solid / liquid manure separator and bedding maker, Future Farm's Charolais show, Buyks Spuds, Wachter Horses (show jumping).  Buy your tickets ($25 each) at the Red Deer County Office.

2. AG TRAINING REFUND



Any ag-related course you take might be eligible for up to 50% of the registration fees reimbursed to you (maximum $200), from the Red Deer County Agricultural Services Board “Ag Training Refund Program”. Open to any Red Deer County landowner.

3. OFF THE CREEK PROGRAM

Get up to 75% (maximum $5,000) to do a project on your land that benefits water bodies, riparian areas, native range and shallow groundwater.  Application forms are available from this blog page (click the "Off the Creek Doc's" tab above), or contact Ken Lewis at 403.342.8653 or klewis@rdcounty.ca


4. OFF SITE WATERING DEMONSTRATION UNIT

Is available for agricultural producers to "try before you buy".  FREE!!! Our new solar/wind powered unit is featured on the Off the Creek TV Page...click this link to watch it: Taking Livestock Watering to New Heights

Upcoming Workshops You Don't Want to Miss!

Spring is officially here...we'll wait and see if Old Man Winter agrees with that or not...

But at any rate, with the changing of the season also comes a fantastic line-up of spring/summer Workshops and Field Days.

Register for one (or more!) of these great workshops coming soon to your backyard:

• May 3: Pasture Management for Acreage Owners, with Steve Kenyon.  For info or to register contact Ken Lewis at 403.342.8653 or klewis@rdcounty.ca .


• May 12, June 9, July 7: Head to Hoof Horsemanship Clinics, with Geoff Hoar.  For info or to register contact Meghan Marshall at 403.596.6084 or mmarshall@rdcounty.ca .
• June 14-15: Ladies Livestock Lessons, at Pine Lake.  For info or to register, see the LLL2012 BlogPage at http://ladieslivestocklessons.blogspot.ca/, or you can contact Ken Lewis at 403.342.8653 or klewis@rdcounty.ca .

• June 19, 21, 26, 28: Controlled Grazing School, with Albert Kuipers (Grey Wooded Forage Association).  For info or to register contact Ken Lewis at 403.342.8653 or klewis@rdcounty.ca .

*** DON’T FORGET: If you're a Red Deer County landowner: Any ag-related course you take might be eligible for the Red Deer County Agricultural Services Board “Ag Training Refund Program”. With this program, Red Deer County producers can get 50% of their registration fees back, to a maximum of $200.

Digital versions of brochures, posters etc. for all 4 of these events are available (just email if you want one).  Soon, they'll be up on the Red Deer County website as well.

Don't Forget...Upcoming Events You Don't Want to Miss

All grey text words are hot links to more info etc.
February 3, 2012 (Friday):

• Emerald Day in Red Deer.  The Alberta Emerald Foundation (which looks after the Emerald Awards) is taking its celebration of stewardship on the road, and coming to Red Deer.
• The purpose of this event is to bring environmental stewards together in Red Deer, to celebrate their efforts.
• The Off the Creek Program will be on hand with a display.
• Details: 2:30 to 6:30, at Red Deer College, in "the Forum".
• NOTE: all are invited.  If other stewardship groups or initiative want to participate, please contact Emmy Stuebing at the Alberta Emerald Foundation: 780-413-9629 or emmy@emeraldfoundation.ca
• Click for more info: Red Deer Emerald Day 

February 6, 2012 (Monday):

• The Medicine River Watershed Society Annual Open House

February 13,14,21,22

• Red Deer River Watershed Alliance Integrated Watershed Management Plan Stakeholder Workshops

February 16, 2012 (Thursday):

• Ranching Opportunities 2012

February 27, 2012 (Monday):

• Working Well Workshop in Red Deer County.  Call Judy Murphy to register 403-350-2163.  Click here for more info about the Working Well Program.

March 7, 2012 (Wednesday):

• Managing Your Woodlot for Long-Term Forest Health and Forester Wealth (not really the title...we're still working on that)
• This excellent workshop, hosted by Clearwater County, Clear Water Landcare, Red Deer County and the Alberta Woodlot Extension Society, will take place in Benalto, starting with a light supper at 5:30.
• Topics include: Carbon Offsets (for trees and for forage); Tree Pests and Diseases, Value-adding to your woodlots, and more!
• To Register, call Ken at Red Deer County at 403-342-8653

Many more excellent Agriculture and Conservation events are posted here (on Ropin' the Web):

http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app55/events

Off the Creek is Off and Running in 2012!

The other day, I was talking with a lady who asked me "what do you do?"  I told her I worked for Red Deer County, and my job was to assist farmers, ranchers and other landowners, in doing things to look after their land, their businesses, and the environment.

Like many people, she asked me how that was going...I told her I am continually impressed by the knowledge local landowners have about the environment, their operation, and the interactions between the two.  I gave her some examples of the many actions landowners are taking to benefit the environment.

Since 2006, 56 landowners have completed 75 projects.  The Landowners who completed projects from 2006 to 2010 were recognized with an Emerald Award for their efforts. 

A number of the landowners who completed Off the Creek Projects in 2011 were just recognized as "Watershed Ambassadors" by the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance.  Look to the February edition of the County News, or the next newsletter from the Red Deer River Watershed Alliance, to see who these people are.

Hint: One of these Landowners is highlighted in the last video posted on Off the Creek TV...check it out if you haven't already: Taking Livestock Watering to New Heights

Already in 2012, a riparian fencing project and a winter watering system have been supported by the Off the Creek Program.

2012 is shaping up to be a great year...please encourage any Red Deer County landowner you know, to consider participating in the Off the Creek Program.

Upcoming Events of Interest

Check out these great events coming up early in 2012: (click on the highlighted words to be linked to more information).  These events are all in or close to Red Deer County.
January 17 - 18, 2012 (Tuesday & Wednesday)

• Agronomy Update 2012

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 (Wednesday)

• Cattle Behaviour, Stress and Handling...with Dr. Temple Grandin

February 6, 2012 (Monday):

• The Medicine River Watershed Society Annual Open House

February 16, 2012 (Thursday):

• Ranching Opportunities 2012

February 27, 2012 (Monday):

• Working Well Workshop in Red Deer County.  Call Judy Murphy to register 403-350-2163.  Click here for more info about the Working Well Program.

Many more excellent Agriculture and Conservation events are posted here (on Ropin' the Web):

http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/app55/events

Environmentally Signficant Areas Open House at the Red Deer County Office

WHEN: Tuesday, December 13, from 4:30 to 8:30 (PM)

This is a chance to see the draft policies about Environmentally Significant Areas, as they might appear in Red Deer County's Municipal Development Plan.

If you'd like to see these draft policies, they are available at:

https://reddeercounty.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=12457

Well...after a few months away from the “Blogosphere” doing green season/growing season things, I figured it’s way overdue to start up the Off the Creek Blog again...now that the ground’s freezing and the snow is falling (kind of).

Please check out the newest feature: Off the Creek TV (you’ll see it as a separate “tab” above).  Future postings will include more videos, including videos of Off the Creek Projects.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE OFF THE CREEK PROGRAM 2011

·        15 Projects :

o   6 “off-creek” watering projects

o   5 riparian management fencing projects

o   3 riparian management fencing and off-creek watering projects

o   1 tree planting project (involving 6 different landowners)

·        Impacts:

o   234 acres of riparian area

o   122 acres of native range / forest

o   6.21 miles of river and stream

o   7.3 acres of pond / wetland

o   669 animal units under “special riparian / range management”.

A BIG THANKS to the landowners doing Off the Creek projects in 2011. 

PLEASE NOTE: There is still enough funding left over to do maybe one or two more projects...new portable shelters anyone?  Or maybe new fencing for winter grazing? 

Contact me if you're interested!  Or download the Application form (see the Off the Creek Doc's tab above), and send it in!

Time for a Check-up? Workshop on Monitoring Pasture Health

An exciting Upcoming Event hosted by Mountain View County and Grey Wooded Forage Association.  It will take place near Olds...not too far away.  This is one to take in if you can!  Here's the poster for it.  Contact Grey Wooded Forage Association to register or for more info.

Sustainable Grazing Mentorship Program

Well, here we are well into the 2011 forage growing season...
I thought now might be a good time to remind producers about an amazing resource available to you: the Sustainable Grazing Mentorship Program.

This link takes you to a brochure on the program: http://www.areca.ab.ca/images/stories/Files/ARECA/SGMP_Brochure_2010.pdf

The program is delivered by the Applied Research and Extension Council of Alberta.

And the Emerald Award Winners Are... ... ... The Off the Creek Landowners!!

On Wednesday, June 15, at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, the Off the Creek Landowners were named as one of the 2011 Emerald Award Winners.

A very big congratulations goes out to all 44 of the Landowners!  You deserve it.  The title of your nomination was "Leaders by Example", which is of course exactly what you are.

Two of the Off the Creek Landowners attended the ceremonies.  Murray Stauffer accepted the Emerald Award on behalf of all the Landowners.  You can read an interview with Murray in an article from the Red Deer Advocate, at:

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/news/local/Landowners_strike_Emerald_124066879.html

Watch for an article about the Emerald Award in the July 2011 edition of the County News (which, in case you don't get it at home, will be posted online at http://www.rdcounty.ca/news/county-newsletter )

Also, Stephen Smith helped the nomination by being interviewed as part of a video that was shown at the Emerald Awards Gala.  The video is now online, at: http://www.emeraldfoundation.ca/recipients/community (make sure you scroll down the screen to find the video...)

I'd also like to make a mention of Don and Marie Ruzicka, who farm in the Iron Creek watershed east of Camrose.  They also won an Emerald Award, for their environmental efforts with their farming operation.  Their video is found at: http://www.emeraldfoundation.ca/recipients/individual-ruzicka

Congratulations to all the winners!

Off the Creek Landowners a 2011 Emerald Award Finalist

Congratulations to the Off the Creek Landowners!  They have made it to the next step in the Emerald Awards...they are now a finalist.

The 44 Off the Creek Landowners have together done over 50 projects on their land, to benefit creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes and native range.

On June 15, we'll all find out if the Landowners become an Emerald Award winner! 

UPCOMING EVENT: Ladies Livestock Lessons Coming Up

Register today...it's coming fast: June 15 and 16, 2011.

This is one that ranch and farm ladies don't want to miss. Registration is capped at 40 people to make this an even greater learning opportunity.

For information, including agenda and highlights from past years, and an on-line registration form, see the Ladies Livestock Lessons webpage:

http://ladieslivestocklessons.blogspot.com/

Off the Creek "hits the road"

In the last two weeks, along with Cows and Fish, we held two "Community Conversations" about riparian areas in Red Deer County.  They were held on the last two Tuesday evenings, and were well attended (though the second suffered from the latest spring snowstorm...)

The first was held with landowners living beside or near Adams Lake, a small lake in the west part of the County.  The second was with landowners who own land along Gaetz Creek or its tributaries.

The purpose of the meetings was to share ideas about the riparian areas around the lake or along the creek, and to hear what residents had to say about them and wanted to do about them.  We also established 4 clear actions to take in each community, by consensus of those in attendance. 

Some of the actions that will be pursued are:

• Riparian Health Inventories around Adams Lake
• Riparian Health Field days, in both communities
• Education / awareness campaign in the Gaetz Creek watershed.

With the communities, we'll work on taking these and the other action ideas and making them a reality.

Emerald Award Nomination: Congratulations to Off the Creek Landowners!

Red Deer County's Agricultural Services Board has nominated the Off the Creek Landowners for a 2011 Emerald Award!!

The "Landowners" are the 44 people in Red Deer County who have done a total of 55 projects to benefit riparian health.  This has all happened just since 2006, with funding support from the Alberta Conservation Association and the County. 

Info on the Emerald Awards can be found at: http://www.emeraldfoundation.ca/emerald-awards/

Stay tuned...we'll learn in the next few weeks if the Off the Creek Landowners are "shortlisted"...the award winners are announced in June.