Water quality is always a priority in the agriculture industry. In order to support and educate people in the area the Tecumseh Community Pasture Corp., Upper Souris Watershed Association, and Ducks Unlimited Canada came together to host a Water Quality Workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 8.
In total 34 individuals participated in the afternoon workshop, which saw five speakers address various topics regarding water quality.
Speakers included: Colby Elford (Ministry of Agriculture) who spoke on “Blue Green Algae & Concerns for Livestock,” Natasha Wilkie (Ministry of Agriculture) who spoke on “High sulfates and water quality and implications for livestock,” Heather Peat Hamm (Simply Ag) on “Species at Risk Farm Program,” Kylie McCrae (Ducks Unlimited Canada) on “Conservation Programs,” and Bruce Duncan (Upper Souris Watershed Association) on various watershed programs.
During the field day tours of the Tecumseh Community Pasture – located north of Forget. Tour stops included a wetland with blue green algae blooming and a shallow buried waterline supplying water troughs.
The Tecumseh Community Pasture Corp. was incorporated in 2015 successfully transitioning from a Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act (PFRA) Community Pasture system. Patrons of the PFRA Community Pasture which was there are now the shareholders of the corporation and focus their efforts on not only managing the pasture, but the stewardship of the livestock there as well as the wetlands and prairie ecosystems in the area. Thus, it was an important day for the Tecumseh Community Pasture in ensuring the health of the livestock and land they care for.
