Farming in harmony with nature can also help build resilience against weather variables
Through proper management, Nova Scotia's Holdanca Farms can finish cattle and other livestock on grass on their 500-acre operation and at the same time protect and enhance the environment to the benefit of a wide range of flora and fauna.
It is definitely a win/win situation where proper management of forages and other natural resources on the farm supports economical livestock production while also benefiting the environment and diverse wildlife species as well.
The farm's management with nature-focused, regenerative and sustainable production systems, earned it recognition by the Maritime Beef Council as the 2024 Atlantic Canada recipient of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA).
"Proper pasture management is something that has been part of our approach to farming for many years," says John Duynisveld, who is the second generation on the family farm. "My dad started rotational grazing on a 10 acre field back in 1988 and it is still one of the most productive pastures on the farm. Grazing management was gradually applied to the whole farm by 1998."
DIVERSIFIED OPERATION
Today, Holdanca Farms, located in Wallace Bay, on Nova Scotia's North Shore is a diversified livestock operation, that not only produces several species, but also direct markets meat to consumers.
The farm, operated by Duynisveld and his daughter Maria, raises about 70 head of grass-fed beef cattle (a mix of cow-calf, finishers, and some locally bought to finish), 100 ewes plus 150-200 lambs for grass-finishing, 200 pastured pigs (farrow-finish), and pastured poultry in an adaptive rotational grazing system. They also custom graze up to 150 head of beef cattle, determined each year based on forage availability and their own livestock numbers.
Their land base bordering the saltwater Wallace Bay includes several freshwater habitats and 250 acres of managed, biodiverse native woodlot. Another 250 acres of their land and a further 30 acres of leased neighboring land is in pasture production, most of it in long-term (30 plus years) perennial pasture.
They also use some annual polyculture (multi-species) cropping from time to time to fit the energy needs of their livestock.
"The North Shore of Nova Scotia is an ecologically significant environment, with key stopping points and breeding locations for migratory birds, and a diverse range of ecosystems," says Duynisveld. "We are proud to have a variety of these ecosystems represented and responsibly managed on our farm. As we have advanced to a longer grazing season the number of cattle we custom graze has dropped. We graze our cattle and sheep on perennial grass for 250 to 300 days a year, and use bale-grazing with the cattle and sheep to supplement the stockpiled pasture in the winter."
The Duynisvelds keep many things in mind as they manage their farming operation. Overall management involves looking after the forage resource so it can support efficient and economical livestock production. And at the same time they are well aware of the importance of biodiversity, and proper management of the various ecosystems on the farm that provide habitat for a wide range of plants and animals.
"When planning our grazing systems and managing our buildings, for example, we are aware of the breeding seasons of the bird species on our property," says Duynisveld. "Three threatened species, the barn swallow, willet, and bobolink, are actively managed in our operation. As we have become more aware of these species, we have been better able to manage our land in their favour. When managing our barns and sheds, we leave spaces for barn swallows to enter and exit safely during their breeding seasons, and we protect their nests from damage when we are working in those areas. We avoid cutting forages during key bobolink and willet nesting periods, and we fence around their nests when managing our grazing systems. Gaining knowledge about these species and being able to access information through conservation groups has allowed us to improve our management of native birds."
In another example, two wetland species, critically endangered in Nova Scotia, have been recorded on the farm. The Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly has been found reproducing in a wetland that was established on the farm in 1997 through a Ducks Unlimited initiative. This wetland also hosts the key feeding plant for the checkerspot butterfly — a native plant known as the White Turtlehead.
"It has been exciting to witness an established population of these endangered butterflies on the site," says Duynisveld. "We also have the only record of the Thirteen-Spotted Ladybug in Nova Scotia, which was found in a smaller pond on our property."
COWHERD MANAGEMENT
The calving season for the mainly Hereford/Angus cross cowherd, runs through June and July to take advantage of usually good weather and optimum forage growth to support milk production.
At the moment pastureland is divided into 42 permanent paddocks that are subdivided using polywires. Cattle are moved every second day through most of the season, and up to three times a day (using Batt latches - portable solar powered automatic gates controlled by a timer) depending on pasture conditions. Intense, short duration grazing provides great natural weed control and encourages a quick regrowth of the forages. Two miles of buried pipeline and another two miles of above ground water lines carry water to each paddock. They also use portable solar powered water systems where needed.
Cattle remain on pasture as grass conditions and weather allows and then move to bale grazing for the winter period, which has been as short as 65 days depending on the year. Bale grazing is strategically located in wooded areas providing shelter, as well as on land with poorer soils where manure and urine contribute to soil nutrients. Over the years of well managed grazing, the farm has seen a noticeable increase in soil organic matter, which helps to manage moisture in both wet and dry growing seasons.
Steers and heifers to be marketed for meat are finished on pasture. "The larger animals will finish in about 18 to 20 months," says Duynisveld. "While the lighter ones, usually heifers, may take up to 28 months to finish."
All market livestock is slaughtered at licensed off-farm facilities, with carcasses returned to the farm to be cut and wrapped for retail sales. About two-thirds of their meat production is sold through a farmer-operated retail outlet in Halifax known as The Warehouse. They also sell product through a local Pugwash Farmer's Market and also have about 400 customers who order meat on-line, for pickup at designated locations in the city.
"These various lines of direct marketing provide us with a valuable opportunity to connect directly with consumers," says Duynisveld. "Along with consumer feedback, we are able to share a positive message of how modern livestock production can work in harmony with the environment."
EDUCATION IS KEY
John and Maria are firm believers in all aspects of education. John, himself has a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and Masters degree in animal science, while Maria graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science and plant science and a university certificate in organic agriculture. They are also involved in a number of education programs such as Ag in the Classroom, as well as several public agricultural and environmental education programs hosted right on the farm. They welcome every opportunity they have to inform people about the environment and proper production practices.
John makes himself available to mentor other producers and Maria in May returned from six months volunteering and working in both agriculture and conservation in Australia, where she’s had experiences including conservation volunteering on an Angus breeding farm, paid work experience in the meat industry, and organizing and running biodiversity awareness events for a general public. That trip led to two young Australians with plans to join Holdanca Farms as mentees in the early fall. Her experiences in Australia have shaped how she sees the future of our industry and our land, and how she would like to influence both going forward.
After experiencing weather extremes in recent years — a drought in 2021, followed by the power and destruction of Hurricane Fiona in 2022 and excessive rainfall in 2023, the Duynisvelds believe in applying adaptive management to the farm — be prepared for whatever comes.
In 2024 the farm is starting a multi-year plan to establish several kilometers of biodiverse shelterbelts and drainage ditches across slopes on about half of their of pastureland, to help improve water management and also provide more opportunity for livestock to access shade and shelter.
The plan will include a series of gentle ditches with shallow ponds and marshes to capture excess rainfall as it flows down long sloping fields. This will help in both wet and dry years.
"Climate resilience is something that all producers should aspire to improve," says John Duynisveld. "We believe our strides in improving our soil health and biodiversity helped us bounce back from Fiona. Our high soil organic matter and consistent ground cover allows our soils to handle an onslaught of rain.
"The many wetlands on our farm gave shelter to native species and allowed quick recycling of the rainfall. Our biodiverse pasture edges and woodlots provided shelter to our animals and strengthened our trees against the wind. Our solar fencing systems kept our remote animals safe. It could have been a lot worse.
"We want to continue improving the ecosystem and soil resilience on our land. We would also like to decrease our reliance on the energy grid and move towards our own renewable energy production. Extreme weather is part of working in a coastal climate, and it is our job to be prepared."