Saskatchewan, a province which has the highest rate of agricultural employment relative to population in the nation, is also a province where sustainable agricultural practices often find fertile ground.
A lesson well learned by the producers of the province during the dust bowl years of the 1930s, the need to manage land resources in an appropriate manner, to ensure its continued health and production, has helped create this atmosphere of innovative practices.
One group of producers from the region, the membership of the North Moose Mountain Creek Agri-Environmental Group Plan Inc. (NMMC,) has been doing leading the charge in a number of sustainable practices, and has now received recognition for their efforts through the awarding of the Lt. Governor's annual Green Wing award.
Sponsored by Ducks Unlimited of Canada, the award is meant to recognize individuals and organizations that have taken leadership positions in increasing public awareness of wetlands conservancy, as well as rewarding volunteers who have dedicated time to bodies whose goals and efforts benefit wetlands.
At the award presentation, which took place at the Government House in Regina on Wednesday, Nov. 24, Lt. Governor the Honourable Dr. Gordon L. Barnhart addressed the efforts of the group.
"Education is the key to conservation," Dr. Barnhart said. "I congratulate the North Moose Mountain Creek Agri-Enivronmental Group Plan on this well-deserved honour, and I thank everyone who contributes to the group for helping to educate producers about the importance of preserving our precious wetlands."
Existing beneath the umbrella of the Upper Souris Watershed Authority, the NMMC is nonetheless an autonomous group of producers who have endeavoured to adopt wetland-friendly practices on their lands.
"The group plan has a number of different items that we follow," said Les Johnson, the chair of the NMMC. "The practices are varied and it really depends on what the producer has on the land, and what the lay of the land is like, for each member to apply the practices."
"Some of the things we do include fencing off livestock a certain distance from water bodies," Johnson continued. "In other cases, we've planted grass at the bottom of water routes, which then acts as a filter for the water when it is moving through that area."
Ducks Unlimited of Canada is also tremendously proud of the efforts of the NMMC.
"The work this group does within the Upper Souris River Watershed had a tremendous impact on conservation and agriculture across the province," said Jack H. Hole, the president of Ducks Unlimited Canada. "DUC is proud to work with and recognize groups like the North Moose Mountain Creek Agri-Environmental Group Plan. They are committing their efforts into promoting sustainable agriculture practices and are working to protect and conserve Canada's wetlands."
"It's a tremendous honour to receive this award," said Johnson. "As stewards of the lands, we as producers work and live here, all the while aware of the benefits a healthy watershed has to everyone living inside and outside of it."
"Agriculture is a significant part of our watershed and we promote practices that reduce our footprint," Johnson continued, "so future generations have the same opportunity we did to work and live here."
NMMC is a non-profit organization that works with agricultural producers in southeast Saskatchewan to help install sustainable practices within upland, wetland, and other areas.
