Like most farmers, Doug and Cheryl Livingstones' first priority is to make sure their mixed cow/calf and seed grain operation near Vermilion, Alberta stays profitable. But like more and more producers today, they are also interested in preserving and enhancing the natural resources on their land.

Where the Livingstones differ from some other producers is that, when they see a wetland area on their property, they see the potential for tangible, short term value. "How many people have ever heard true quiet?" asks Doug Livingstone. "How many people have ever seen darkness in our over-lit world? How many people have ever heard a meadowlark? There's a diversity here that, although we tend to take it for granted in the agricultural community, represents tremendous value to many people."

The Livingstones are in the process of developing a business that will open up their property to the general public and offer customers a taste of rural living. Because of this, they have become keenly aware of the link between aesthetics, diversity, wildlife habitat and land value. From a holistic perspective, they are interested in how the biodiversity on their farm can be used to enhance their production. What they wanted was a plan to manage these natural resources.

For assistance, they turned to a new program being offered free of charge to Alberta producers who have developed an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP). Natural Advantage: The On-Farm Wildlife and Biodiversity Planning Service, uses trained biologists to help producers identify, map and classify wildlife habitat on their property and develop a personalized plan to tackle areas of improvement. It's managed by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) with funding provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Greencover Canada program.

"Natural Advantage offers the opportunity for trained people to come in and evaluate your property through a fresh set of eyes," says Doug. "We don't expect to see any major surprises from the final report. It's more a matter of developing a new awareness of our land and opportunities we have to improve."

Economics a driver

The Livingstones' decision to enter the field of agri-tourism was based on a number of drivers, all based in a core philosophy of building on their existing strengths. One of these strengths was a desire to educate consumers about the connection between the food they buy and how it's grown.

Another was their farm's six-decade history of using the family's individual talents to create a successful business. Cheryl runs a catering business and their son, Robert, is a trained chef. Focusing their business in part on food offers an opportunity to showcase and build on these talents. "Selling our product on the farm opens up a new marketing opportunity for us and a new avenue of exposure to the consumer," says Doug.

Their concept of "building on strengths" extends to the farm's natural resources as well. Aside from the drive to make their operation as aesthetically pleasing as possible, the Livingstones' attitude towards their land is based in a philosophy of holistic farming driven by economic factors.

"If you get down on your knees and look at a prairie habitat in balance, you can see a tremendous biodiversity there that can work together to producers' advantage. There's a heritage we have here in the soil that's irreplaceable if we fail to look after it.

"All farmers want to know 'What's in it for me?' and we're no exception. But we're seeing more and more that consumers are asking producers to produce their food in a way that reflects a certain level of responsibility towards the environment.

"Also, because so much of the agricultural land in use today is eventually going to change ownership, possibly for uses other than agriculture, looking after natural resources can hold a strong resale value as well. Ultimately, economics are going to drive these changes."

Assessment process

The Livingstones had already completed the first step in the Natural Advantage process by developing an EFP. From there, DUC biologist Brett Boukall analyzed and classified their on-farm habitat using aerial photos and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping.

"Brett came out to the farm and met with us for half a day to discuss what he had found in that process. It's always interesting to see the farm from a different perspective, and Brett's extensive knowledge of habitat offered some valuable insight."

Producers who participate in the Natural Advantage process receive a comprehensive written report based on the data gathered, including resource materials and contact information to assist with the implementation of recommendations in the report. Although the Livingstones' report is still in development, they have a good idea of some of the things it will likely address.

"The large watershed on our farm presents an ongoing challenge. We're always looking at ways to manage it so it doesn't have a negative effect on our neighbours who live at lower elevations. Wetlands management will likely play a role in that process."

The Livingstones plan to use the final report as a long term reference point for habitat management on their farm. "It won't be a flash in the pan thing. It's an ongoing checklist of the things we want to stay aware of. You can almost compare it to flying an airplane. Before you fly you want to go through the cockpit to check every gauge and make sure all the right levers and buttons are pushed. Managing wildlife habitat is no different."

A piece of a larger puzzle

The Natural Advantage program is one example of a growing trend in the agricultural community. Kim Schmitt, project director, says Natural Advantage fits in with the current thinking associated with recognizing and fostering stewardship of the ecological goods and services that nature is providing on public lands.

"There is a growing opinion today that, because everyone ultimately benefits from the natural characteristics which offer clean air and safe water, all of society has a role in paying for initiatives which protect and preserve them – not just producers," he says.

"With a systematic planning system in place and growing numbers of producers demonstrating a willingness to integrate the conservation and restoration of habitat and biodiversity into their operations, the case for meaningful public support increases. We think that showing examples of producers who are building environmentally sustainable operations around environmentally sustainable systems is something the public would like to know about."

The Livingstones' operation would be an excellent example of this, he says. "Although its report is not yet complete, it would appear to be the kind of business that has strong potential in this area."

The information on this website is available for reprint with credit to "The Alberta Environmental Farm Plan, www.albertaEFP.com".
Article development courtesy of The Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Company