Souris River and Farm Protection Program
- What is the Souris River & Farm Protection Program? How Does the Program Work?
- What Kinds of Lands are Being Converted to Permanent Tree and Grass Cover?
- How Does the Program Operate on the Ground?
- Who is Doing What?
- Why has this Program Been So Successful?
What is the Souris River and Farm Protection Program?
- A Program designed by Farmers For Farmers to plant forages and trees along stream margins in South East Saskatchewan
How Does the Program Work?
- Land Owners move cultivation 10-20 metres back from stream margin and plant 3 rows of diverse species trees with grass in between.
- Other Farmers plant 100% forage with the program assisting in a 200metre stream margin at $20/acre.
- Did you know $1000 of assistance can protect 2km of stream margin and convert 250 acres to forages? Farmers typically plant far more than the program supports.
Farmers and ranchers generously support benefits to the eco-system such as:
- A natural filter keeping silt and agro-chemical on the land instead of in the river.
- Shading of stream waters to enhance fish habitat.
- Creating continuous wildlife corridors along the river and between permanent covers.
- Special species planting to enhance biodiversity and special habitats for game birds and deer.
Promotion of trees for economic benefit i.e: woodlots, berries etc.Souris River/Long Creek & Farm Protection Program
TREE AND GRASS PLANTING CAMPAIGN FOR RIVER MARGINS & RIPERIAN PROTECTION
PURPOSE OF PROGRAM
Protect watershed and reduce erosion on farm land.
HOW IS THIS ACHIEVED?
Planting trees and grass along river margins, water runs, marshes, dugouts, and other watersheds.
FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM
Land around margins or watersheds. But the program is willing to assist in all tree planting initiatives.
This program also provides specifically made grass plugs for erosion control on
farm land.
Grass Plugs Provided by Shand Greenhouse for Erosion Control
BENEFITS
Water protection, reduced erosion, increased Bio-diversity and beautification.
Future industries for the farmer (native tree species can be harvested for health food and/or fruits. These include Rose, Saskatoon, Buffaloberry, Chokecherry, and many others.) Other trees are being planted with wood harvesting in mind.
WHY IS THE PROGRAM POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL?
Designed by farmers for farmers
Offers more varieties of trees than have ever been available 30 species of native trees. These include deciduous shrubs (Rose, Caragana, Dogwood, Hawthorne, Lilac, Red elder, Seabuckthorn, Shrub Willow, Wolf Willow), Berry trees (Buffaloberry, Chokecherry, Saskatoon, etc.), large deciduous (Green ash, Aspen, Cotton wood, Poplar-Walker-Manitou-Assiniboine, Oak, Maple, Acute Willow, Red Cedar, Paper Birch, Russian Olive, Siberian Crabapple, etc.), and evergreens (Blue and White Spruce, Pine, and Larch.)
Close to Zero maintenance tree program: To achieve zero maintenance, plastic mulch is applied on top of trees at the time of planting.
At the same time, grass is seeded between rows of trees. Creeping red fescue is generally used. The high grass application rate (20lbs per acre) serves to create dense cover that will stop weed encroachment. The grass does not, however, compete with trees, as it becomes quickly root bound and goes dormant for most of the year.
HELP International provides:
· Machinery( tree planter, mulch machine)
· Delivery of trees on the day of planting
· Free technical advice and Free books
· Two experienced laborers
· Free trees and grass seed.
ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR
During the past five years the program has successfully protected 220 Km of stream margins. This is done by planting trees and grass or grass alone along watersheds. More than 100 farmers have participated in the program so far.
LITERATURE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Books and pamphlets on trees and grass are available and will be provided to farmers free. These will help in the selection of tree species that best suit local conditions and outline the benefits associated with every tree variety.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL FARM TREE PLANTING
To be effective, a minimum of 3 rows of trees is recommended: First Row: Brush trees (plants); Second Row: Berry trees;
Third Row: large trees with brush trees in between.
TERMS OF AGREEMENT
· No end use restriction, no caveats
· Landowners agree to keep trees for at least 10 years.
· A typical tree planting along a 1 km margin is 3 rows of trees that would convert one hectare of land to tree use. Typical distance between tree rows is 15 Ft. Therefore, 3 rows of trees would require 40 Ft to be very well worked the Fall before
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS:
Only land which is very well fine tilled will qualify for this program. Rototilling is ideal. Otherwise, cultivating followed by 2-3 disc operations is required on stubble. Land MUST be as mellow as a well worked garden.
One of the Project’s Year 2002 Site
Landowner is expected to provide:
Two or three tractors to carry out tree planting, mulching and grass planting in one day
Four laborers
Fall and spring pre-cultivation, mowing between tree rows for the first year.
Land owner allows donor sign post and post planting educational visits by donors/students.
Land owner contributes 5 cents per foot per tree planting row. (1 km of 3 rows of trees would cost $ 487.50.)
(Donor contribution of trees, mulch, grass seeds, labour and technical assistance for the same km equals:
$ 3,270.00 in trees
$ 800.00 in plastic mulch
$ 600.00 in labour/technical
$ 4,670.00 Total
DONORS
This Program receives generous technical, material, equipment or financial support from Environment Canada, CARDS/AESI, Saskatchewan Environment, Pheasants Forever, Shand Greenhouse, PFRA Shelterbelt Center, Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, SaskEnergy, TD Friends of the Environment and other private donors.
Call now for a farm visit to help plan your tree program for spring 2005 or 2006!
HELP International
P.O.Box 181
Weyburn, SK S4H 2J9.
Tel: (306) 842 2433 Fax: (306) 848 0902
Email: helpint@sasktel.net
Souris River/Long Creek & Farm Protection Program
“A Project Designed by Farmers for Farmers”
