Canadian Holistic Management Producers Win Environmental Award
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
HMI was excited to learn that Holistic Management Educators and practitioners Ralph and Linda Corcoran from Langbank, Saskatchewan have won The Environmental Stewardship Award, presented at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association convention in June. This award recognizes producers who have implemented environmentally and economically sustainable cattle production.
The Corcorans have farmed west of Moosomin in the Pipestone Valley since 1985 where Ralph and Linda purchased 8.5 quarters of land in the parkland region in southeast Saskatchewan. They farmed approximately 500 acres and the rest was native grass and trees. In 1991 they seeded the farmed land to grass but by 2001 production had dwindled. That same year, their daughter, Haley, took a Holistic Management course from Don and Bev Campbell and shared what she learned with Ralph and Linda. The following year they took the course and changed their management.
Cheryl Branvold, another Holistic Management practitioner who nominated the Corcorans for the award, which is sponsored by Ducks Unlimited Canada and Canadian Cattle Association noted: “After six years and much frustration, they decided that cropping wasn’t for them and sowed down their worst acres to pasture and hayland. By 1999, the pastures and hayland were becoming quite depleted, and Ralph was considering what they would need to do to rejuvenate them and increase production.”
Ralph notes that as soon as they changed their grazing management practices, they saw improvements right away. They saw more production and different species of grasses so their production tripled.
Because they were so excited about what Holistic Management had done for them, Ralph and Linda became Holistic Management educators so they could share not only the grazing planning principles but also the goal setting and financial planning, and how to apply these principles to all aspects of life.
This focus on the family and community led them to bring their grandson, Ty Nagy, on board. Ty along with his partner, Rory Greenbank, and infant son Dallas, are taking over the operation as the Corcoran’s set up a sale of the land to Ty. Ty notes: “It’s just what I wanted to do since I could walk, pretty well. I just see the way it works so well. There’s no other way to do it.”
They run 250 head of cattle on 900 acres and make daily moves which has improved herd and land health. They aim for at least a 100-day recovery. Ralph says production continues to improve every year and he isn’t sure what the limit is for the number of head as he hasn’t reached it yet. They continue to share their knowledge and experience through a variety of programs and events.
They have also partnered with the University of Saskatchewan, University of Alberta, and University of Wisconsin, supporting three major studies measuring bird species, plant diversity, water quality, soil health, and carbon levels. Comparison of baseline and three-year testing demonstrated that their management practices resulted in measurable improvements in these areas. In particular, bird counts showed that they had 3 times the number of birds that average counts from that area.
As the Canadian Cattle Association’s article notes: The [Corcorans’] story is proof that Holistic Management is not a trend; it is a long-term relationship with the land. One that, when nurtured, creates abundance, resilience, and a future worth passing on.”
Congratulations, Ralph and Linda!
