Shane and Arron Nerbas bale graze their herd through five-acre pods in winter to renovate lower-quality soils and reduce winter feed costs.

Forages for all seasons

Nerbas family’s grazing program focuses on quality

The Nerbas family’s grazing program wouldn’t be the success it is without cattle that thrive in a forage-only system and the breeding program wouldn’t be the success it is without quality forage to optimize the cattle’s genetic potential. Figuring out how to mesh everything together to support three families has been a work in progress […] Read more

cattle on a pasture

What’s the margin?

Do you know the economics behind your production practices?

Even though the production components of your business are important, they don’t make or break it for you. The most important part of any business is in managing the business itself. The economics and finances behind the production practices are more important than the production practice itself. Two producers can use the same production practice. […] Read more


South African holistic management specialist, Ian Mitchell-Innes from South Africa, discussed management tactics with a group of Manitoba producers in Lenore on July 12.

Focusing on nutrition will also help the pasture

World-renowned holistic management specialist 
says green is not the only right colour for grass

Many graziers have a theory that if you look after the soil, the rest of the operation will take care of itself, but Ian Mitchell-Innes looks at it the other way around. “The biggest mistake that people make after learning about holistic management is they try and save the ground. I did this also when […] Read more



Angus Herd

Understanding holistic management

Holistic Ranching with Don Campbell

H M has been in Western Canada for about 30 years. That is a relatively short time for a new concept. The term H M is well known but I suspect there are many people who do not understand what H M is. Lack of understanding can generate fear. If you have heard the term, […] Read more

(l-r) Sue and Richard DeBruijn, Sam and Janeen Covlin, Arlette Seib.

The basics of farm sustainability

Three farm families from Saskatchewan offer their approach to sustainable farming

The heart of sustainability for three Saskatchewan ranch families is the deep desire to make a living from the land. While many have chosen to move on to other careers with a steady income, these families have found ways to stay in farming. For Arlette and Allen Seib of Watrous, the journey toward sustainability meant […] Read more