On-the-farm with On-Farm Climate Action Fund: Nova Scotia farmer takes leap into rotational grazing practices and reaps the environmental rewards

For a long time, Alicia and Danny King, owners of Six Maples Farm, located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, had been occasionally practicing rotational grazing on their farm. With limited resources to take on the practice fulltime, they put rotational grazing on the backburner. That is until they received a newsletter and saw information on the Agricultural Climate Solutions – On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF).

The OFCAF program is funded through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and supports farmers in adopting beneficial management practices that store carbon and reduce greenhouse gases, specifically in the areas of nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing practices. In Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, OFCAF is distributed by Perennia Food and Agriculture Corporation.

Six Maples Farm is a 7th generation family farm that owns cows, sheep, chickens, and produces eggs. When Alicia saw OFCAF, she knew her farm would benefit tremendously. At the time she had also noticed that the next intake period was opening soon and it would be the perfect opportunity to jumpstart rotational grazing and expand their efforts to make it a full-time practice.

Rotational grazing is a method of grazing livestock. Animals are moved between multiple pastures to allow for more efficient use of forage and better soil health. It prevents overgrazing and allows rest for the growing pasture using intensive management.

“We really wanted to do more rotational grazing, but we required more tools. OFCAF enabled us to get the tools we needed to adopt rotational grazing as a regular practice on our farm.”

- Alicia King, co-owner of Six Maples Farm

OFCAF funding allowed Alicia and Danny to purchase a solar-portable water system, a solar fencer and temporary perimeter fencing. The portable solar watering system allowed them to begin their rotational grazing and move the water along with the pasture paddock so that they could enhance rotation of their fields. With the additional fencing, they were able to move their animals in fields that weren’t historically pastured.

“We have been incredibly pleased with the results we’ve seen,” she said. “Two of the biggest benefits we’ve noticed with this practice is the biodiversity and improvements to the health of our soil.”

Alicia participates in workshops hosted by Perennia through OFCAF and encourages other farmers who may be sitting on the fence about applying to the program to speak with their farming neighbours.

“These information sessions allow farmers to come together and share their experiences. I believe talking to your friends and other farmers who have tried these practices on their farms, can give you the best insight to the success of these practices and how the program will benefit them.”

- Alicia King, co-owner of Six Maples Farm