Free to participate, but you must arrange your own transportation and lunch.
Presentations and tour start at the Zirnhelt Ranch (near Big Lake Ranch, BC)
Timber and livestock producers have faced more than a decade of volatility in commodity prices, fluctuating demand and exchange rates, pest outbreaks, and regulatory changes. The mountain pine beetle epidemic has also created unprecedented regional social and economic challenges for forest resource dependent communities in the Interior of BC. Silvopasture management offers practical options to sustainably address economic diversification for agricultural and timber interests that can also contribute positively to regional economic stability and environmental stewardship.
Zirnhelt Ranch, with funding from the BC Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative (AIDI), is pleased to host a day of agroforestry information and a tour of an operational silvopasture.
Agenda
10:00 - 12:00 PresentationsDavid Zirnhelt, Zirnhelt Ranch - welcome, overview of the Zirnhelt Ranch, holistic resource management philosophy and motivations for adopting silvopasture practices.
George Powell, BC Agroforestry Industry Development Initiative - Silvopasture beneficial management practices (BMPs).
Geneve Jasper, Regional Agrologist, BC Ministry of Agriculture - Selecting and managing forages for silvopasture and forestland grazing.
Lisa Zabek, Interior Agroforestry Specialist, BC Ministry of Agriculture - Overview of silvopasture pilot projects around BC.
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch Break (on your own)
13:00 - 16:00 Silvopasture Tour
An informal 'walk and talk' through Zirnhelt Ranch's silvopasture demonstration area with opportunity to share ideas and perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of developing and adopting silvopasture in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region and the potential for silvopasture management to diversify regional ranching and forestry.