'It's a great day for ducks'

Lt.-Gov. Barbara Hagerman presents the Lieutenant Governor’s Greenwing Conservation Award recently to Joe MacIsaac, centre, and his son, Kevin, owners of Lily Pond Farm in Bear River, during a ceremony at Fanningbank. The award is in recognition of outstanding leadership, dedication and commitment to promoting public awareness of the value of conserving wetlands and associated habitats in the province. Photo special to The Guardian by P.E.I. government photographer Brian Simpson BY DAVE STEWART The Guardian May 26, 2008

With all the talk about sustainable agriculture these days, one family in Bear River isn’t just talking about it — they are doing something about it. Lily Pond Farm, which is owned and operated by Joe MacIsaac and his sons, Kevin and Blair, was honoured recently with the Lieutenant Governor’s Greenwing Conservation Award. The MacIsaacs are kept busy on the farm where they grow 600 acres of potatoes, along with a rotation of hay and grain. Recently, they began diversifying their crops by planting soybeans and canola. They partnered in 2004 with Ducks Unlimited Canada to construct a pond on their farm property. Today, this pond provides a home for a number of duck species like black ducks and green winged teal that use the site for nesting purposes. The wetland also provides a home to many species of amphibians, mammals and plants. Kevin and Blair have chosen to leave nearly five acres of enhanced buffer surrounding their watercourses, above the legal requirement of a 10-metre setback. Joe said it’s quite humbling to know that the farm he and his children grew up on is giving new life to the ecosystem. As the rain poured down on Fanningbank outside last Wednesday afternoon during the award ceremony, Kevin noted that “it’s a great day for ducks’’. “The organization has a tremendous scope,’’ he said, referring to Ducks Unlimited Canada. “It’s amazing what they do across this country. They’re a great organization to work with. Years ago we would have thought about draining that pond, today that is not even a consideration.’’ The MacIsaacs understand that practising sustainable agriculture means showing concern for all living organisms in the ecosystem,' said Tom Duffy, manager of provincial operations for Ducks Unlimited Canada. The MacIsaacs have also implemented diversion terraces in fields with the highest chance of erosion. Grassed waterways are in place for the safe disposal of runoff from the diversion terraces, contoured rows and stabilization structures. The majority of their potato fields include grassed headlands and they have a number of acres of hedgerows.

In 2006, an enhanced environmental farm plan was completed on all properties, including rental properties.

“It makes me feel especially proud that there are people who live in our province that are taking such good care of it for us,’’ Lt.-Gov. Barbara Hagerman said during the ceremony.

---

Copyright
Souris Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation

All pictures appearing on this site or its associated flickr account are the property of the photographers and the Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation.
They may not be copied without permission of the photographer and the Souris & Area Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation.