" We try to take an independent look or assessment at every piece of property that we control or own, or can have an influence on, and we evaluate that property and develop a program along with the Department of Agriculture or DU or so on. Our goal then is to convert that property to the best use that that property can be made of, or sort of a wise-use approach." In business for 29 years, seasoned potato grower George Webster was recognized in 1997 by the Bedeque Bay Environmental Management Association(BBEMA). He was given the Association's Stewardship Award for his part in developing waterfowl wetlands, improving bio-diversity on his lands and conserving the area watershed. Webster has eighteen hundred acres of land that he divided into three crops; potatoes, hay, and cereal crops Fifteen years ago, Webster noticed soil conditions were deteriorating and badly eroding in the area following the move to larger potato production fields. Between the winter snow melt and spring run off and the heavy rains in the summer, he was watching tons of soil moving off the land and into the local ditches. That's when he began looking for new ways to divert the water. Depending on how well his operation does financially each year, Webster sets aside a certain amount of money to install diversion terraces, grassed waterways, and strip cropping. Photo: A waterfoul marsh developed by Ducks Unlimited A self-described nature-lover, Webster also diversified the make up of his land somewhat by installing a waterfowl wetland. He also thinned out a crowded stand of hardwood trees, including some maple, in order to allow them to reach their full potential. Last but not least, Webster also took advantage of a BBEMA program which allowed him to reforest some of his land with softwood. Photo: A thinned stand of Maple About twenty years ago, the potato production industry on PEI really took off as the government of the day advocated larger fields with deeper tillage. As farmers moved toward wider implements, bigger fields, and deep tillage the soil loosened up resulting in considerable soil erosion. A few years later, Webster decided to go around to each field after spring run off and evaluate the extent of the damage. With a combination of flat and hilly land with a three or four percent grade, he realized many of his fields were vulnerable and he would have to develop a plan to recover the soil in order to avoid it ending up in the ditch or on the road. Webster says everyone loses when soil doesn't stay where it's originally meant to be. Webster started mulching about four hundred bales of hay into his fields after the fall harvest to help give the land cover. He uses this method because he grows many late varieties of potatoes which pretty much rules out planting a winter ground cover. As well, Webster has turned to spring ploughing in his hay and forage fields as opposed to the fall. That leaves the cover on the ground for the winter. Webster recognizes that there are two times a year when the soil is vulnerable. That's before planting and then the winter after the potatoes are harvested. If the soil is vulnerable to erosion, he says he'll not plough the field in the fall but leave it to the spring so it's covered with its hay crop for the winter. "Hedgerows pay dividends. They're aggravating to some extent to go around or they're almost considered to be in the way or a nuisance but they are not. They give you dividends in your potato crop because those potatoes that are up and protected from the wind are much better." Webster says he has seen the benefits of hedgerows first hand. He maintains them where they are needed and plants new ones. In fact, he hasn't removed any hedgerows in years. With the warm planting season in the spring of 1998 and then a cool, wet period in June, Webster noticed a huge difference in the potato plants that were protected by hedgerows. The areas that were protected resulted in a much larger plant than those areas that were unprotected from a cool, north wind. In fact, the plants were almost twice as big in protected areas, at least until the weather warmed up. Photo: George Webster comparing potatoes grown away from a hedgerow Photo: George Webster comparing potatoes grown next to a hedgerow "There's also yield enhancements. If you had an area on a farm that was under a lot of pressure from water, from surface water run off from the rest of the farm and there tended to be some form of ponding on that farm and you remove that high pressure of ponding water, if you like, after a heavy rainfall in an area. If you remove that high pressure then that area produces better. Farmers' reluctance to some extent was the fact that they were putting land out of production, to some extent, because there is land under these grass waterways and berms and those kinds of things. You do lose a one or two percent of your acreage for that. But there are other acres of the farm that do produce better because they're not deluged by huge amounts of water from the upper parts of that farm, even though there is an acreage tie up if you like, or loss to the berms. They do take up space obviously but there tends to be a more consistent yield throughout the field. So it is kind of a win-win thing." Photo: Large field that was divided up with diversion terraces, grassed waterways, and crop rotation. Webster has also installed a substantial number of diversion terraces on his hilliest land. They handle water flow by breaking it up, intercepting it and keeping it off the field. Again, they tie up some land but if you want to maintain your soil quality, Webster says it's necessary. The terraces on Webster's land require very little maintenance once they are built. Occassionally, they are clipped to keep small trees from shooting up, but otherwise they are pretty much left alone. The water that is diverted ends up in a ditch,small stream, or marsh area and is cleaned and filtered through tall grass. That stops the silt from clogging up the waterways or spilling onto the roads. As well, when it comes to designing the field, size is tied to the width of the sprayer and tillage equipment to minimize the number of times the stuff has to be on the land. Photo: Russet Burbank New Leaf In order to reduce the amount of crop protectants Webster sprays on his fields, he's growing a newly bio-genetically engineered potato called Russet Burbank New Leaf. The variety is resistant to Colorado Potato Beetle as they don't like the taste or odour of the plant. Right now there are about one hundred acres of the plant growing in the fields and Webster plans more in the future. In fields were Russet Burbank New Leaf is not growing, there are crop scouts out two days a week. They keep an eye on insects and other problems and establish a threshold based on the acre before crop protectants are used to combat the infestation. Webster instituted a woodlot management program on his properties about ten to twelve years ago. Through BBEMA, project workers went into riparian zones that were in poor condition and replanted them with better suited species such as spruce or larch. As well, a hardwood stand was thinned out about thirty percent to allow the crowns of the existing trees to fill out and provide protection for wildlife. Buffer zones of about thirty feet line the waterways on Webster's property, too. Two years ago, Webster signed an agreement with the waterfowl conservation group, Ducks Unlimited, to install a duck pond. Presently, he is looking for another site on his property to install a second one. Photo: Farmland George Webster plans to revitalize Based on that philosophy, Webster bought a farm recently that is badly in need of restoration. The one hundred and seventy five acres of land was clear cut three to four years ago and left alone. Webster wants to team up with several environmental agencies to create an educational or model farm for local schools and groups to show that many farmers are practicing good land stewardship. The farmland is very diverse with a bog and areas for agricultural use and woodlot potential. He feels it would be an ideal project as the province moves to install an environmental component in the school curriculum by the year 2000. Has reduced soil erosion to the point where it's almost nil Maintains a healthy bio-diversity with wetlands, woodlots, and agricultural land use. Reduces the amount of crop protectants through crop scouts and biogenetically engineered potato varieties.

Some photos and technical information courtesy of the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture and Forestry