2003 Conservation Family Winners
Farm Name: Porcherie Gauthier Ltd.
Partners: Roland Gauthier and Fred Fast
Farm Type: Hog and Cattle
Farm Size: 6000 sows, finish 2000-3000, isowean barn and 700 cow / calf pairs
Background: Roland Gauthier has been farming for almost 50 years but it was in 1996 that Porcherie Gauthier was formed in partnership with Fred Fast.
Mr. Roland Gauthier and his wife Monique have five children and two grandchildren that are active in the farm operations and community activities. Roland has been a Local Urban District (LUD) member since 1984 or the past 19 years, current chairman of the local Community Economic Development Board, and actively involved in the LaBroquerie Recreation Board for the past 15 years. Roland has also been a citizen appointment to the SRRCD since the formation of the District in 2001. The Gauthier family takes pride in their local community and most recently, completed the construction of a community campground and swimming pool. In addition to the community activities, Roland and Monique Gauthier are part owners of the popular La Verendrye Golf Course, known for the worlds longest Par 6 at an amazing 751 yards.
Fred Fast, the general manager of the Porcherie Gauthier Ltd., has also been farming for many years. He and his wife Rose have two children and are actively involved in the crop food bank in the area.
Farm Practices: Porcherie Gauthier Ltd. has 4000 acres of pasture providing additional farm income through land rental and shares. On this pasture they have implemented an extensive rotational grazing system which allows Porcherie Gauthier Ltd. to get the maximum weight gains from the cattle by allowing the forage in different parts of the pasture to grow to optimum height before grazing. This impressive grazing system includes in excess of 25 paddocks and thousands of meters of fence. The Gauthier’s also implement riparian projects designed to protect various tributaries of the Seine River. A cattle crossing is also being constructed on one of the tributaries in order to provide a safe, restricted crossing that ultimately limits the possibility of point source pollution to the river system.
Diversification, attention to detail and innovation help Porcherie Gauthier Ltd implement and practice sustainable farming practices. This accomplishment is characterized by the partnerships the Gauthier’s have formed with Manitoba Agriculture and Food, participating in implication trials between hog manure and various chemical fertilizer applications, PFRA with the design and implementation of the rotational grazing system, MWSB for the off stream watering systems and with the SRRCD on site development, riparian and rotational grazing planning. With continued sustainable farming practices, the Gauthier’s understand that the continued success of their livestock operation is dependant on the environmental health of the landscape.
Porcherie Gauthier Ltd. is an excellent example of what can happen when producers implement sustainable practices in their operations. Due to their innovation and commitment to sustainable agriculture, Porcherie Gauthier Ltd. is the Seine-Rat River Conservation District Farm Family of the Year for 2003.