General degree - Restoration of natural systems diploma
General farming (3 years+) - I have a small hobby farm.
Other experience/agricultural/business training - Owner of an ecologically based resource management and consulting business for 10 years.
Do you have a business plan?
Yes - Have yet to formally draft a business plan. Not looking for a high profit business venture. Looking to run simple grass fed cattle rotational operation to provide sufficient revenue to pay for infrastructure/maintenance, any vet and health cost etc. the long term goal is to provide modest income, food security for immediate community, and ultimately to learn and eager more experience with the soil building and ecologic benefits of rotational grazing.
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - Long standing business with some credit availability, looking to expand capacity.
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
Yes - Very dependent on what lands may be available.
Project
Farm Name
Soft Path Resources
Farm Project Description
Just putting it out there,
Looking for some land to try rotational grazing of up to ten cows. Could even be a smaller section of a bigger acreage. Primarily looking to provide food security to my immediate community while I study and experience first hand the soil building and affects of rotational grazing on the landscape. The goal is to run a low input system that generates enough to cover costs of feed, infrastructure expansion/maintenance, animal health and human time while still allowing for high quality living standards for the cows. And of course production of delicious local beef! Also very open to working with someone already doing this in my immediate area.
I have 10 acres of my own but they are heavily wooded and fairly steep and not well suited for range. It is possible I could overwinter the cows on my own property for the first couple years but that would require infrastructure upgrades at a marginal location which I’m not super keen on. I have a truck capable towing a livestock trailer etc should moves be necessary.
Warm regards,
Emile
Preferred Arrangement
Registered Lease on Title -
Lease -
License -
MOU -
Transfer / Succession -
Business Partnership -
Duration of the desired agreement
On going. No less than 2 years but am ultimately looking for a long term situation to study.
Ideal date to obtain land by
May 2020 pretty open tho.
Participant in BC Land Matching Program
Yes
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
Open to many options 2-40 acres.
Wooded Area (acres)
Yes - Some wooded areas okay bud looking for at least some decent grazing
Cultivable Area (acres)
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
Yes
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
Fenced pasture and/or range.
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes - I’m good natured, busy, private and respectful. Not hard for me to navigate other peoples needs.
Need farm buildings
Yes - Winter shelter/feed storage facilities but also willing to provide them should over wintering be an issue.
Need fenced land
Yes - Not a deal breaker if no but Fencing preferred, I intending to use temporary electric fencing to rotate grazing areas as well.
Need farm machinery and tools
Yes - Have truck but may on occasion possibly could require stock transport trailer depending on nature if the land. Corals, chutes etc would be great if available.
Need established water source and infrastructure
Sufficient for up to ten head of cattle. Stock tanks and water stations would be handy. I also can import water from my own license depending on location of the land.
Need on-site housing
Yes
Production type
Livestock - Cattle
Hay & Forage -
Type of agriculture
Organic -
Other - Interested in ecosystem restoration/impacts. More of a side note
