Farmer Stories
At Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust (DFWT), we've been supporting local farmers for over 30 years. Through a combination of stewardship programs that offer funding to farmers, and research projects, our goal is to preserve and sustain local farmland, both for its role in food production and as a valued source of wildlife habitat and ecosystem services.
Learn more about our local farmers and how DFWT's stewardship programs are helping them promote conservation on farmland.
Matt Dykshoorn, B&L Dairy Farm
Matt Dykshoorn, the General Manager of B&L Dairy Farm, has been farming on the Sumas Prairie, in Abbotsford, since 1998. He started the dairy farm in 2006 and is currently milking 80 cows and managing approximately 150 acres of predominantly corn silage, hay, and grass silage.
“We’ve always been growing cover crops,” says Matt, “but to be honest, we were starting to second guess whether it was even worth it.” The program, however, gives them the financial push to continue trying, even when increased bird pressure creates additional challenges.
Kal Sihota, Canadian Farms Produce
Canadian Farms Produce Inc is a third-generation family farm that has been operating in Surrey and Abbotsford since 1978. They grow several varieties of vegetables, primarily carrots, potatoes, beets, parsnips, cabbage and turnips. Winter cover crops are an important part of their cropping system as they are essential for reducing soil erosion, while also helping with weed suppression and improving soil health.
Having as many fields cover cropped as possible each year is a priority for Kal Sihota, who manages the farm’s cover crop program. Cover crops are planted as soon as possible after harvest, sometimes as early as late May or July. Early season cover crops grow through the summer and are replanted with a second cover crop in the fall to protect the soil over winter. Canadian Farms Produce has participated in the Cover Crop Program for the past two years, and Kal says the program “helps us out quite a bit” and allows them to increase the seeding rate of their cover crop, leading to a thicker stand.
Ken Malenstyn, Crescent Island Farm
Crescent Island Farms in Ladner BC, has been in the Malenstyn family since 1961. Today the farm’s 25 acres grow hay, vegetables, and hops for Barnside Brewing Co., a farm-based brewery owned by Ken Malenstyn’s family, along with three other Delta farm families. Over the years, the Malenstyn family has participated in both Grassland Set-Aside (GLSA) and Hedgerow Stewardship programs with Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust (DFWT).
Lydia Ryall, Cropthorne Farm
At Cropthorne Farm on Westham Island, Lydia Ryall and her family farm 24 acres of certified organic vegetables and cover crops.
The vision for Cropthorne has always been to achieve diversity in all aspects of its operation: in its farm crew, marketing methods and crops, and by supporting biodiverse ecosystems. The sustainable farming practices that DFWT promotes are a perfect fit for the farm.
David Davis, Davistead Farms
Nicole and David Davis and their family operate Davistead Farms, a dairy farm in Langley, BC. They milk 250 cows and care for 450 animals overall on their farm. The Davis’s see themselves as caretakers for the next generation. They collaborate with researchers and naturalists who study birds on their farm because they want to help generate knowledge that will serve the next generation.
“We plant cover crops around here for soil erosion,” says David. “Thirty years ago, we started seeing runoff of topsoil into the creek. We only have about six to seven inches of topsoil on this land.” The DFWT cover crop program helped to “push them over the top” and plant even more acres in winter cover this year. “It is better to have seed in that soil than to let it go bare in the Fraser Valley. We get a lot of rainfall, and it is so beneficial to have that cover crop taking up nitrogen out of the soil,” says David. “We're civilly minded. And, as a dairy farm, we have to act, and we have to do the right thing. And the right thing is trying to keep the soil where it is and trying to be a benefit to wildlife.”
Brent Harris, Fraserland Organics
Brent Harris and his family operate a 6th generation organic farm in Delta, farming nearly 2,000 acres of cranberries (non-organic), peas, beans, barley, cattle corn, and potatoes. They’ve been participating in DFWT’s cost-sharing, Cover Crop Program since 1993, when the Trust was first established.
“Our number one reason to plant cover crops is because it’s the right thing to do for our farming system and soils,” says Brent, “but having the cost-share programs with DFWT helps us to try something new and allows us to experiment.”
Cory Gerrard, Rod Swenson Farms
Rod Swenson Farms, a fourth-generation family farm, has been growing a variety of crops for decades, including potatoes, turnips, sweet corn, processing peas, and cereal crops. Starting its operations in Delta, the farm has now expanded to Abbotsford, and Kamloops
Over the years, Rod Swenson farms has participated in multiple stewardship programs, including Cover Crops, Cereal Habitat Enhancement, as well as Grassland Set-Aside programs.
Seann Dory and Suzy Keown, Salt & Harrow
Salt & Harrow is a 13-acre organic farm, operated by Seann Dory and Suzy Keown. They grow over 50 varieties of vegetables, fruits, legumes and herbs year-round. Established in 2015 on Vancouver Island, they now grow on family farmland in South Delta. Suzy says that “although our farm has relocated and seen many changes over the last decade, I think the only thing that has truly changed is the world around us. We still just farm as best we can and are grateful for the opportunity to do so”.
Suzy and Seann had long-term plans to plant hedgerows on the farm, but the Hedgerow Program DFWT offers provided the support needed to execute those plans much sooner than they anticipated. “The hedgerow program is a game changer for us because the hedgerow acts as a buffer alongside our organically managed fields, provides pollinator/beneficial insect habitat, and is a natural wind barrier.”
Tony Meier, U & D Meier Dairy #2
Tony Meier of U & D Meier Dairy #2 farms with his family on the Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford, BC. They milk 400 cows and farm around 400 acres in the area, growing silage corn with a winter cover crop in rotation with perennial grass.
“We are trying to be good stewards and growing cover crops because we don't want to see our soils blow away and wash away,” says Tony. However, at the same time they are dealing with “regular loss of crops to waterfowl and rain damage”. DFWT’s Cover Crop Program takes some of the financial pressure off. “I don’t think anybody really wants us to stop growing cover crops, ourselves included,” says Tony, “so it's nice to see some support from to encourage us to keep going with this”.
Nancy Chong, Yet Chong Farms
Nancy Chong of Yet Chong Farms (Howe Chong Farms) in Delta, BC, transitioned from growing potatoes and vegetables to blueberries in 1990. Recently, the farm began replanting older blueberry fields impacted by the scorch virus, starting with eight acres three to four years ago.
To manage these fields, Nancy enrolled in the DFWT Blueberry Rest program, to help improve soil health, support pollination, and create wildlife habitats while waiting to replant. Nancy finds the program especially beneficial for Delta’s clay soils, which can suffer from compaction.
Jack Zellweger, Zellweger Farms
Zellweger Farms on Westham Island has been in the family for three generations. Jack and his family have a long history with Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust (DFWT) – he even served as a Director for a time.
The farm grows winter cover crops and participates in DFWT’s Grassland Set-Aside (GLSA) Program. Along with providing wildlife habitat and improved soil health, GLSAs like the Zellweger’s also store carbon – just one of the many ecosystem services provided by farms.
How Can You Help?
Your donation will work towards conserving important farmland and wildlife resources contained in the Fraser River delta.