TESA 2011 Recipient

Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Environmental Stewardship Award Recipient

The Weedon Ranch , Swift Current, Saskatchewan

The Weedon Ranch encompasses approximately 11,500 acres of native prairie range and 1,920 acres of tame grass in the dry brown soil zone of Saskatchewan. Located near Swift Current, the ranch owned by husband and wife team, Brian and Glenys Weedon, is mostly in a sandhill ecosystem making water and grass management a priority. 

Black Angus is the breed of choice at the couple’s cow-calf/backgrounding operation, as the Weedons find them best suited for their management approach and the ecosystem they operate in. The ranch is a mixture of open flats and rolling hills along with small dune sand hummocks. The vegetation is within the mix of grassland eco/region of sandhill complexes in southwest Saskatchewan. Areas of larger woody species provide excellent wildlife habitat for Mule Deer, White Tail Deer, Pronghorn Antelope and Sharptail Grouse.

As potable surface water is scarce, the Weedons are reliant on the ranch’s high water table which is very potable. Developing a watering system that is efficient and reliable and allows the ranch to utilize its grazing resources is an example of the management improvements that contribute to the overall environmental sustainability of the ranch.

The surface water situation is remedied through the installation of shallow buried water pipelines, water stations, windmills and dugouts. The water facilities are strategically located for maximum range utilization and the dugouts act as a backup for the other systems.

The 12 quarters of tame grass are divided into hay production, tame forages for grazing and native range. Cross-fencing to accommodate grazing strategies, including deferred grazing of all native pasture and switchback grazing, along with balanced stocking rates, have resulted in a healthier range due to increased litter and more diverse and productive grass species. Manure is spread naturally to avoid accumulation on any given location.

Over the years the Weedons have hosted field days and educational tours examining management protocols on Canada’s rangelands, range plant identification, range assessment and biodiversity observations.

In 2003, Weedon Ranch was one of the first operations to meet the criteria to be enrolled in the Quality Starts Here/Verified Beef Production Program. The Weedons note that healthy cattle are easier to manage, supported by nutrition and good clean water.