Flat Out Food: Cattle offer valuable environmental benefits on Denzil organic farm

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The history at David and Valerie Witzany’s organic farm near Denzil, Saskatchewan dates back over a century — they’re third generation farmers on the land homesteaded in 1911.

The Witzany family, which includes 11 children, decided to make the grain and livestock operation certified organic in 1999. Since then, David says he’s learned a tremendous amount about soil health and how it determines food’s nutrient value.

Part of that is learning about the green cover (weeds): “Try to learn what it’s telling you. Don’t just spray it and get rid of it,” he says.

Using cattle in the crop rotations, along with intensive grazing (smaller pastures that are rotated daily), has been hugely beneficial.

“I don’t think the majority of people understand the benefits (cattle) can be to the soil health,” David says.

Since the animals can’t wander a large pasture eating only their favourite vegetation, this system makes better use of the land. Cattle’s manure and the vegetation they trample helps improve soil health by providing concentrated organic matter.

“We’re seeing the soil rebound,” David says. “I’ve seen different plants grow that I didn’t plant — so you know the biology is getting better.”

When an organic processing mill came up for sale in 2007, the family “jumped at it,” he says.

“I always told my dad we need to quit shipping the raw product. It was always in my gut to do something (different).”

David says running the mill is worth the work and marketing effort, especially when he meets customers with health issues.

“You get that when you deal directly with customers — especially those that have had health issues — you’re supplying them with something healthy that their body isn’t rejecting. It reaffirms what you’re doing.”

For the Witzany family, farming the way they do is as much about feeding the land as it is about helping influence future health outcomes for their customers.

“If we feed people good food, it’s going to change our health care system,” David says.

Visit New Life’s stand at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market or check the website for delivery details: newlifeorganicfoods.ca. If you’d like to visit the farm to pick up your order, just call ahead.

Jenn Sharp is a freelance writer in Saskatoon.Her first book, Flat Out Delicious: Your Guide to Saskatchewan’s Food Artisans, will be published by Touchwood Editions in 2020. Follow her on Twitter @JennKSharp, Instagram @flatoutfoodsk, and Facebook.