Manning Family Farm – Dean and Catherine Manning

Dean and Catherine operate Manning Family Farm along with their daughter and son, Caylene and Andrew, in Falmouth, NS. The farm is a mixed farm operation consisting of 80 head beef cow/calf along with greenhouses and market garden vegetables.

Both Dean and Catherine are B.Sc. graduates from NSAC, while Caylene is a Registered Dietitian with her B.Sc. in Applied Human Nutrition, and Andrew is finishing up his B.Sc. in Ag Business from Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture this spring. Following university, Dean and Catherine both worked in agricultural-related fields before moving back to the family farm full time in 1997. During university, Dean was introduced to the concept of grazing management and has utilized that knowledge in developing grazing systems over the years that are currently being used on the farm.

Manning Family Farm also uses environmental practices that encourage biodiversity and the use of natural ecosystems with the livestock and cropping. Because of this, the farm was recognized with the Provincial Farm Environmental Stewardship Award in 2010, and in 2021, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Environmental Stewardship Award, sponsored by MNP, for their environmental stewardship practices utilized on the farm.

The beef cow herd is split between a late spring and early fall calving season. Forage is stockpiled for fall grazing and standing corn is being utilized as a winter grazing system.

Dean is currently in his third term on the board of the NSCP. He also presently sits as the Maritime representative on the Canadian Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) and is presently the Chair of the Maritime Beef Council (MBC). Catherine is a Director on the Maritime Angus Association Board, and also sits as a Director on Greenhouse Nova Scotia. Locally, Dean and Catherine are 4-H project leaders for the Avon 4-H Club. Catherine also holds an executive position with the County 4-H Council and is the Valley Director with the Nova Scotia 4-H Council. Dean and Catherine have volunteered their time in these organizations as they believe the agriculture industry has to work together to improve it for themselves and for future generations of farmers along with the communities they live in.