Profile: University of British Columbia dairy farmer

The challenge: Practicing sustainability while managing a dairy operation and research program

Located in British Columbia, UBC Dairy is a working farm and agricultural research program operated by the University of British Columbia. The farm maintains a herd of approximately 250 dairy cows while also serving as a hub for agricultural research and education for students from around the world. At UBC Dairy, sustainability is an essential part of day-to-day operations.

Barry Thompson has been part of the dairy industry for most of his professional life, with over 30 years working at UBC Dairy. Today, he plays a key role in daily farm operations, balancing herd management with the research and education program.

At UBC Dairy, feed for the herd is stored primarily using silage plastic, resulting in a large volume of the material to be managed each year. For Barry and his team, the solution to this challenge is to send it for recycling through the Cleanfarms pilot project operated in partnership with Dairy Farmers of Canada, and an ag plastic compactor is a vital part of this process. On average, UBC Dairy produces one bale of compacted silage plastic ready to be recycled every four to six months.

UBC Dairy was one of the first operations in British Columbia to receive an ag plastic compactor through the pilot project.  Recycling has long been part of the farm’s culture, even before compactors were available, so when the opportunity arose to use one, the team was eager to adopt it.

“When it comes to recycling, if it’s not easy, people don’t want to get on board,” Barry says. “The compactor facilitates the recycling process. Having somewhere for the team to take the plastic as soon as they remove it from the bunker is convenient, and it’s nice knowing it’s not going to waste.”

While the farm doesn’t currently use very much bale wrap, Barry notes that they’d happily start compacting it when the time comes and a second compactor is available.  The staff and students alike value recycling, and it’s always been considered “just part of the job.”

Once a bale of plastic is compacted, it’s transported to a Cleanfarms collection site, where it’s picked up and sent on to a processor for recycling. For UBC Dairy, the program not only keeps plastic out of the environment—it also demonstrates responsible waste management for the next generation of agricultural leaders.