Diversity Rancher Tyler Torrie

Join our host David Woodruff as he interviews Diversity Rancher, Tyler Torrie.

• Riverview Ranch Operations: The Riverview Ranch is engaged in several activities, including preparing fields for winter, installing solar panels to manage electricity costs, and extracting leaf cutter bee cocoons from Styrofoam nesting blocks using an extraction machine. They will take these to an x-ray lab to test for parasites or diseases before storing the bees in winter conditions.

• Pollination and Parasite Management: Challenges include dealing with a parasite known as pteromalids, which resembles mini wasps and can harm bee cocoons by laying eggs inside. Currently, there are limited options to control these parasites during winter as both the bees and parasites are hibernated. Some measures such as using black lights and water traps during incubation try to eliminate them, and fibers on nesting blocks help prevent parasite entry.

• Riverview Ranch Land and Agriculture: The ranch spans about 3,000 acres, with plans to convert some areas into irrigated fields while most remain grazing land for cattle. Water for irrigation comes from the river, and there are plans afoot to improve the pump system.

• Crop Yields and Farm Management: This year saw better yields in stand forage compared to the previous year with promising results for canola due to good pollination and satisfactory yields for dry beans like black, pinto, and great northern varieties. The ranch utilizes two machines for bean harvesting, which requires regular maintenance due to the abrasiveness of the sandy soil.

• Geographical Characteristics and Challenges: Riverview Ranch is in a topographical area with similarities to a region called Cook Flat, with unique microclimates favorable for certain crops. The area experiences issues such as soil siltation and requires vigilant maintenance of farm equipment to counteract the abrasive effects of sandy soil.