Land Access Stories: Max Berukoff, Berukoff Farms – Central Kootenay, BC

Berukoff Farms, run by Max Berukoff, is a 130-acre cow-calf operation based near Champion Lakes provincial park. Five years ago, Max started ranching with just a few cows, continuing a tradition that runs deep in his family. His dad and grandad were both farmers, and when he had the opportunity to buy his dad’s land, Max knew he wanted to carry on the family legacy. The B.C. Land Matching Program has supported Max to lease additional land, allowing him to grow his operation commercially. Max’s current goal is to grow his herd to 20 or more cows and to start processing his own beef, so folks can get high-quality, locally-raised meat straight from the farm.

Here’s what Max had to say about accessing land through the B.C. Land Matching Program:

“I started out raising steers for meat and slowly built things up. Three years ago I had 12 cows, now I’m up to 16. The biggest challenge in growing my business has been finding landowners willing to sign a lease agreement. Without a lease, my financial risk is too high and I can’t justify investing in pasture improvements or seeding to grow better hay. As a result, I’ve mostly been limited to cutting grass on properties where I don’t have a formal lease. If I can secure a long-term commitment, I can invest more in the land and grow my herd. 

I grow my own hay on 20 acres and lease land across five different properties to keep things running smoothly. When more land became available it was a no-brainer to lease because of how many benefits leasing offers. So I reached out to the B.C. Land Matching Program (BCLMP) to get professional help putting together a solid lease agreement for the new land.

The BCLMP has provided me with stability and security by helping me create a written lease. Working with the program was seamless: everything was well-organized, easy to follow, and honestly, just a pleasure. The fact that it came at no cost was an added bonus. I’ll definitely be using the program again as I work on expanding my herd and bringing more high-quality meat to my community. If you’re a farmer or a landowner, I highly recommend checking the program out!”

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GOT LAND? WANT LAND?

Through the B.C. Land Matching Program, Young Agrarians offers support to farmers looking for land for their farm business, and landholders looking for farmers to farm their land. We’ve made more than 415 matches on over 13,120 acres to date!

Are you on the Young Agrarians UMAP? List your land or future farm dream today! You just might find a farmer who can turn your vacant field into a productive farm, or a landholder who has the ideal piece of land for you.

To explore more land access resources, visit youngagrarians.org/tools/land.

The B.C. Land Matching Program is funded in the Columbia Basin by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative, with additional support from Columbia Basin Trust and the Real Estate Foundation of BC.