Media Release: Producer-focused Regenerative Ag Forum Returns to Brandon

For Immediate Release

Producer-focused Regenerative Agriculture Forum Returns to Brandon in 2019

Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association hosts second Regenerative Ag gathering

Winnipeg, MB (September 6, 2019) - For the second year in a row, Regenerative Agriculture will be setting deep roots in southwest Manitoba.

Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA)'s is hosting their 2nd Annual Regenerative Agriculture Forum in combination with their Annual General Meeting in Brandon, MB on November 19-20, 2019. Once again, the MFGA event will be aligned with a Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC)'s Grazing Club event to give producers valuable access to experts on Regenerative Agriculture. The 2019 workshop follows up a wildly-successful Regenerative Agriculture 2018 Conference.

"We were thrilled with the response to our 2018 Regenerative Ag Conference," said Darren Chapman, MFGA chair. "And we talked as a board as to how we would replicate that year in and year out. Our decision was to go big every second year with a major conference but yet keep our momentum building with a smaller hands-on, producer-focused Regenerative Agriculture forum that features really strong speakers and topics in the years in between those larger events."

Embraced by a growing number of agricultural leaders and producers to merge economic and environmental outcomes, Regenerative Agriculture uses systems of farming principles and practices that increase biodiversity, enrich soils, improve watersheds, boost ecosystem services, and capture carbon in soil and above ground vegetation.

The MFGA Regenerative Ag Forum will include a workshop on November 20 at the Manitoba Agriculture Ag Extension Building, 1129 Queens Ave in Brandon and features well-respected keynote speakers Dwayne Beck and Jay Fuhrer. The University of Alberta's Edward Bork will lead a presentation via webcast and Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives general manager Mary-Jane Orr will deliver the keynote over lunch. The 2019 forum includes a producer-panel night on November 19, 2019 at Brandon's Victoria Inn, featuring three different panels comprised of producers and experts discussing regenerative agriculture, carbon protocols and offsets and research needs and opportunities.

The MFGA Regen Ag Forum, says Chapman, is a day and a half opportunity for producers to learn from experts, build their peer networks and exchange ideas and knowledge on Regenerative Agriculture.

"We are super happy with our speaker line-up on November 20 and we kind of borrowed the producer panel concept on November 19 evening from our partners at the Manitoba Bison Association for what they do at their annual event," said Chapman. "But what we heard from last year's conference is that the producers really enjoyed having time to mingle, network and chat and exchange ideas. If anyone has followed MFGA news over the past few years, they know we have a solid roster of local experts in our loops and we are bringing a lot of those people on stage with the panels to share their insights, experiences and to answer questions from the crowd. It's about as Made-in-Manitoba as it gets and we are going to have a great time."

With a smaller forum comes a smaller capacity for attendance and sponsorship. Early bird registrations are $150 before October 1, 2019 and $200 after. With the onset of September, registrations are really accelerating and organizers are thrilled with the response from producers and conference support from various organizations, companies and government departments. Special mention is deserved to all sponsors that have stepped up to date, particularly General Mills and Ducks Unlimited Canada's Grazing Clubs as major sponsors at the Regenerative Agriculture Champion level. Other incredible supporters that have stepped up for producers learning more about Regenerative Agriculture include coffee sponsor Edie Creek Angus as well as the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, Imperial Seed, Kane Veterinary Supplies, Carlisle Liquid Starters, Cleanfarms Inc., Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, GBT Angus, Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives, Manitoba Beef Producers and Manitoba Conservation Districts Association.

Early Bird registration closes October 1, 2019. Information on the MFGA Regenerative Ag Days program, speakers and sponsorship options can be found at https://www.mfga.net/regen-ag-days. More details on the DUC Grazing Club Event affiliated with the workshop will be shared as details are finalized.

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For More Information:
Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director, 204.770.3548, duncan@mfga.net

MFGA interacts with tens of thousands of Manitobans through our communications, collaborative projects, and outreach that promote the importance and well-being of Manitoba`s forages and grasslands. On a national scale, MFGA proudly partners with like-minded groups across Canada.