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MFGA eBulletin - February 2020
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From the Desk of MFGA Executive Director
There comes a certain time in February, usually right around this back half time of February, where the sun comes up way earlier and sticks around later, often keeping daylight over those lucky enough to grab an early supper. It happens every year and it always feels like things are changing for the better right in front of our eyes. Things seem new and change is underway. In MFGA's case, things are new and changing. We have a new decade, a new chair in Larry Wegner, a new past chair in Darren Chapman, a new vice chair in Lawrence Knockaert, a newly-travelled Nuffield Scholar in our finance chair Ryan Boyd and a new Manitoba Bison Association rep on our board, Jacques Saquet.
Meanwhile, MFGA continues to see new faces and new developments in who we work with, partner with and collaborate with. From a funding and project perspective, we are knee-deep in new project proposals and a new MFGA fundraising campaign that gives our greatly-valued annual supporters the opportunity to bundle up their annual MFGA support with our third-annual
Regenerative Agriculture Conference: Foresight 2020
in Brandon this upcoming November.
On that conference front, we have pretty much locked down our agenda and it is full of new speaker experts to help producers learn more about Regenerative Agriculture and how producers may transfer that knowledge to their farms. When you are kicking off your announced speaker line-up with New Zealand's Nicole Masters and Manitoba's Ryan Boyd as keynotes, it's easy to be very excited about the new event ahead. Watch for more information in the coming days and weeks as we announce more great new speakers for that roster and crank open the registration wickets.
And, finally, in February, MFGA was invited to present on an Agriculture and Grassland Panel at the Nature-Based Climate Solutions Summit in Ottawa which was a gathering of somewhat non-traditional new audience for us. We were thrilled to be part and expanded our network in great positive ways and dialogues.
All in all, with your hugely-important support, we're rolling in 2020. Bring on the new daylight, indeed.
Muchos grasses,
Duncan Morrison,
MFGA Executive Director
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MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference: Foresight 2020
Nov 23 - 25, 2020,
Victoria Inn, Brandon, MB
Quality Food Production and Biological Economies Will be Front and Center as New Zealand's Nicole Masters provides one of the keynote addresses at the
MFGA's Regenerative Agriculture Conference: Foresight 2020 that will be held in Brandon November 23-25, 2020. Masters joins Manitoba's own Ryan Boyd as keynotes at the MFGA's third annual Regenerative Agriculture Conference. More speakers will be announced soon. Registration for this event opens in March, watch for more details!
Our annual MFGA Support Campaign has been launched and includes the option to bundle your support with conference sponsorship as outlined below.
Contact: Denice, denice@mfga.net.
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Manitoba Groups Front and Center at recent National Nature-Based Climate Solutions Summit
Four groups with strong ties to Manitoba took to the national stage earlier in February to showcase their work and programs to 400 delegates gathered at Ottawa's National Arts Centre for the National Nature-Based Climate Solutions Summit. Manitoba was well-represented by Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation (MHHC), ALUS Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association (MFGA).
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And it's one...two...three calves are out at the Dave and Rhonda Koslowsky Farm!
Former MFGA Chair Dave Koslowsky was super pleased to see this little trio of triplet brown heads on Sunday morning on the family farm near Killarney. MFGA wishes all our producer supporters and entire producer network healthy and productive 2020 calving seasons!
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Proper Management Key To Minimize Risk Of Calf Scours
Get cow-calf pairs out onto clean ground, such as fresh pasture, and give them as much space as possible. That's how Ryan McCarron sidestepped a calf scours outbreak on his eastern Nova Scotia farm in 2019. McCarron, who farms with family members at Antigonish, about 160 km northeast of Halifax, became alarmed when a few calves became sick and died early in the 2019 spring calving season.
Read the full BeefResearch3 article.
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Five Principles of Soil Health Recaps MFGA Regen Ag 2019
At the 2019 MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Forum in Brandon, Jay Fuhrer, soil health specialist with the Natural Resource Conservation Service of the USDA, spoke about soil health. Fuhrer says achieving soil health requires a systems approach that combines five principles: soil armour, minimal soil disturbance, plant diversity, continuous living plants/roots and livestock integration.
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February Hay Situation and Price Update
John McGregor, MFGA Hay Expert, spoke with provincial livestock specialists, forage producers and industry personnel to get their impression of hay prices and the hay situation.
Read the report here.
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Farming Practices and Water Cycling
When many parts of Manitoba go thru a dry cycle like we did in 2018 and 2019 or when downpours cause soil erosion due to run-off, we start to look at agricultural practices that help hold water, mitigate floods, reduce the effects of drought, and stabilize crop yields. In September 2019, Basche and DeLonge
published a paper that looked at the effects of five emerging ag-related practices: no-till farming, cover crops, crop rotations, perennial plantings, and cropland grazing.
Read more here.
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Producers explain the benefits of building soil carbon
The 2019 MFGA Regen Ag Forum was also the backdrop for this excellent article by Angela Lovell published in Manitoba Beef Producer's Cattle Country February 2020.
It's well known that native grasslands provide important ecosystem services, as well as tangible economic benefits for livestock producers through improvements in water infiltration and storage capacity, and the build up of soil organic carbon that enhances soil health.
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Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Corner
Manitoba launches online survey for producers in forage insurance review
On Feb 3, 2020, the Hon. Blaine Pedersen, Provincial Minister of Agriculture and Resource Development announced the province is undertaking a Forage Insurance Review to better understand the decisions of Manitoba producers when it comes to forage insurance products available through MASC. Last week, the Province of Manitoba urged producers to take part in an online survey that will be a vital and critical step in the forage insurance review. MFGA encourages all producers to participate in the Forage Insurance Review at https://engagemb.ca/forage-insurance-review or visit one of the Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development public kiosks available at the Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development locations.
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Western Canada Conference speaker videos posted
Our friends at the 2019 Western Canada Conference on Soil Health & Grazing held in Edmonton last December have posted video recordings from their speaker/presenters
available here for viewing.
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Producer Events & News
Forage seed growers, researchers, extension staff and agribusinesses will congregate at the Fantasyland Hotel, West Edmonton Mall to unite the industry throughout Canada and increase awareness of the benefits of incorporating forage seed crops into any cropping system.
Calling all farmers under 40! The FCC Young Farmer Summit will empower you to take control of your business journey. Get real-world advice to help you set and achieve goals and connect with other future leaders like you. Don't miss this event, held at the Victoria Inn, Winnipeg. Registration deadline: Feb 26.
Attend the largest organic trade show in Western Canada to learn more about environmentally friendly farming practices. During 2 days of conference presentations at the Keystone Centre, you will learn about building soil fertility, managing weeds, the latest cultivation and seeding equipment along with other cross cutting issues such as building biodiversity and responding to a changing climate.
This event will cover topics such as improving your land base's production and profits, FBC tax tips, dealing with drought, and fences and water systems innovations. Cost $30pp and includes lunch. To register, text 204-212-1253.
MFGA's Ryan Boyd will be among experts speaking at the Living Soils Symposium by Regeneration Canada. Come learn and exchange with leaders of the regenerative movement: Gillian Flies (The New Farm), Dr. David Montgomery (University of Washington in Seattle), MFGA's Ryan Boyd (Nuffield scholar), Dr. Kris Nichols (microbiologist), permaculture pioneer Mark Sheperd, Grounded Growth founder Sara Harper, and more.
This Webinar with Dr. Jeff Herrick, Global Lead, and Meghan Mize, Global Coordinator, of the Land Potential Team, will be talking about the Land Potential organization and providing an overview of the LandPKS mobile phone application and land-management recording system that their team has developed. There will be opportunity to ask questions.
Watch the CFGA website for details.
Plan to attend this 3rd annual event which includes top notch speakers such as MFGA Ryan Boyd, Nuffield Scholar, international speaker Nicole Masters, a trade show and more. Held at the Victoria Inn Convention Centre, Brandon MB. Watch
MFGA.NET for more details and follow MFGA social media for updates and more speaker announcements: t:
@mbforages, f:
@manitobaforage, i:
mbforage.
Saskatchewan Forage Council co-hosts this event, including producer and regenerative agriculture pioneer Gabe Brown and Dr. Abbey Wick, one of North America's leading soil scientists. Save the dates and watch for updates over the next few months! Details to follow.
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Our 2020/21 Supporter Campaign is underway. Check out our new bundle opportunities!
For more info,
go here
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THANK YOU TO THESE 2019/20 MFGA SUPPORTERS!!
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MFGA GOLD SUPPORTERS
MFGA SILVER SUPPORTERS
MFGA BRONZE SUPPORTERS
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