MFGA eBulletin - May 2020

MFGA eBulletin - May 2020

From the Desk of MFGA Executive Director

It feels much better to be starting off this month's eBulletin piece with good news and guarded optimism as the Province of Manitoba today announced their draft plan to consult on Phase Two of the Restoring Safe Services Together to gradually restore services and reopen business in Manitoba. With much safety and determined caution ahead of us, this is a direct reflection of the work of Manitobans to flatten the COVID19 curve. So good work, all! We are not normal scene yet, of course, and a robust continuation of thank you's to all front line workers from all sectors for your commitment and braveness. Thank you as well to our provincial leaders and decision-makers who grapple with facts and figures around the COVID beast daily with our safety top of mind.

With this news, we go forward at MFGA with our eyes fully open as we look at the potential for us to host our annual MFGA AGM & Regenerative Agriculture Conference in Brandon at the Victoria Inn Convention Centre, November 23-25, 2020.

The planning, actually, is quite far along. Our agenda is set, it's really strong. Our venue is locked down, it's a beaut. Our speakers are signed up, they're all highly touted. But then the other side of the COVID-19 planning questions come forward: will the speakers be able to travel? Can groups of 300 plus congregate? Can we do the conference online for some with a smaller gathering in person? We honestly don't know yet. And I do hope you please remain patient with us as we hold tight for a bit here and watch the world a bit more. We do know that you can lock down your spot with a $50 seat holder which will put you in the mix should we go forward, and put you onside as a MFGA Supporter in 2021 if we adjust our plans. We might lose or need to adjust our conference, it would be double bad to lose you too.

And finally, thanks to Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC) for approaching MFGA on an Invasive Species Week media release sent out this week. We were thrilled to oblige. NCC is also one of Canada's foremost leaders on Nature-Based Climate Solutions and constantly trumpets the values of grasslands and producers on that very important front. Make sure you check out the report that came out of the 2020 Nature-Based Climate Solutions Summit held in Ottawa a few months back, we've attached the link to the report below. Be well, all.

Muchos grasses,

Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director

REGISTRATION IS OPEN - LOCK DOWN YOUR SPOT!

On paper, our Annual Regenerative Agriculture Conference looks awesome in 2020. And we can tell you that:

We PLAN to hold it.

We WANT to hold it.

And like many other event-organizing groups, we still can't say for sure how things ahead of us will roll out. BUT....you can Lock Down your seat for the MFGA's 3rd Annual Regenerative Ag Conference with a non-refundable downpayment of your annual *$50 MFGA 2021 Membership Fee today! You will be invoiced for the balance later as the event takes shape. (Last year we sold out quickly once registration opened.) Our 2.5 day event will focus on soil health, producer prosperity and be held entirely at the Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre in Brandon, MB and we have set up a really great and jam-packed agenda that includes a movie night, the MFGA AGM, local and international keynotes as well as the always informative local-based producer panels that our event has become known for! Tradeshow & sponsorship opportunities, full agenda and speaker details all found here ! *(Membership fee non-refundable).

Nature Based Climate Solution Summit

Around 400 delegates gathered at Ottawa's National Arts Centre in February for the National Nature-Based Climate Solutions Summit. Manitoba was well-represented by Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation (MHHC), ALUS Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC) and Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association (MFGA). Read the full Summit Report.

May 16-23 is Invasive Species Awareness Week

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) are marking Invasive Species Awareness Week by urging people to help minimize the spread of invasive species that threaten grasslands and rangelands, whether they are resuming recreational activities or spending time in their yard. Larry Wegner, MFGA chair, suggests that with more of us spending time at home and taking short walks in local parks and along country roads, now is an ideal time to learn to identify and report invasive plants in our communities. Manitoba's native prairies are a precious resource - they sustain incredible biodiversity, including dozens of endangered species, while also supporting critical grazing and haying lands that farm families depend upon. Read the full MFGA/NCC media release.

Spring Grazing

Up until the middle of May, overnight temperatures were still dipping into the minus Celsius range and daytime temperatures were having a hard time getting into the teens. The May long-weekend kind of turned the weather heat back on. Still, if you're wondering why your grass hasn't been growing this spring it's because of the cool weather and a whole lot more. Read on...

Simple Soil Health Measurements

For decades, producers have known that including forages in your crop rotations helps reduce their dependency on fertilizers for increased yields. It improves the tilt of the soil, its water holding capacity and its ability to move water down into the soil. As farms have become larger and more specialized, forages often play a smaller part in the crop rotations which today has led many to ask the question: Is my soil healthy? Read on...

MFGA Aquanty Model: Healthy Soils, Grasslands and Wetlands Prove Extra Worth in Back to Back Flood and Drought Events

A recent Manitoba Agriculture Resource Development Innovation and Research stream-funded MFGA Aquanty modelling project under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership and led by Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) is clearly showing that when climatic events flip quickly from very wet to very dry in back to back years that regions with healthy soils, grasslands and wetlands are much better-positioned to deal with the negative impacts to the system. Read the full MFGA Media Release.

Dual purpose value of perennial forage grain for food grain crop and fall/winter grazing of beef cattle focus of new study

Maintaining beef cattle on pasture in the fall/winter season to reduce labour and feed costs is common practice in western Canada, however there are still many challenges associated with extended grazing strategies for stockpiled forage. Difficulty arises primarily in terms of nutritive value of pasture, which is often low and can negatively affect cattle performance. At the University of Manitoba, a new first-of-its kind study is underway evaluating the perennial grain intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) as a dual-purpose crop - to provide both a cash food grain crop and high quality forage regrowth for grazing cattle into the late fall and early winter. Read more.

Manitoba Farm Safety Program Tip

To help prevent on-farm injuries, people working in areas of the farm around moving equipment should always wear highly visible clothing to be as visible to the operator as possible. Make this usual practice on your farm.

Producer Events & News

11th Annual CFGA Conference - Nov. 16-20, 2020 in Kamloops, BC

Watch the CFGA website for details.

MFGA Regenerative Ag Conference & AGM - Nov 23-25, 2020 in Brandon, MB

Plan to attend this 3rd annual event! 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.

MB Association of Watersheds Annual Conference - Dec, 2020 in Brandon, MB

Date, venue and hotel details being confirmed, check the website for updates!

Soil Health & Grazing Summit - Feb 25-26, 2021 in Saskatoon, SK

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.