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MFGA eBulletin - July 2019
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From the Desk of MFGA Executive Director
The dog days of summer are here, and, they seem busier than ever. Some rapid fire thoughts this month....
* Rain definitely showed up across most parts of Manitoba this month. Here's hoping the best results for all Manitoba and Prairie producers on all fronts and all crops.
* How about that Weather Network, eh? If you're on social media, you know what I'm talking about. I won't repeat the tweet that raised all our grassland and livestock ire because the tweet doesn't deserve replay. It most certainly wasn't a highlight performance. However, I will say kudos to Canadian Cattlemen's Association for the speedy and direct response on all of our behalf. Nice work.
* On the sunnier side of the rainbow, recent news from Montana where ranchers can now get paid to sequester carbon using rotational grazing practices is encouraging for Manitoba producers. This is exactly why the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program is extremely well-timed and necessary for Manitoba producers. Read more on the
MFGA-CFGA AGGP partnership and project below.
* You know it's going to be a great day after answering my phone the other morning and hearing William Waldner of CanAmerican Alfalfa Producers on the other end. Mr. Waldner promptly stepped up for MFGA to the tune of a $5000 Platinum Sponsorship - our highest level - completely out of the blue. Thank you and WELCOME CanAmerican Alfalfa Producers! MFGA will have more news on our great new partnership soon. Thank you sincerely to MFGA member Ken Harms for the MFGA recommendation.
* Congratulations to Carson Callum, Manitoba Beef Producers new General Manager and belated congratulations to Patty Rosher who was named as KAP's general manager not too long ago.
* And finally, and certainly not last by any stretch, Congratulations to the MFGA Board of Directors for taking a solid step forward and cementing MFGA's leadership on Regenerative Agriculture by declaring MFGA's corporate position. More on that below as well as more details on our
2019 MFGA AGM & Regenerative Agriculture Days slated for Brandon in November. Please register early, we expect a jam-packed event.
Muchos grasses all!
Duncan Morrison,
MFGA Executive Director
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MFGA Green Gold Program 2019 Highlights
With the dry, cool start to the 2019 growing season and then a continued variation in moisture amounts throughout the province, most areas of Manitoba saw a shorter than normal alfalfa crop reach optimum quality at late bud to early bloom (10 per cent flower) stage. The MFGA Green Gold Program proclaimed the following regional Hay Days (best Relative Feed Value for a first cut): Central - June 5, Eastern - June 10 and Western - June 15.
Read the final MFGA Green Gold Report.
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Busy Summer Ahead for Grassland Carbon Research in Manitoba
Researchers will be digging down on six Manitoba fields this summer as part of a national project to look at the role of forages and grasslands in reducing Greenhouse Gases in Canada. "High Performance Management Systems To Reduce Greenhouse Gases in Canada's Forages and Grasslands" is being led nationally by the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) after a successful application to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Greenhouse Gas Program last year. Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) is fully supportive of the CFGA project and helped identify the five producer fields as well as the sixth at Manitoba Beef and Forages Initiatives (MBFI) research and demonstration Brookdale farm near Brandon, MB as project sites. Dr. Terence McGonigle of Brandon University will lead the research team in sampling the nominated fields.
Read the full MFGA Media Release.
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MFGA Positions for Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative Agriculture is a fast-evolving, producer-led force in Manitoba. Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) is keeping pace with it. "MFGA's interests in Regenerative Agriculture lie squarely in producing high quality food while improving the natural ecosystem," says Ryan Boyd, MFGA's finance chair and a well-regarded Regenerative Agriculture leader in Manitoba. "We believe that Regenerative Agriculture farms strive to be part of a larger ecosystem, shifting the paradigm from prioritizing high yields above all else to establishing cycles of regeneration that improve long-term land use via profit and ecosystem health."
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Making high quality baleage
If done correctly, baleage has the potential to produce good quality forage and reduce the risk of forage quality loss in adverse weather conditions. Although this method of storage isn't for everyone, more and more producers are viewing it as a good alternative to dry hay production. To learn more,
read on...
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Farm safety tip: Handle the heat and stay hydrated
Heat exhaustion can occur due to excessive sweating from working in the heat with a body temperature above 38°C. Symptoms include weak pulse, cool moist skin, normal or low blood pressure, fatigue, and nausea. Fluid and salt loss combined with inadequate water intake causes the body's cooling system to start to break down. Excessive sweating drains a person's body of salt, which cannot be replaced just by drinking water. Drink an electrolyte replacement beverage, schedule physically demanding tasks for the coolest part of the day whenever possible, and check regularly on people working alone.
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Manitoba Beef Producers Announces New General Manager
The Board of Directors of Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) is pleased to announce the hiring of Carson Callum to the position of general manager. Callum comes to MBP with extensive education and experience in agriculture. He grew up on a mixed grain and beef cattle farm south of Miami, Manitoba. He has a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Agriculture and a Master's of Science from the University of Manitoba where he majored in Animal Science. Most recently he was the Market Manager, Grains & Oils with Corteva Agriscience (formerly Dow Agrosciences).
Read the full MBP media release here.
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Manitoba Sheep Association (MSA) offers bursary to youth
The MSA is once again offering the Dr. John Hamerton Scholarship to a deserving MB youth. This scholarship is open to any student who is a current member of the MSA or is related to a current MSA member and is enrolled in a post-secondary education program. The annual award is $500.00. Full eligibility and criteria, as well as an application form,
found here. Deadline for applications: August 1, 2019.
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CYFF Contest for young farmers
Canadian Young Farmers Forum (CYFF) recently launched the Farm Your Numbers Program and Competition which runs until September 1. Eleven winners will be selected - one in each region where there is a Canadian Young Farmers Forum affiliate. Canadian Young Farmers Forum and RBC are aligned in supporting the growth of the agriculture industry and assisting producers to develop skills. To view contest details and register,
go here.
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Ducks Unlimited Canada hay land up for tender
DUC's second round of
hay tenders are coming up. Each year, DUC offers thousands of forage acres to Manitoba producers for haying opportunities. Tenders close at noon on July 25, 2019. Bid forms and maps
can be found here
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Keystone Agricultural Producers submit consultation document to Ag ministers meeting
Recently in Quebec City, agriculture ministers from provinces, territories and the federal government convened to discuss the major issues impacting the industry. KAP submitted a consultation document for the meeting.
Read the full document.
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Producer Events & News
Learn more about the field of
Permaculture and its sustainable gardening/farming techniques at our next general meeting
Tim Engbrecht and Slade Doyle of Parkland Permaculture will present on their activities, ranging from landscape planning to coordinated seed saving and their distributed seed bank, nursery stock and fruit-tree twigs for grafting to composting and vermiculture to wholesale ordering of a variety of plants, including trees. Held from 1-3 pm.
Register by July 23: Jim Irwin, p: (204) 848-7354; e: [email protected].
Topic: Using Livestock to Rebuild Degraded Soil with a focus on improving soil health and function using planned grazing. Start time: 1pm. Location is 2 miles north of intersection of #1 (Trans Canada) and #254 south (Oak Lake Beach turnoff). Contact: Michael Thiele, e: [email protected], p: 204-365-6334.
This Tour is designed to showcase different ideas and strategies to help producers increase profits and manage workloads associated with today's livestock operations. Larger herds, working off-farm, value added or diversification of enterprises have required innovative thinking. Learn from other producers by adapting new concepts to suit your own operation! Cost $30.00/person/day. Includes lunch, refreshments, reference materials. PRE-REGISTRATION BY JULY 29. Contact: 204-622-2007 or [email protected].
MBFI DAY! -
Aug 10, 2019, MBFI Learning Centre, Brandon, MB
Featuring AAFC researcher and cover crop expert Dr. Jillian Bainard. Learn more about cover crops and other MBFI research around livestock production. Contact
[email protected] for more info.
Wed 3-6: Chapter and Section Meetings followed by supper; Thurs 8-4: Day Tour departing from Brandon Riverbank Discovery Centre.
Covers: Soil Health - Annual Cover Crop Pasture Stands - Legume and Grass Mix Pasture Stands - Pasture Improvement Methods - Rotational Grazing Management. Runs
10am - 3pm and includes lunch. View further details at the link for meetup time & location. PLEASE RSVP: e: [email protected] p: 1 877 COW CHOW (269-2469).
The Conservation Trust helps Manitoba conservation organizations tackle important projects and create environmental benefits for all Manitobans.
Learn more about The Trust and if it's a fit for your project at one of the info sessions. RSVP by July 31.
- CT 101 Webinar -
CT Requirements & Tools for Success, Sep 12
10 am-11 am
- CT 201 Workshop - Budgets & Match Development, Sep 19 10 am-12 pm in Winnipeg
Mark your calendar for this popular event - now in the 10th year. Open Farm Day promotes, enriches and increases the public's knowledge and trust of agriculture in our province by welcoming the public to visit Manitoba farms including MBFI Brookdale. Questions:
[email protected].
Over 500+ women from across Canada who are passionate about ag and the food industry attend this premier leadership conference, held this year at Sheraton on the Falls. F
unding available, details
here.
This year's conference titled "Canadian Forage Production School, Eastern Edition" offers farmers tools, information, advice, tips and tricks to make the most of their forage and grassland management and production.
Held at the Four Points by Sheraton Moncton.
Nov 15 Workshop: Learn how to formulate rations for your entire flock; Nov 16 - Symposium & AGM: Join us for another great day of presentations on Nutrition and other sheep production topics and be a part of the MSA AGM.
Join in on
MFGA's Annual Fall Celebration at this 1.5 day event:
Tuesday, Nov 19 (evening): MFGA 2019 AGM & MFGA PRODUCER PANEL, Victoria Inn
Wednesday, Nov 20 (all day): REGEN AG WORKSHOP & TRADE SHOW, including confirmed speaker Dr. Dwayne Beck, Mb Ag Extension Centre.
Save these dates - more details to follow! REGISTER NOW: SPACE IS LIMITED FOR EVENT AND Booth SPONSORSHIP
Registration is open! Theme: Our Future is in the Soil. Held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel West Edmonton.
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MFGA GOLD SUPPORTERS
MFGA SILVER SUPPORTERS
MFGA BRONZE SUPPORTERS
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