· So too, has Dr. Steven Frey of the MFGA Aquanty Model Phase 1 team, the science leader of MFGA’s flood and drought water management model that looks at the positive role of forages and grasslands in times of flood and drought, who presented at the Alberta Forage Information Network AGM last week.

· MFGA’s Supporter Campaign is halfway through our march through March and response has been amazing. Thank you to all corporate and producer sponsors. Your support allows us to do our best work.

· And finally, a thought to ponder. With the ability of mobile electric fencers to be pegged down on spot and used for fencing cattle and reducing their movement on targeted SHORT-TERM grazing areas, such as normally unfenced fields, who ever thought that the modern and mobile electric fence would be hailed as such a potential benefit to regenerative agriculture-minded grazing systems.

The MFGA Green Gold Program (Optimum Alfalfa Harvest Date) represents MFGA's longest-running producer-based program for Manitoba forage producers. With 30 years of program delivery behind us, once again, we are seeking producers with hay fields that are mostly alfalfa, fairly new, and in good condition for testing through the May/June growing season until the first cut. Over recent years, MFGA has enrolled fields across eastern, central and western Manitoba. We would like to have all areas of the province represented.

Your Benefits: receive results from Green Gold fields twice weekly from our MFGA-coordinated sampling start-up until first cut, providing you with insights and real time information around the relative feed value (RFV) and when might be the best first cut for your alfalfa field.

Eligibility: You must agree to sample your field twice weekly (Monday & Wednesday) and submit to Central Testing Laboratory Ltd. via courier. (Costs covered by MFGA).

Contact Terra, MFGA Green Gold Program Coordinator.

During a drought, we often tend to scramble to make up for shortages and this approach can be costly. “Ideally, planning for drought needs to occur before the drought arrives,” Dr. Mike Schellenberg, forage and range ecologist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). Planning for drought may include seeding drought-tolerant species along with less drought-tolerant species as insurance in the event of a drought, or itmay include adapting rotational grazing that reduce the effects of a drought on forage and croplands. Practices like these are proactive rather than reactive and happen before or after a drought but not usually during. Read on...

Rejuvenation of a forage stand, whether hay or pasture, involves using one or a combination of methods to increase productivity with a shift towards higher yielding forage species that provide improved nutritive value for livestock. Read this helpful fact sheet from the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC).

An article from BeefResearch3 - Aerial seeding crops is not a new idea for many farmers, particularly those in flood-prone regions. Arron Nerbas, of Nerbas Brothers Angus, was trying to figure out a way to rejuvenate some of their farm’s old forage stands that were located in the floodplain of the Assiniboine River Valley. Read on.

The General Mills/Cheerios Pollinator Habitat Program is committed to improving pollinator habitat by providing seed mixes to qualifying farmers. The program works with growers to plan, plant, and manage pollinator habitat by providing free forage, native wildflower, and native grass seed mixes with technical support. More details provided here.

The Weston Family Prairie Grasslands Initiative is a five-year collaboration to protect and restore biodiversity on Canada’s Prairie Grasslands. Nearly $25M has been committed to five organizations to accelerate the implementation of sustainable practices and achieve landscape-level impact. Read more about this initiative here.

As you plan for the 2021 growing season, the Saskatchewan Forage Council (SFC) Forage U-Pick Tool can help you select appropriate forages for your region and to meet your goals! It's easy to use: select your Province and soil zone with the help of an interactive map, then select any field characteristics that apply and view your results. There is a seeding rate calculator, forage weed management tool and more to explore. The (SFC) Forage U-Pick Tool page also includes links to programs that can help you with the cost of establishing perennial forages. Start your planning for spring today!

The Manitoba government has distributed legislation that would amend the Petty Trespasses Act, the Occupiers Liability Act and the Animal Diseases Act to help landowners respond to concerns about trespassing on private property. Read the full Govt of Mb News Release.

Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) is considering an annuals option for forage establishment insurance that would provide coverage for polycrops and is interested to know the potential demand. If you are interested in submitting feedback, please complete this two-minute survey. 

Canadian Agriculture Safety Week: March 14-20, 2021

The goal of having a special week focused on farm safety is to empower farmers, farm families and farming communities to build, grow and lead the agricultural industry in safety and sustainability. Contact the Manitoba Farm Safety Program here for more information.

MARD Agriculture Awareness Day playlist on YouTube

The recordings of the March 16 webinars are available on the Agriculture Awareness Day playlist on Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development’s YouTube channel:

- Advances in Agriculture and Protein Innovation

- Let's Talk Taco

KAP is providing a series of "In the Know" mental health literacy workshops January to March. These workshops are four hours long, offered at various dates and times, and provided by a mental health professional with lived on farm experience. KAP’s goal is to train 500 farmers, and those who work with farmers, to create an informed and caring network within our industry. Details and registration here.

MFGA will be one of five Manitoba food & farming groups on a panel hosted by Winnipeg Food Council: "What are three ideas to make our food and farming system more resilient?" 7pm start, moderated by Laura Rance, Glacier Farm Media. Register here.

Record Keeping for Forage & Grassland Management Webinar - March 23, 2021

This BCRC webinar will discuss the methods used by three producers to manage their pastures and forages. Registrants will have the opportunity to interact and ask questions too. If you can't make it, you can still register to receive a link to the recording and additional learning resources. Register here.

AIC’s Series of Six Webinar Sessions - begins March 22, 2021

AIC’s 2021 Summit - March 25, 2021

- Webinar Series: The Future of Agri-Food Research and Innovation: Register.

- Summit: Agri-Food Research and Innovation – Looking Ahead to 2025: Register.

The Manitoba Sustainable Energy Association (ManSEA) is hosting three webinars in place of its annual conference. These webinars will highlight the latest opportunities to produce and use sustainable energy. To learn more and register, click here.

A virtual opportunity for Manitoba Sheep Association members, facilitated by Gord Schroeder over the Zoom Platform, from 7pm-9:30 pm each evening. Cost: $175/individual or $300/couple. Full course materials provided prior to the course dates. Registration: mb@mbsheep.ca.

Topics include the key principles of managing for healthy soils; the soil food web; and a clear and straightforward explanation of the new science of carbon sequestration. Starts 10am. Register here.

You can sustain your farm for future generations with financial support available through Growing Outcomes in Watersheds (GROW), a new initiative that recognizes the valuable role farmers play in improving the environmental health of Manitoba’s agricultural landscape. Get an overview of local watershed programming and services offered in the East Interlake Watershed District, including GROW, developed specifically for farmers in District 5 and District 10. Starts at 10am. Click here.

MARD Stocktalk Webinar - Forages for Cows - April 15, 2021

This is the final webinar in the The Manitoba Agriculture & Resource Development Stocktalk webinar series. Submit your questions prior to or during the talk. Register here.

Mark you calendar for our 4th Annual Event! Watch here for details as they unfold. Planning is underway!

We are proud to showcase our 2020/21 Annual Supporters! 

Our 2021/22 MFGA Annual Supporter campaign is on, details here.