MFGA eBulletin - February 2022 |
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photo credit: Green Beach Farm & Food |
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From the Desk of the Executive Director |
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SNOW SNOW SNOW…let it snow! And make no bones about it, we are hoping for the slow-melting, super-saturated wet kind that sticks to fields and clings to roughage until it absorbs as slowly as possible into the soil this spring. I heard an expert on the radio last week – before the four more days of snow we’ve since received – advising some areas had twice as much snow as this time last year. Fingers crossed on all the good potential as we head into the final two weeks of February.
On an organizational front, February is always an important time of year for MFGA as we prepare to reach out to all our corporate and business supporters as part of our annual corporate campaign. In recent years, the establishment of our MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference as a solid can’t-miss event for producers has helped MFGA access even more corporate support and interest. Advancing our communications efforts – such as increasing our reach of our monthly eBulletin – has also appealed to many. As a non-check-off group, our corporate campaign is essential for MFGA to do our best work. We thank you all for your continued support of MFGA. I'd also like to salute the excellent work of our client relations lead Denice Girdner and our finance lead Chris Yuzdepski during this hectic MFGA push. Fantastic work by both year after year has helped MFGA immensely! So thank you to our corporate supporters and thank you to Denice and Chris.
And finally, two highlights for me below deserve comment. Firstly, positive comments continue to resonate around our Manitoba Grazing Exchange potential that MFGA partnered with Manitoba Organic Alliance (MOA) on. Again, the exchange is open to ALL farmers. Manitoba Co-Operator editor Gord Gilmour interviews Karen Klassen of MOA on the podcast link we provide. Secondly, we had been hearing concerns around forage seed availability in Manitoba and asked John McGregor, our MFGA extension specialist, to reach out to industry forage seed leaders and provide a report, which is found below. Nice work by John. I hope you find it very timely and well done.
Muchos Grasses,
Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director
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MFGA Special Report: 2022 Forage Seed Availability
Supply shortages have become almost the norm for most of us. From the infamous toilet paper shortage back in 2020 to hay shortages presently, living with and planning for supply disruptions are becoming all too common. On the agricultural side we read about supply issues for seed, fertilizer, equipment and parts. Recently, forage seed availability issues for the coming season have been brought forward. Read on...
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Dairy Farmers of Canada pledge Net Zero by 2050
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) has unveiled a goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from farm-level dairy production by the year 2050, with a milestone in 2030. This is continuation of the ongoing efforts by the dairy industry related to environmental stewardship and much work of the work necessary to meet the target has already begun, says the organization. Read the full RealAgriculture article.
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Managing salinity with forages
Some acres were never suited to annual crop production. As some farmers get a better handle on the profitability of each cropped acre, they are putting the most dismal of these acres back into perennial forages where they belong. Salinity is a common reason for chronic underperformance. Severe saline areas are sickly white, rimmed with kochia and foxtail barley, and never worth the effort of an oilseed or pulse crop. Even cereals, which are somewhat more tolerant, suffer in mild to moderate salinity. There is a better way. Read the full Country Guide article.
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As a regenerative livestock farmer, I suppose it was only a matter of time before I waded into the ‘protein debate’ we seem to hear much about. A key focus of our farm is pastured proteins. Regenerative-managed, pasture-raised beef, pork, chicken and eggs offer a unique win-win-win situation in terms of farmer profitability, animal health and welfare as well as human and environmental health. Read Zack's blog...
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MFGA 2021 Regen AG Conference videos now available to all
As promised, MFGA has made our 2021 Regenerative Agriculture Conference videos available to all. Our 2021 event was delivered in hybrid format of online and in-person attendees which at peak time and when combined reached past 300 delegates. Check out our conference!
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ALUS and Partners launch Lake Winnipeg Water Stewardship project
Several multinational corporations and environmental not-for-profits are spearheading a new approach to water stewardship in the Canadian Lake Winnipeg basin. Read the full ALUS News Release.
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Manitoba Watershed Districts accepting GROW Applications
Manitoba’s watershed districts are accepting applications for their local Growing Outcomes in Watersheds (GROW) programs. GROW provides incentive funding to farmers to conserve natural areas or change land use on working agricultural lands to improve local watershed health and provide ecological goods and services. GROW is delivered by watershed districts, in partnership with landowners and funding agencies. For more information, please review the GROW FAQ. Interested farmers can contact their local watershed district to learn about programming opportunities today.
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Hay Situation & Price Update
Since our January Hay Situation & Price Update, there have not been enough sales or new listings to make any significant change to prices It appears the issue is availability. With the cold winter, livestock are eating their way through any potential surpluses that might have emerged if conditions had been warmer.
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Can Grazing Cover Crops Add Value?
Utilizing forage crops for soil improvement isn’t all that new. Farmers on mixed operations have incorporated livestock and crops and have seen the benefits of legumes and manures both economically and from a soil health aspect. As farms became more specialized, the benefits of livestock and forages were lost to grain farmers. Economics moved Beef production to marginal areas and lower quality soils not suited for high yielding grain production. Read on...
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Winter Survival of Alfalfa
With most of Manitoba receiving normal to above normal snow this winter, concerns about soil moisture availability for the start of the growing season are beginning to lessen. The record cold temperatures however, have some producers expressing concerns about the survival of their alfalfa this winter. Read on...
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Connecting cattle to cropland, farmers helping farmers
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2022 Grasshopper Forecast available
The Manitoba Agriculture 2022 Grasshopper Forecast for Manitoba is now available - go here.
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The Ecological Buffalo: On the Trail of a Keystone Species
Wes Olson and wife/photographer Johane Janelle from Lamont, Alberta have written a new book on bison, The Ecological Buffalo: On the trail of a keystone species that will be hitting the bookstore shelves in July 2022. The new book provides an in-depth, continent wide look at the relationships bison have with the species they share space and time with (everything from vegetation and tiny insects to apex predators). For more information: www.wesolson.ca.
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Livestock Price Insurance for calves - June 9 deadline
Attention livestock producers! The calf season for Livestock Price Insurance (LPI) is now open. Protect your bottom line from market price declines by purchasing calf policies. Livestock Price Insurance offers forward price coverage for calves you plan to market between September and February 2023. Choose from a range of coverage options every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The last day to purchase calf policies is June 9. Visit LPI.ca or call 1-844-782-5747 for program details.
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Industry Events
MAW-LLEP Living Lab Clubs Virtual Workshops - Feb 16, 2022, 10am-12pm
Manitoba Association of Watersheds and Living Lap Eastern Prairies Partners are hosting these free virtual workshops, open to anyone who wishes to attend. Details to follow.
Covers & Co Farm Panel Discussions - Feb 28, March 14, 28, April 11, 2022, Virtual
Season 2 Farm Panel Webinars are held Mondays @ 8pm - free of charge:
Webinar for Prairie Agriculture - Feb 16, 2022
Regeneration Canada's next webinar will address the practicalities of the regenerative journey, for farms across the Canadian Prairies and Northern Plains of the U.S. Learning from the successes of our peers can greatly ease the process and address the practicalities of the regenerative journey. Register here.
SSCA Soil Health Conference - Why Carbon Matters! - Feb 16-17, 2022, Saskatoon, SK
The Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association’s (SSCA) Conference will be held in-person at the Saskatoon Inn & Conference Centre. Details here.
23rd Killarney Lake Stewardship Workshop - Thursday, Feb, 17, 7–8pm
This workshop is open to the public and will be held via Zoom. Betty Sawatzky, Chair of the Killarney Lake Action Committee, will provide an 'Update on Killarney Lake Activities in 2021'. For details, contact jimirwin@ridingmountain.ca.
FCC's Future of Food Conference - Feb 22, 2022, Virtual
Join FCC on Canada’s Agriculture Day for a virtual conference that will explore the path toward a resilient, vibrant and innovative Canadian vision for the agriculture and food industry. Held 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Eastern. Register by February 21.
2022 Manitoba Protein Summit - Feb 22-23, 2022
Be part of the Third Annual Manitoba Protein Summit, a gathering of local and international key agricultural, food processing, research and academic stakeholders working to accelerate Manitoba’s economic position through sustainable plant, animal and alternative protein development. This virtual summit will be held as a morning event (Central Standard Time) over the two days. Details here.
MWAF AgChat: Speaker Carlie Whetter, 4-H Canada Chair
- Feb 28, 2022, 7pm CST, Virtual
Manitoba Women in Agriculture and Food (MWAF) AgChat is a monthly virtual networking event for everyone in the sector. Details here.
ARBI 2022 Conference - March 2, 3, 2022, Virtual
The Assiniboine River Basin Initiative (ARBI) 2022 Conference! The format will be offered via a virtual platform. Check for details and registration info on the ARBI website.
2022 Sustainability of Canadian Agriculture Conference: Farming for sustainable food systems - March 16-18, 2022, Virtual
This 3-day online conference provides practical information and considers the future of our agricultural production systems as we strive to further develop sustainable food systems. Details here.
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We are proud to showcase our 2021/22 Annual Supporters!
Join these leaders who are some of the best of the best in the agriculture and conservation communities - sign up here!
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