MFGA eBulletin - May 2022 |
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photo credit: Nerbas Bros Angus |
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From the Desk of the Executive Director |
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Our sincere MFGA best wishes and full hopes for a speedy recovery to all Manitobans currently inundated with water and dealing with overland flood challenges through this wickedly-strange 2022 spring season. The aerial and on-scene photos, from the Red River Valley to the Interlake to the Dauphin-Parkland region to the north to Mafeking-Swan River areas and throughout southern Manitoba around flooded fields, powerful creek run-offs and road washouts are staggering. We are thinking of you all.
On the MFGA front, with our concerns for flood-battling friends, families, farms and businesses front and center, things continue to move along quickly in these fast times. MFGA chair Lawrence Knockaert has picked up the organization’s leadership gauntlet with gusto and recently led a small contingent of MFGA executive board members: Mike Duguid, Andrea Hamilton and myself through a great first introductory meeting with Hon. Derek Johnson, Manitoba’s agriculture minister. Minister Johnson was joined by Deputy Minister Dori Gingera-Beauchemin, Assistant Deputy Minister David Hunt, MB AG director Patti Rothenburger and Lisa Dyck, the Minster’s executive assistant. Minister Johnson had a lot of questions for MFGA, in particular speaking with the three farmer/board members about current conditions, soil health, regenerative agriculture and water management in Agro-Manitoba. It was a very appreciated and productive discussion and most definitely a strong signal of continued good relations and important and open dialogues between Manitoba Agriculture leadership and MFGA.
On other key MFGA fronts:
- With well-regarded keynote Fred Provenza locked down on the agenda, MFGA’s plans continue to take shape with our 2022 MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference. We will soon be announcing our second keynote and releasing our plans for a full-out producer-carbon-focused afternoon on Monday November 14, 2022.
- For the most part, the 2022 MFGA Corporate Campaign is on the books and we are incredibly grateful to our 2022-23 bumper crop of amazing MFGA sponsors. Please do check out our impressive logo roster at the end of this ebulletin showcasing these groups.
- On the MFGA project front, thanks to your incredible support, we focus on and pursue mutually-beneficial partnerships and target and deliver projects that help Manitoba farmers and producers best realize their farm profitability and farm management goals, especially around soil health, water management and regenerative agriculture practices.
We can never say it enough: Your incredibly valuable support is absolutely critical for MFGA to do our best work.
Muchos Grasses,
Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director
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MFGA hosts The Christian Science Monitor on major magazine tour around regenerative agriculture at Koscielny’s Green Beach Farms
Sara Miller Llana, foreign correspondent out of Toronto for The Christian Science Monitor, and Melanie Freeman, a Boston-based photographer for the magazine, recently spent a day on the Koscielny family’s Green Beach Farms near Strathclair, Manitoba learning more about regenerative agriculture. According to their website, the Christian Science Monitor “aim is to embrace the human family, shedding light with the conviction that understanding the world's problems and possibilities moves us toward solutions.” The magazine is based out of Boston and has won seven Pulitzer Prizes and more than a dozen Overseas Press Club awards. MFGA is looking forward to the feature that also interviewed Larry Wegner, MFGA past-chair, around soil health and regenerative agriculture.
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(Photo) MFGA Board member Zack Koscielny and his sister Emma-Jean ear-tag an hours-old calf as part of the magazine’s tour that day. Parents Karen and Jason also chipped in bigtime, showcasing our famous Friendly Manitoba hospitality via Karen’s scrumptious homemade soup, Jason’s “self-proclaimed award-winning salsa” and Green Beach Farms’ delicious grass-fed beef burgers over a great farmhouse lunch chat.
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The High Stakes of First-Cut Alfalfa
Given the price of other commodities this year, the stakes are at an all time high for
proper timing of first-cut alfalfa. The question many dairy producers will wrestle with in the days ahead is whether to continue planting annual crops or park the planter and harvest forage. Utilizing MFGA’s Green Gold Program is an excellent method to take some of the guesswork out of estimating when to take the first cut. Parking the planter for a few days may cost growers a few bushels of crop, but it does not compare to the loss of digestible fibre going into a ration when forage harvest is delayed. Read on...
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MFGA Green Gold Reports start next week - still time to sign up!
Find your Optimum First-Cut Alfalfa Date when you sign-up for MFGA's Green Gold Program. We currently have 21 testing fields across Western, Central and Eastern/Interlake regions of Manitoba enrolled in the program. Receive tested results twice-weekly free of charge to help you know the best window to first-cut your hay. Contact Terra, MFGA Green Gold Program Coordinator.
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MFGA’s Conservation Trust Projects featured in KAP's Manitoba Farmers' Voice
MFGA is very proud of our Conservation Trust project delivery record. Manitoba’s Conservation Trust was established in 2018 as part of Manitoba’s Climate and Green Plan to fund activities that promote the conservation of natural resources by creating, conserving, or enhancing natural infrastructure for the benefit of Manitobans. The Trust is held by The Winnipeg Foundation and revenues are managed by The Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation (MHHC). MFGA recently was awarded two 2022 Conservation Trust projects: A one-year project with Ducks Unlimited Canada around marginal areas (3rd year of project) and a two year project with three Manitoba Watershed Districts (also year 3 of project around soil health and cover crops). Check out the latest KAP Farmers’ Voice issue (page 21) to learn more about MFGA’s ongoing and leading involvement in the Manitoba Conservation Trust program!
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Hay & Pasture Report
With the cool start to spring 2022, hay fields and pastures are struggling to grow and the 14 day outlook seems to indicate that we will continue to see below normal temperatures till the end of the month. Most areas are reporting that pastures are slow and that some cattle are out on sacrifice pastures. Hay and alfalfa fields continue to grow, but slowly for this time of year. Read on...
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MFGA On-Farm Thoughts: High Nitrogen Prices & Hay Production
by John McGregor, MFGA Extension Support
When looking to improve pastures after a drought, one of the points to consider is whether to use fertilizer nitrogen (N) to improve productivity. This becomes questionable given the price of fertilizer this year whether the benefit that fertilizer provides is affordable. Read the full MFGA Blog…
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Canada’s 2021 Census of Agriculture showcases Farm Capital |
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Forage Pilot Project Kicks Off
Winnipeg-based AIRM Consulting Ltd. is conducting a research pilot project to provide a new and much-needed forage solution that will contribute to strengthening the forage and livestock sectors in Manitoba through increasing the participation rates among forage producers, helping to facilitate access to credit, reducing the negative impacts of natural catastrophes, and encouraging investment in improved agricultural production technology, all of which contributes to the food and agricultural sector. The project, led by Dairy Farmers of Manitoba and other collaborators such as MFGA, will soon start engaging with producers to create accounts and develop their crop plans. Learn more.
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Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program: Mental health support for farmers
The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program (MFWP) provides mental health support for farmers and their families. This new initiative has been designed to provide one-on-one counselling sessions by professional counsellors who have a background in agriculture. To book an appointment with a counsellor, donate, apply to work as a counsellor or learn more about the program, visit manitobafarmerwellness.ca.
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Manitoba Association of Watersheds & Manitoba Organic Alliance look to fill job postings
The Manitoba Organic Alliance (MOA) is seeking a Program Coordinator to assist with managing its programs, events and coordinating its activities. Application deadline: May 27, 2022. Learn more about the posting.
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Nuffield Scholarship application deadline: June 30
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AgriStability Deadline Extension to June 30
The federal government has extended the enrolment deadline for AgriStability from April 30 to June 30, 2022. Application forms can be found on their website.
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Industry Events
Fields to Files - How AI & Machine Learning Changes Everything - May 26, 2022, Elbow, Sk
This CAFA event provides an opportunity to better understand and learn more about artificial intelligence and machine learning. Register here.
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Convention and Trade Show - June 5-7, 2022, Assiniboia, Sk
Mb Sustainable Protein Research Symposium - June 7-9, 2022, Virtual
This free virtual event also offers an optional in-person networking event. The final day will feature AIMday™ Circular Economy. Go here for more details and registration.
Saskatchewan Forage Council AGM - June 21, 2022, Clavet, Sk
To be held in conjunction with Livestock & Forage Centre of Excellence Field Day. More info here.
Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference - June 21-22, 2022, Calgary, AB
Canada's Farm Show - June 21-23, 2022. Regina, SK
Souris River Watershed District AGM - July 7, 2022, Hartney, Mb
To attend the SRWD annual 2022 banquet, please contact either the Deloraine or Reston office to purchase tickets. Details here.
International Bison Convention - July 12-15, 2022, Saskatoon, Sk
Ag in Motion - July 19-21, 2022, Langham, SK
MFGA 2022 Regen Ag Conference - Nov 14-15, 2022, Brandon, Mb
Western Canada Soil Health & Grazing Conference - Dec 13-15, 2022, Edmonton, Ab
The XXV International Grasslands Congress - May 14-19, 2023, Covington, KY USA
The theme is “Grasslands for Soil, Animal, and Human Health. A call for papers now through July 15, and producers should consider attending and taking part in Congress, pre-congress tours etc. Additional details: https://internationalgrasslands.org/igc-2023/.
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We are proud to showcase our 2022/23 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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