From the Desk of the Executive Director |
|
“When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.” – Benjamin Franklin
A fitting quote to kick-start our MFGA year (perhaps exchange "well" for "soil" in the above quote but you get the intent) and excellent support to the end-of-year thoughts and concerns of our MFGA chair Larry Wegner as provided late last year. Of course, we all know droughts are not officially declared in January and some areas of Manitoba have received decent snowfall which hopefully will help recharge some of the aquifers and water systems that our Manitoba farmers and ranchers rely on. Producers in our MFGA loops have reported favourably on the recent mild weather conditions and their ability to stretch feed and supplies.
But still, water – or potential lack of – is front of mind for MFGA board members, including our MFGA Board Executive who on our recent Zoom meeting declared Water as the single-biggest issue on our MFGA radar and our need to continue to support and encourage producers to lead, network, learn, plan and engage in practices that maximize water supply and management on their farms in dry and wet times, especially around healthy soils and their water infiltration ability. Interestingly, this same water-minded soil health focus also positions producers and farmers favourably for future carbon discussions or offset programs around carbon sequestration.
As we continue to roll-out on our year’s strategic plan, including and leading up to our 2021 MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference (Nov 15-17, 2021), watch for water and healthy soils to be paramount in all we do. A key part of that MFGA push will include our collaborations and project advancements around the vital and critical importance of grasslands and healthy soils as part of prosperous and productive agricultural lands that are indeed providing exemplary benefits and remarkable ecosystem services to society as a whole. As they say, it all starts down on the farm.
Thank you to all once again for your outstanding support of MFGA and, especially for your incredible support of our 2020 MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference. Memberships continue to roll in and as we often state, we cant do our best work without your support. Thank you all sincerely.
Muchos Grasses,
Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director
|
|
2020 MFGA Regen Ag Conference online
MFGA’s four 2020 Regen Ag Conference November evening sessions, videos and Q&A summaries are posted on our Regen Ag Resource page along with the proceedings from our 2018 and 2019 conferences. You can also find these videos on our MFGA YouTube channel.
|
|
Cattle seen as agriculture’s long-term solution
MFGA board member and 2019 Nuffield Scholar Ryan Boyd says Western Canada is missing a huge opportunity by not incorporating more cattle into farming systems. Read the full Western Producer article here.
|
|
CFGA Board Votes in Executive Leadership Group for 2021
The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) firmed up their board’s executive leadership team for 2021 at a recent board meeting. Chris Martin, a farmer from Alma, Ontario’s Marhaven Agri will lead CFGA for his third year as chair. Eric Boot from Boot Hay Farms/Canadian Hay Exporters out of Fort MacLeod, Alberta, was elected CFGA vice chair and finance committee lead. Boot had joined the CFGA Board in time for the 2019 CFGA Conference in Moncton, New Brunswick. Ray Robertson, of Ontario Forage Council will serve as the organization’s past chair for 2021.
|
|
Grazing Cover Crops
Looking at a preliminary results for a 2019 U of Manitoba Prairie Cover Crop Survey, Manitoba accounted for approximately 38,000 acres of cover crops with 30,315 of those acres shoulder or fall seeded cover crops and livestock producers representing close to 20 percent of those acres.
|
|
January Hay Situation & Price Update
|
|
2021-22 MFGA Annual Corporate Support Campaign around the corner
|
|
Sacred Cow is now streaming in the U.S.
|
|
ClimateWest launches in the prairies
ClimateWest is a new non-profit, regional hub that will deliver credible climate information, data, and adaptation guidance tailored to the Prairie region. ClimateWest will work with people, communities, businesses, producer groups and governments across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta to help address both the risks and opportunities generated by climate change. Read the full News Release.
|
|
Agricultural Crown Land auctions to be held online
The Manitoba government announced a new, modern online approach to agricultural Crown land lease auctions beginning in February, Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen announced. The official listing of agricultural Crown lands available for lease or permit can be found here. The online auctions will be hosted by Garton’s Auction Service from Feb. 8 to 12, details here.
|
|
Family farm recognition program
Family farms that have maintained continuous production for 100/125/150 years are honoured through the Family Farm Recognition Program. To date, there are 1,822 Century Farm and 102 Heritage Farm recipients. If your operation is celebrating a milestone, complete your application to receive a gate sign or certificate proclaiming your pioneering roots. Program and application details found here.
|
|
MBFI hiring 2021 Summer Student Research Assistants
Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives is hiring summer students for it's research and demonstration farm located near Brandon, MB. Student Research Assistants will have the opportunity to participate in all aspects of MBFI's operations. Read the full position details here. MFGA is one of MBFI's four core partners. |
|
Industry Events
KAP AGM - Jan 26, 2021
This year’s meeting will use a virtual platform that will enable KAP to bring in speakers from far and wide, hold interactive concurrent workshops and allow time for socializing including a virtual beer tasting. A panel discussion will focus on COVID-19 impacts on the crop and livestock supply chains. Learn more here.
KAP Mental Health Literacy Workshop Series - Jan, Feb, March, 2021
KAP is providing a series of mental health literacy workshops - "In the Know" - throughout January, February and March. These workshops are four hours long, offered at various dates and times, and provided by Kim Hyndman-Moffat, 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.
SRM Virtual Annual Meeting - Feb 15-18, 2021
The Society for Range Management (SRM) includes ranchers, rangeland scientists, and public land managers seeking to improve rangeland conservation and management. The Meeting will include 250 talks on new science and registrants will be able to interact with speakers and participate in real time during the meeting.
Manitoba Beef Producer's 42nd Annual General Meeting - Feb 11, 2021
Environmental Farm Plan Workshop - Feb 3, 17, March 3, 17, 2021
Environmental Farm Plans (EFP) workshops, via "GoTo Meeting", will guide producers through a workbook to help assess and identify the environmental assets and risks on their farm operations, and develop an action plan to address the identified risks. Workbooks and support material will be provided to those who attend. EFPs must be renewed every five years to remain valid. Details and registration here.
MARD Stocktalk Webinar - Marketing Mania - Feb 25, 2021
The Manitoba Agriculture & Resource Development is offering Stocktalk webinar series full of interesting livestock and forage presentations aimed to help Manitoba beef producers best manage their cattle operations. Details here.
Future Webinars:
MFGA 2021 Regenerative Ag Conference - Nov 15-17, 2021
Mark you calendar for our 4th Annual Event! Watch here for details as they unfold.
|
|
We are proud to showcase our 2020/21 Annual Supporters!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
