The first of what is hoped to be two or three MFGA regenerative agriculture farm tours leading up to the 2020 MFGA Regen Ag Conference in November was held in late July as 98 socially-distanced attendees toured the Boyd family's South Glanton Farm (SGF) operations near Forrest, MB. Ryan Boyd, MFGA finance chair/conference chair/2019 Nuffield Scholar took the COVID-capped-at-100 assembled group on a U-Drive-With-Who-You-Came-With afternoon tour of SGF farm fields to learn more about regenerative ag practices around herbicide and fertilizer reduction, spring grazing, winter feed, ultra high stock density grazing, cover crops, yearling grazing, manure distribution, water systems and grazing utilization among other matters. Plans for the second MFGA Tour are in the mix however given recent times, we will withhold announcing until the end of September date draws closer or needs to be rescheduled.

Hon. Blaine Pedersen, Minister Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, recently visited Chapman Farms located just south of Virden to gather information and guidance from producers and industry on priority areas which include: reviewing Business Risk Management (BRM) Programs, identify market challenges and opportunities, exploring new technologies and building a resilient future. Minister Pedersen's tour stop at Chapman Farms was organized by Doyle Piwniuk, MLA Turtle Mountain. Chapman Farms is a grain, hay and cattle operation run by farm partners Parry, Rob and Darren Chapman and Jeff Elliott near Virden, Man. Darren Chapman is MFGA past-president and has made countless valuable contributions to the organization. Here, Minister Pedersen stops for a photo with Darren Chapman (left) and Larry Wegner, MFGA chair and fellow Virden-area resident (right) at the July 30, 2020 tour.

As a result of challenging weather and growing seasons that producers have faced over these past years, MFGA has once again launched our MFGA Hay Relief page to assist Manitoba forage and livestock producers in finding information, pricing and sources to help cope with and plan for challenging times on the livestock feed front. 

The word silage comes from the Greek word "siros" - a pit or hole in the ground used to store corn. Archaeological evidence indicates the Greeks and Egyptians were utilizing silage to feed livestock possibly as far back as 2000 BC. We have learned a lot in the last 4,000 years of silage making, especially during the last decade when a quantum leap in the understanding of fermentation science occurred. Still, the fundamentals of fermentation have never changed. Read on.

At this time of year, as the hay crop is coming off, many forage specialists are suggesting and promoting the importance of forage testing. Forage testing is a very important tool that helps you quantify the quality of your forage feed and to balance that supply with necessary requirements during the feeding season. Read the full article.

Keystone Agricultural Producer's membership magazine Farmer's Voice recently featured "Getting Back to Nature with Regenerative Agriculture". Minto, Manitoba-based regenerative ag producer David Rourke and MFGA are featured in the article. Read the full article.

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) has announced the six participants in the 2020-21 Beef Researcher Mentorship program. MFGA Board Chair Larry Wegner and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC)'s Kristine Tapley will serve as the mentors to Dr. Alexander Koiter, a researcher with Brandon University. Koiter also has an ongoing research project at Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives. To read more about the program and participants,  go here.

Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) has approved the extension of the seeding window for winter wheat and fall rye. This fall, producers can get full coverage if their winter wheat or fall rye crops are seeded from August 15 to September 25, and reduced coverage if seeded from September 26 to 30, opening the window by an additional 15 days. Seeding date changes will be in effect for winter wheat and fall rye seeded in 2020 and harvested in 2021. Next year's AgriInsurance Contract will be amended accordingly.

August 24, 2020 by Beef Research3

Feed prices are driven by supply, demand and the price of alternatives. Winter feed presents the largest variable cost for producers. As producers look for ways to protect margins and minimize losses this fall, there are opportunities to be found in examining low-cost feed alternatives. The Beef Cattle Research Council's Winter Feed Cost Comparison Calculator is a decision-making tool that helps producers compare the cost of feed alternatives available in their area. Read the full article.

Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development is offering funding under a special COVID-19 Response Initiative to cover 50 per cent of the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitation supplies related to pandemic response and planning. Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is conducting a survey on behalf of members. More info here.

More info on which mask best suits your operation.

Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development is conducting online public engagement on issues facing the agriculture sector. The province is seeking input in four areas: business risk management, market opportunities, innovation and technology, and resiliency. Click here to take part in the online engagement. The portal will close on Tuesday, September 1.