You should also know that as an organization, we added a new chair in Lawrence Knockaert, a new MFGA board executive rostered by Lawrence, Mike Duguid and Andrea Hamilton and we said goodbye to longtime MFGA stalwart Ryan Boyd who termed off our board. We added a MFGA Wall of Fame to recognize our past and help frame our future so that there is a benchmark of excellence that our volunteers can strive toward while respecting and understanding the work of those that have gone before them.

This program assists livestock producers in offsetting the cost of replacing breeding animals, when culling is above normal because of winter feed shortages. If you are a producer, you may be eligible to apply for assistance to purchase replacement breeding females; to retain replacement females from their existing herd or flock. The replacement animals will help you return your inventory of breeding females to pre-drought levels. Read the program factsheet.

The Board of Directors of the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) recently approved the 2022 MFGA Board Executive: Lawrence Knockaert, Chair; Michael Duguid, Vice-Chair, Andrea Hamilton, Finance Chair; Larry Wegner, Past Chair. MFGA also recently welcomed two new board members: Chelsi Malach of Hartney, MB and Peter Tokar of the Swan River area at our 2021 MFGA AGM. Read the full MFGA Media Release.

A platform to connect livestock farmers and crop farmers with land they’d like grazed will go live early in the new year. Manitoba Organic Alliance (MOA) is teaming up with the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) to launch the online platform, but all producers are welcome to use the service, according to Karen Klassen, MOA’s program director. Read the Mb Cooperator article.

Prices and volumes of hay sale this past month have been limited and asking prices haven’t changed significantly from the November Report.

More reports found on the MFGA Hay Relief page.

Manitoba Agriculture has useful factsheets for determining how to price additional feed sources that can provide additional energy (TDN) and/or protein necessary to supplement low quality forages like straw or stover. Pricing Protein and Energy Supplements and What is the Value of Hay going to be this Year? factsheets can provide some necessary information to help you determine which supplements may make the best economical sense.

There is still time for Manitoba farmers who have empty grain bags or used baler twine around the farm to tidy up and recycle them before the full onset of winter. These can include grain bags from previous years as long as farmers take steps to make sure they are free of grain and debris and rolled before bringing them to Cleanfarm collection sites. Directions for preparing grain bags and twine for recycling found here.

FCC expands financing for young farmers and young food business owners.

The expansion of three Farm Credit Canada (FCC loans) will help young farmers and those who are getting started or growing their business in the agriculture and food industry. The lifetime maximum amount for Young Farmer and Young Entrepreneur loans have been increased from from $1 million to $1.5 million.

Read the full FCC Media Release here.

Thank you to those who took part in the public survey on EngageMB and shared their views on Results of the EngageMB survey conducted by Manitoba’s Provincial Water Management Strategy are found here. Download the preliminary Water Strategy Framework document. The next steps in developing Manitoba’s new provincial water management strategy will include further engagement with Indigenous peoples and water stakeholders in the winter of 2021-2022. The final strategy is expected to be completed later in 2022. Further updates here.

This is a producer focused, annual conference. The live conference platform will run for seven days with approximately 70 speakers hailing from locally, nationally, and internationally. Visit their website for details.

TOPICS INCLUDE: Marketing, Alternative Watering Systems, Forage Restoration, Mental Health for farmers and more. Schedule below, download the agendas.

Don't miss this three-day annual event, held in-person at the Keystone Center. Details found here.

Manitoba Women I Agriculture and Food (MWAF) AgChat is a monthly virtual networking event for everyone in the sector. Michael Hoffort (FCC President and CEO) and Sophie Perreault (EVP & FCC Chief Operating Officer) will share how FCC has evolved its approach to diversity and inclusion, sharing personal and organizational anecdotes from their time working at the federal Crown corporation and enabling successful careers in the ag industry. Register here.

KAP’s 38th annual meeting will be held both in-person and livestreamed. The day will focus on the fact that collaboration is essential to agriculture, with a banquet offered in the eventing. Details and registration here.

A two-day conference, tradeshow and organic ingredients event that strives to help farmers increase their understanding of the science of organic agriculture while providing practical farmer-tested solutions to improve the economic and environmental health of the farm ecosystem. More here.

Held at the Victoria Inn, MBP offers both in-person and virtual options to attend. More details on the MBP website.

Lock down the dates for the Assiniboine River Basin Initiative (ARBI) 2022 Conference! The format will be offered as both in-person and virtual. Watch for details on the ARBI website.

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!