MFGA eBulletin - July 2023

photo credit: Nerbas Bros. Angus

From the Desk of the Executive Director

The much-hyped, seemingly forever-promised golden egg of financial compensation in return for carbon offsets from their farming operations appears to be the scene for targeted Manitoba farms recently.

A few times over the past week, MFGA has received outreach from producers in our MFGA network wondering what our take on this opportunity is, what we think, and what we recommend. We do have a long-standing organizational position on carbon sequestration. Though, we are not carbon offset experts. MFGA is led by farmers, just like you, who share your curiosity and concern as well as optimism and excitement.

That said, MFGA has long advocated for farmers in our network – often described, and rightfully so, as the early adopters and farm leaders around regenerative agriculture practices in Manitoba to be rewarded for the way they farm around soil, water, carbon and biodiversity. And long-promised cash returns for carbon offsets from their grasslands and farm fields definitely fits that farmer reward in MFGA’s mind.

But….. as we dive a bit deeper and gather and ponder about our longer second thoughts, it quickly brings us back to the reality, the guessing and the uncertainty that some farmers are or possibly soon will be facing as they weigh their carbon offset plays and best options.

As a result, MFGA reached out and consulted a carbon expert in our Prairie loops that is far more than knee-deep in the carbon world for some bare-bones, common sense recommendations that farmers can keep in mind as they enter these new times. This is not legal advice. These dialogue-prompters are as anecdotal as a far-away field report on coffee row. But, we feel they are warranted and timely to share.

1. Buyer Beware: Do your research on who you are signing up with, where their home base is, have they sold credits, which protocol/registry are they using, etc.

2. Track Record: What is the track record of the company, protocol and registry? Who determines the price of the credits?

3. Consult your peer network: Engage in or organize group or individual chats of the like-minded farmers and organizations for experiences and insights. Don’t isolate or internalize your concerns. Talk with others.

4. Legal opinion: If the conversation pushes you to consult a legal opinion, if you can, seek legal advice via lawyers with carbon offset experience. It may matter. The carbon offset language is new to many, including lawyers.

5. Understand your Contract: especially measurements, depth and term length. Clarify if your contract is based on net gain or a requirement to change practices and what exactly that means for you and the future managers of your land. Are the credits tied to your title in any way? Understand and clarify.

6. Understand your risk: if there is a reversal of a carbon credit, who is liable or if you have received upfront payment for sequestration that isn’t achieved, will you have to pay back anything? Is there a discount or buffer pool to mitigate that?

7. What is the technology/model: What technology or model are they are using to determine your carbon numbers. Is it proven on your farm’s soil type?

8. Existing Projects: Understand what you’ve signed up for already, especially fields that are committed to existing projects that exchange funding for carbon credits. In most agreements, you can’t count or be rewarded on the same field twice.

At the end of the day, this is the cusp of the promised times for some soil-focused farmers. We’ve all watched carbon become a daily topic of discussion with lots of chatter and skip about the good and the bad and just as much dialogues and points of view around the uncertainty and promise of how this new system works.

These are only guidelines, questions and thought generators for farmers based on outreach we are receiving at MFGA. Use our suggestions as you need. Or don’t. They are not a legal opinion, nor are they a heavy-handed "you must do this". The provided questions may prompt answers that - like carbon - will vary from farm to farm.

Hopefully, this helps some of you with your future discussions around your farm decisions.

Muchos Grasses ALL,

Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director

MFGA's 2023 Regen Ag Conference - REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

With world-class keynotes such as Brendon Rockey and Dr. Jonathan Lundgren of Blue Dasher Farms/Ecdysis Foundation at the podium, we are thrilled with the quality of keynote speakers scheduled to date for the sixth annual 2023 MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference to be held November 13-15, 2023 at the Victoria Inn and Conference Centre in Brandon, Manitoba. Other speakers include Paul Galpern of the University of Calgary on pollinators and prairie landscapes; Ian Steppler, who many will be familiar with from his work with Manitoba Beekeepers Association; Derek and Tanis Axten, who are awesome speakers and valuable additions to our conference to showcase the way they farm in Saskatchewan; and Korb Whale, Owner/Operator of Mapleton Organic Dairy in Ontario. *RECENTLY ANNOUNCED FINAL KEYNOTE: North Dakota’s Kalie Rider, Nutrition Consultant and Educator.

Student, Farm and Early Bird Rates available!

MFGA sends hearty congrats to Manitoba’s David Wiens: newly-elected DFC president

David Wiens, a dairy farmer from Grunthal, Man. is the new president of Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC). Wiens, who’s been DFC's vice president since 2011, was elected recently at the DFC annual general meeting in Winnipeg, replacing Pierre Lampron who served as president since 2017. MFGA also passes our congratulations on to Stefan Signer who was named to the DFC Board representing the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba.

MFGA partners up with Regeneration Canada on Field to Fork Event at South Glanton Farms Aug 19, 2023

Farmers Ryan and Sarah Boyd will guide guests through their family farming operations, which includes cattle, grain, and a focus on building soil health, followed meal incorporating ingredients produced on the farm and prepared by local chef J.D. Braid. Speakers include Antonious Petro, Executive Director of Regeneration Canada and Joel Williams, soil health educator. Agenda & registration here.

National Forage Leaders Celebrated for Contributions to Industry and Environment

Two long-time national forage leaders who were instrumental in working with then-MFGA leaders Wayne Digby, Henry Nelson and others to create and develop the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association were recently celebrated for their contributions to farming at the national and provincial scale.

· Ontario’s Ray Robertson was named to the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. Robertson, a former dairy farmer and extension specialist, developed Grey Agricultural Services Centre to provide fee-for-service extension programs. Read the full article.

· Alberta’s Doug Wray also received a significant honour recently after The Wray Ranch, owned and operated by Doug and Linda Wray and Tim and Joanne Wray and their families, was recognized for its efforts to advance environmentally sustainable cattle production. The Wrays, who ranch west of Irricana, Alta., were presented with the 2023 Environmental Stewardship Award for Alberta.

MFGA congratulates Ray and Doug for their accomplishments and on behalf of MFGA, thanks them for their many contributions to grassland and forage efforts across our country.

MFGA Aquanty Forecasting Tool

During these times of excess precipitation or limited moisture that seem intent on headlining field conditions as variable for Summer 2023 across the Prairies, MFGA Aquanty Forecasting Tool remains open for public use and feedback. Farmers in the Assiniboine River Basin in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and Manitoba’s Pembina Valley Watershed can learn more about your farm and district’s water resources via a host of measurements and forecasts around such things as unseen groundwater to satellite field views. MFGA will be hosting key gatherings of stakeholders and target audiences early in September and will have news on that front soon.

Hail damage in alfalfa

The month of July is thunderstorm and hail season in Manitoba but this year there seems to be an abnormal number predicted. During this period of the growing season, hail on annual crops like wheat or canola can have a devastating outcome. Read on...

Over–the-Big-Pond on Pasture Pod: MFGA’s Arron Nerbas guests on British podcast

Listen to the podcast here. Along with podcast partner Amy Hughes of Britain, Nerbas has also announced the launch as the “Think Outside the Fence” Podcast @TOTF podcast which pairs the Canadian regenerative cattle rancher with a cow-mad British lass teaming up to inspire positive change in agriculture.

Manitoba’s first By-Product Directory unveiled 

If your agricultural or agri-food production creates a by-product, you are invited to participate in Manitoba Agriculture’s first-of-its-kind By-Products Directory. Complete our questionnaire to register for this free directory. The deadline to participate for the first round of development is August 11, 2023. Questions: mbproteinadvantage@gov.mb.ca.

Federal Investments to Drive Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability in Canada's Dairy and Beef Sector

The Government of Canada recently announced over $7.5 million to Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) to help support sustainable development in the dairy industry. This funding is provided through the AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. DFC will develop and implement plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon, improve the health and welfare of cows and the quality of milk produced. The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) will receive more than $12 million in funding from the Government of Canada. This investment will support sector goals to meet the Government of Canada’s greenhouse gas reduction targets by reducing emission intensity, sequestering additional carbon and maintaining native grasslands in the care of Canadian beef producers. Read here.

Provide input on national programming for farm women

Farm Management Canada (FMC) is excited to be partnering with la Fédération des agricultrices du Québec in its effort to understand issues facing women farmers in Canada, to adapt and improve the services offered to them, and to identify topics on which women farmers would like to receive training. Whether you're a producer, a producer's spouse, a student or an aspiring farmer, take part in this survey to help FMC adapt entrepreneurial support services around Canada. Take the survey.

Canada and Manitoba Governments to provide up to $1 Million to support training and resource development for agricultural industry

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing up to $1 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to support learning activities, knowledge transfer and resource development for local agricultural organizations, federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced recently. Read more.

Industry Events

Farm Summer Field Days - July 21 in Saskatoon, SK; July 24 in Gull Lake, SK; Aug 8 in Tuffnel, SK

Register here. SaskSoil Members use code SSMEMBER for $30 registration.

NCC community workshops - July 25 in Killarney, MB; July 26 in Glenboro, MB

Nature Conservancy of Canada is holding workshops to share your priorities and connection to future habitat and species at risk conservation activities in your community and surrounding areas. More details here.

2023 KAP Classic - July 24, 2023, Larters at St. Andrew’s Golf & Country Club

Lunch and registration at 11:00am, with noon tee-off. Dinner at 5:00pm and prizes available to win. All proceeds go to support the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program. Sponsorship opportunities available! More info here or contact Emily.Lalonde@kap.ca.

Manitoba Angus Association Summer Tour - July 25, 2023, near Neepawa, MB

Pens available at CAMO to showcase your animals. Contact Cam: 204.841.3060.

PESAI Crop Tour - July 25, 2023, PESAI Farm, Arborg, MB

Held 9:30am to 1pm. Details and RSVP: prairies.east@gmail.com.

Woodworth Grazing Club Bus Tour - July 25, 2023 in Lenore, MB

Registration 12:30 pm. Lenore Community Hall. Contact Cameron Hodgins 204.851.1733.

Covers & Co Soil Health Field Day - July 28, 2023, in Clearwater, MB

Network with like-minded farmers! Held 11-5, lunch provided. Cost: $20. Details here.

Stories of Regeneration: Tour/Event at Axten Farms - July 29, 2023 in Minton, SK

Axten Farms Ltd. will be joined by speakers Antonious Petro, Executive Director of Regeneration Canada, and Joel Williams, soil health educator to discuss regenerative agriculture and the impacts of biodiversity and soil covering on the health of the soil. Event includes Italian-inspired meal featuring grains grown at Axten Farms and baked treats by Regina-based Saltine Baking Company. Agenda & Registration here.

PWCP WEBINAR SPEAKER SERIES #2: Cover Crops and Your Farm – Aug 2, 2023

11:30 AM (CST). Keynote: Callum Morrison, Manitoba Agriculture. Registration free, register here.

Sask Pasture Tour - Aug 9, 2023 in Cochin, MB

Visit saskforage.ca for registration and details.

MSA Annual Show and Sale - Aug 11-12, 2023 in Minnedosa, MB

Held at the Minnedosa Ag Grounds, this Manitoba Sheep Association (MSA) event includes a tradeshow, Junior sho and Purebred and Commercial Sheep. Visit MSA for more info.

MASH Soil Health Event - August 14-17, 2023, in Oyen, AB

Topics: Soil lab and cover crop soil amendment trial site; Kid's Soil Health Camp; Producer Days. Details and registration: cara-3@telus.net.

MSA Jackpot Lamb Show - Oct 25-28, 2023, in Brandon, MB

Connect with current and new customers at this annual Manitoba Sheep Association (MSA) show and sale. 10' x 10' booths available for $125. Visit MSA for more info.

2023 MFGA Regen Ag Conference - Nov 13 (afternoon start TBD) to 15, 2023, in Brandon, MB 

Registration has opened for our 6th annual event. Well-known regenerative agriculture experts Brandon Rockey and Dr. Jonathan Lundgren of Blue Dasher Farms lead our 2023 keynote speakers. REGISTER HERE.

2023 Manitoba Watersheds Conference - Dec 4-6, 2023, in Brandon, MB

Theme: Supporting healthy Watersheds! Register at manitobawatersheds.org.

Thank you to our 2023/24 Annual Supporters! 

Our new sponsorship year began in April - it's not too late to join these 2023/24 leaders who are some of the best of the best in the agriculture and conservation communities - sign up here!