MFGA eBulletin - February 2024

Photo Credit: Nerbas Angus Bros.

From the Desk of the Executive Director



These longer days of February sure hit nice, eh?

It happens so very subtly as the month progresses. To me, it always seems most noticeable at the end of the day whether I’m driving, working or just happen to be outside grilling an awesome steak or juicy burger in the dusky but still-light-out hues around 6:20 pm after a right-around 6:00 pm sunset. Feels so dang good!

I’ve always found the longer days to be a motivating signal of times ahead. I am hopeful though concerned around recent forecasts from experts calling for increased spring moisture that still may not be enough to get us all over this dry Prairie hump. Our MFGA Aquanty Model shows snowpack is down significantly over this winter from last.. Not to raise alarm here, just the way things are looking. MFGA farm blogger Larry Wegner’s constant and consistent reminder says it best:

What have you done to drought proof your farm? What can you do to deal with a drought again this year?

February also signals our MFGA annual corporate campaign is just around the corner. As many of you are aware, as a non-checkoff organization, MFGA relies on our corporate support as a key revenue stream to do our best work for MFGA farmers and supporters interested in their well-being. Credit Union Central of Manitoba got us off to a great start by renewing their extremely valuable sponsorship of MFGA for five more years, from 2023 through 2027 as announced at our 2023 MFGA Regen Ag conference.

Your annual corporate and/or conference support allows us to do our best work. It might sound cliché, but it’s absolutely not. Your contributions are so extremely vital to MFGA success and relevance. We very much rely on our corporate campaign, and we are deeply grateful for your generosity and support.

Muchos Grasses ALL,

Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director

New Chair, New Vice Chair, New Board

At the MFGA Board Meeting on February 13, 2024, Mike Duguid was elected to MFGA Chair, Zack Koscielny to MFGA Vice Chair. Lawrence Knockaert will serve a one-year term as past chair. New MFGA Board Members Paul Gregory and Zach Grossart were nominated and accepted by the MFGA Board to join our organization’s 2024-25 board.

MFGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2024-25

Mike Duguid, Chair, Arnes, MB, (Manitoba Beef Producers)

Zack Koscielny, Vice Chair, Strathclair, MB

Lawrence Knockaert, Past Chair, Bruxelles, MB (Dairy Farmers of Manitoba)

Amber McNish, Lyleton, MB

Arron Nerbas. Shellmouth, MB

Chelsi Beernaert, Hartney, MB

Jacques Saquet, Laurier, MB (Manitoba Bison Association)

Harold Bosma, Grunthal, MB (Manitoba Sheep Association)

Peter Tokar, Swan River, MB

Sean Smith, Clanwilliam, MB

Guy Bouchard, Vita, MB

Paul Gregory, Fisher Branch, MB

Zach Grossart, Brandon, MB

Regenerating Discussion: MFGA Meets with Manitoba Ag Minister

L to R: Robert Loiselle, MLA St. Boniface; Mike Duguid MFGA Chair; Hon. Ron Kostyshyn Manitoba Agriculture Minister; Zack Koscielny, MFGA Vice Chair; Duncan Morrison, MFGA executive director.

MFGA executive had a very productive meeting around regenerative agriculture and programs geared toward farmers in the MFGA network earlier this month with Hon. Ron Kostyshyn, Manitoba Agriculture Minister and Robert Loiselle, MLA St. Boniface.

Return on Investment - Soil Health

When you think/talk about soil health, producers gravitate towards practices that tend to fall under the Regenerative Agriculture (Regen Ag) umbrella.  Read more.

Dr. Steven Frey, lead scientist Aquanty and MFGA Aquanty Model, testifies in front of Parliamentary committee on freshwater on Canada’s Ag Day

Parliamentary Committee Testimony Hears from MFGA & Aquanty around Freshwater on the Prairies

MFGA and Aquanty presented as witnesses at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development February 13, 2024, in Ottawa. Dr. Steven Frey, Aquanty’s senior scientist appeared in person, and Duncan Morrison, MFGA executive director, appeared virtually. The main focus of the Committee session was data and freshwater, something the MFGA Aquanty Model merges as the highest definition water model on the Prairies, especially the focus on our incredibly valuable groundwater resource.

MFGA thanks Dan Mazier, MP Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa and vice-chair of the Environment and Sustainable Development committee for the invitation. Appearing before the committee on Canada’s Ag Day and having the ability to detail the incredible potential impact of our MFGA Aquanty Model as well as being able to state unequivocally that many farmers are doing outstanding work on their farms right now from a soil health, water and healthy ecosystem perspectives was a rare one-two combination for MFGA to blend the highest level technology with a strong grassroots on-farm narrative around the great work of many Prairie farmers to such a vitally important audience around such a vitally important topic: freshwater.

Getting Big Value from the Often Un-Valued: Small Wetlands Play Major role in Carbon Storage

Small wetlands across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are thought to store more carbon per hectare than peatlands, but few remain on the drought-ridden landscape. Read More.

Organized by Neo Financial, the farm tech panel was moderated by Lasha Glennie of EMILI, and featured (L to R): Duncan Morrison, MFGA executive director; Dale Overton of Overton Environmental; Simranjit Singh, product manager of ATP Nutrition Ltd 

Farm Tech: Innovations in Land Regeneration

MFGA was included as part of a recent panel discussion on technology – debriefing on our MFGA Aquanty Model - and innovation – championing the great work of our MFGA farmer network - in land regeneration to a largely financial, technology-focused audience at the Kings Head Pub in Winnipeg.

As a key outcome, MFGA wanted to ensure the urban audience understood the links from regenerative ag based soil-health practices via the great work of farmers, including the importance of water stewardship, grasslands, and natural areas. Feedback received suggested the MFGA messages resonated with the group, many who had not connected the importance of healthy soil and water in their lives and the importance of healthy farmlands in the provision of these societal values.

Centre for Agri-Food Benchmarking: The next step in sustainability transparency

In a significant step forward in an ongoing commitment to enhancing sustainability and transparency in Canada's agri-food sector, the National Index on Agri-Food Performance has entered a new phase with the launch of the Centre for Agri-Food Benchmarking. Read More.

The Wild Side of pollination

Flowering plants protect genetic diversity by utilizing wind-pollinated grasses as a backup for long-shot pollination, allowing them to self-pollinate for the next generation. Read More.

Alberta Introducing New Strategies To Protect Pasture Production From Drought.

Western Canadian farmers and ranchers face drought for five seasons, with AgriRecovery and other national programs activated in all Prairie Provinces, along with other provincial insurance products. Read Here.

EMILI Launches Free Ag Data Course

Winnipeg-based organization offers free online course to help farmers improve knowledge and skills in agricultural and farm data adoption. Read More.

Industry Events

Bridging the Gap Farm Transition Workshop - Feb 26 - Lethbridge, AB

March 8, 2024 - Grand Prairie, AB

Learn more or to register: Farm Management Canada (fmc-gac.com)

2024 ARBI Conference - March 6-7, 2024, in Brandon, MB

For information or register: 2024 Conference

Manitoba Soil Health Seminars -

March 4 - 9 am, Stride Place, Portage la Prairie, MB

March 5 - 9 am, Mulligan's Restaurant, Winkler, MB,

March 6 - 9 am, Sun Gro Center, Beausejour, MB

Engage in a comprehensive learning and open discussion on soil health, with three distinct speakers perspectives on soil, plant, and crop production. Sponsored by EcoTea, Imperial Seed, Antara Agronomy.

Sustainability of Canadian Agriculture Virtual Conference - March 12-14, 2024

Visit here for more details.

Farm Safe & Manitoba Canola Growers Association Farmer First Aid Course - March 12 - Steinbach, MB, March 14 - Virden, MB

For registration: Upcoming Events – Manitoba Canola Growers

Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN) 2024 AGM & Conference - March 14, 2024, in Edmonton, AB

For information or register: Alberta Forage Industry Network

Agriculture Enlightened 2024 - Nov 7, 2024, in Winnipeg, MB

Details coming soon.

MFGA 2024 Regenerative Agriculture Conference - SAVE THE DATES: NOV 12-13, 2024

Watch For Major Keynote Announcement Soon!!

2024 Western Canada Conference on Soil Health and Grazing - Dec 2024, Edmonton, Alberta

www.absoilgrazing.com/ for dates and details

Thank you to our 2023/24 Annual Supporters! 

It's never 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!