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Cedric MacLeod
From the executive director's desk
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I hope you are all having a wonderful and safe summer.
The CFGA team continues to work on various initiatives and projects that have significant impact on the Canadian forage and grassland sectors. While we have recently wrapped up some projects, namely our alfalfa management tool development and National Grassland Inventory, we remain busy with others, including the Advanced Grazing Systems program for producers and mentors, the On-Farm Climate Action Fund and Habitat and Biodiversity Assessment Tool development.
We are also busy organizing our 15th Annual Conference which will take place this year in Guelph, Ontario, Dec. 3 to 6. The Ontario Forage Council is working with us to make this event extra special, including holding its popular Forage Focus event as part of the post-conference farm tour. You can read more about the conference in this newsletter, but I encourage you to take advantage of our early bird pricing and register before Sept. 2. I look forward to seeing everyone at the conference and celebrating the important environmental and economic role forages and grasslands play in Ontario, across the country and around the globe.
As always, if you have questions or comments, don’t hesitate to reach out. Until next issue, enjoy the rest of your summer and have a safe harvest season.
- Cedric MacLeod
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Early bird registration closes Sept. 2 for 15th annual CFGA conference
The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) has launched early bird registration for its 15th annual conference. Organized in partnership with the Ontario Forage Council, this year’s conference will take place at the Delta Hotel in Guelph, Ontario, Dec. 3 to 7.
With the theme Roots to Success: The Foundation of Resilient Agriculture, this not-to-be-missed three-day event celebrates the important environmental and economic role forages and grasslands play in Ontario, across the country and around the globe. Once again delivering the practical, grassroots-based agronomic knowledge the CFGA is known for, the CFGA Conference is the gateway to Canada’s 70-million acres of forage and grassland production, the researchers who study it and the men and women who manage and protect it.
2024 agenda
The 2024 agenda includes a pre-conference workshop, an in-person trade show and real-time networking opportunities and multiple educational sessions, followed by the popular post-conference tour, which is being held in conjunction with OFC’s Forage Focus. New this year will be a young farmer forum to discuss the challenges and opportunities for this demographic as well as an evening social for those involved in the export of forage products.
The 15th annual conference includes two-day of sessions focused on the themes of grassland, pasture, tame forages and markets including sessions on policy, programming and optimizing production. Keynote speakers throughout the event are Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Martin Chatigny, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s Angela Straathof, the University of Guelph’s Dr. Ralph Martin and Farmers’ Bridge founder Maggie Van Camp with New Zealand dairy farmers Marc and Nia Jones.
Leadership Award
Nominations are also open for the CFGA 2024 Leadership Award. The CFGA Leadership Award recognizes individuals, groups or organizations that exemplify or enhance the goals of the CFGA and whose leadership in the forage and grassland sector has impact of national and/or international significance. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 30. Nomination forms are available on the.
Visit the CFGA conference website for more information, to view a draft agenda, to register or to access the CFGA Leadership Award nomination forms.
Please note that the Early Bird Registration closes on Sept. 2, 2024.
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Check out updated Advanced Grazing Systems course
The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) has launched an updated version of its popular Advanced Grazing Systems (AGS) course. It builds on a course the CFGA developed in 2022 with the help of forage and grazing experts across the country and in partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the On-Farm Climate Action Fund and Farmers for Climate Solutions.
Incorporating a blended-learning model, the course offers a comprehensive learning curriculum that supports producers in learning common core grazing principles and in developing a rotational grazing plan that is relevant to their operation. It also provides in-person and online options to support various learning needs and producer situations and schedules.
Since the spring of 2022, the CFGA has supported over 4,480 producers who have gone through the program either online or in person. Over 1,800 people have attended workshops and the CFGA’s online learning management system (LMS) has had close to 500 individuals finish the self-paced AGS course.
The newly launched AGS course incorporates numerous updates to improve science-based knowledge and peer-to-peer learning. The updates were determined through a mixed-methods research approach to understanding the program’s impact and analyzing data collected in the first 18 months of the program. Case studies featuring producers’ on-the-ground experience with rotational grazing are also one of the new inclusions with the update.
The learning platform is mobile-friendly so producers can learn and reference information wherever they are and when they have the time. It creates opportunities for producers to learn on their own or to connect with other farmers learning the same materials. It also offers many opportunities to ask questions of mentors and other rotational grazing experts and practitioners.
The AGS course includes an Advanced Grazing Systems Handbook, rotational grazing resources and a rotational grazing plan template. Effective delivery of the program is made possible by working closely with provincial forage associations across the country to provide their nuanced provincial insight on region-specific practices.
The CFGA is also developing targeted subject matter modules to further round out a producer’s expertise in region- or industry-specific approaches to advanced grazing systems. These will be launched in the coming months.
The updated course is available in English and French through the CFGA’s LMS and can be accessed on a cell phone, tablet, computer desktop or through the Canvas App. People can access the content as a mentor or as a producer.
Producers can enrol and complete the series of modules of the free AGS self-paced learning as an introduction to the foundation of the advanced rotational grazing practices and theory. Proceeding through these modules will help you create a rotational grazing plan suitable for your operation.
For additional information visit the CFGA AGS webpage or email learning@canadianfga.ca.
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Work with a mentor
Producers seeking additional assistance in developing an advanced rotational grazing management plan may do so with the guidance of a grazing mentor who is a professional agrologist (P.Ag) or certified crop adviser (CCA). The CFGA has a network of mentors trained to support the development of grazing plans.
Producers can sign up for the AGS course and find links to mentors here. Please contact Travis at travis@canadianfga.ca to find out how to access funding for one-on-one support or if you have any questions.
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Provincial Member News: Ontario Forage Council | |
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Ontario Forage Council hosts successful Forage Expo events
The Ontario Forage Council’s (OFC) Forage Expo events were a big success this year! These events give hundreds of attendees the chance to see the latest forage equipment, watch field demos, attend the tradeshow and network with other producers.
The temperature was hot enough to make you melt on July 4 in Gorrie for the Huron County Forage Expo, but that didn’t keep people away. Fifty pieces of equipment were registered for the event, ranging from mowers, rakes and tedders, to mergers, balers and harvesters. Equipment demos kept the field busy all day and then attendees were invited to check out the hay dryers across the road.
Eastern Valley Forage Expo in St. Isidore was thrown a curveball in the days leading up to the July 12 event when the rain from Hurricane Beryl passed through, leaving fields completely saturated. Showing the typical creativity and ingenuity of farmers, alternate plans were made for site setup and parking, while in-field demos were cancelled. Equipment reps kept the day going with engaging presentations and mowers eventually made it into the field for demos in front of eager attendees.
At both locations this year a Firefighter Experience night was held to provide local first responders. This provided first responder with the opportunity to see the equipment up close, speak with representatives who have experience with the equipment and encourage them to think about finding their local dealers and think about who to reach out to when faced with an emergency involving farm equipment.
A huge thank you to Huron County Soil & Crop Improvement Association, Eastern Valley Soil & Crop Improvement Association, Ian McDonald from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and Christine O’Reilly from OMAFRA for partnering with OFC on these events. A big thank you also goes out to our host farmers, Mark Horst and family and Thomas Haerle and family.
Mapleseed Pasture Award
Ontario Forage Council, Beef Farmers of Ontario, and Ontario Sheep Farmers are looking for nominees for the Mapleseed Pasture Award. You know producers who are doing an amazing job of pasture management. Let us know who they are by nominating them!
The deadline for the sheep award is Sept. 30, 2024. The beef award deadline is Nov. 30, 2024.
For more information, please visit onforagenetwork.ca
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Commanditaire Or de l'ACPF | |
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News from Dairy Farmers of Canada
Canadian dairy an integral part of a more sustainable value chain says Starbucks Canada
Sustainability was on the menu at Dairy Farmers of Canada’s (DFC) 2024 Annual General Meeting in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Presenting to attendees were Starbucks Canada’s supply chain manager, Juliana de van der Schueren, and the head of social impact, public policy and sustainability, Ross Anderson. They spoke about how operating directly with the dairy sector increases agricultural resiliency in light of climate change.
They highlighted the necessity of working with farmer organizations to collaborate to create a more sustainable supply chain, from the coffee farms supplying beans to the dairy farms across Canada producing the milk that goes into Starbucks’ drinks.
“We have to recognize that farms are unique in the circumstances that they have, and not ‘one size fits all’,” said Anderson. “We want to collaborate with farms and the farming industry to figure out what’s right for them.”
de van der Schueren detailed the programs Starbucks has helped fund in their Canada-unique approach: Benchmarking and On-Farm Greenhouse Gas Assessment Pilot programs begun by DFC, and Farmer Recognition funding with Farm Credit Canada (FCC), the latter of which is already underway.
This program rewards farmers who are successfully adopting environmental best management practices and encourages continued sustainable farming by granting annual incentives of up to $2,000 to FCC customers who meet select criteria. As part of the partnership with DFC and overall investment for the year, Starbucks will provide additional funding to the FCC program in two new categories, Top Achieving and Most Improved, further recognizing the sustainability successes of Canadian dairy farmers.
When it came to contributing funding for the three initiatives, according to de van der Schueren, the dairy industry’s progress made it a seamless fit. “The work was already happening by Dairy Farmers of Canada,” she said. “We were able to come in and continue on that journey and support the work they are already doing because of our shared sustainability visions.”
“We are taking the time to listen, to adapt, to collaborate with stakeholders [in order to] understand what’s going to work and what’s not going to work in Canada,” she said.
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Nouvelles des Producteurs laitiers du Canada
Les produits laitiers canadiens font partie intégrante d'une chaîne de valeur plus durable, affirme Starbucks Canada
La durabilité était au menu de l'Assemblée générale annuelle 2024 des Producteurs laitiers du Canada (PLC) à St. John's, Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. Dans leur présentation aux participants, Juliana de van der Schueren, directrice de la chaîne d'approvisionnement de Starbucks Canada, et Ross Anderson, directeur de l'impact social, des politiques publiques et de la durabilité, ont expliqué comment le fait de travailler directement avec le secteur laitier permet d'accroître la résilience de l'agriculture face aux changements climatiques.
Ils ont souligné la nécessité de collaborer avec les organisations de producteurs pour créer une chaîne d'approvisionnement plus durable, depuis les fermes qui fournissent les grains de café jusqu'aux fermes laitières du Canada qui produisent le lait entrant dans la composition des boissons de Starbucks.
« Nous devons reconnaître que chaque ferme s’avère unique et est définie par une situation qui lui est propre et qu'il n'y a pas de solution unique », a déclaré M. Anderson. « Nous voulons collaborer avec les fermes et le secteur agricole pour trouver ce qui leur convient le mieux. »
Juliana de van der Schueren a détaillé les programmes que Starbucks a contribué à financer dans le cadre de son approche unique au Canada : les programmes pilotes d'analyse comparative et d'évaluation des gaz à effet de serre à la ferme, lancés par les PLC, et le financement pour valoriser les pratiques des producteurs par Financement agricole Canada (FAC), ce dernier étant déjà en cours.
Ce programme récompense les producteurs qui adoptent avec succès les pratiques de gestion bénéfiques sur le plan environnemental et favorise le maintien d'une agriculture durable en accordant des montants incitatifs annuels pouvant aller jusqu'à 2 000 $ aux clients de FAC qui répondent à certains critères. Dans le cadre de son partenariat avec les PLC et de son investissement global pour l'année, Starbucks fournira des fonds supplémentaires au programme de FAC dans deux nouvelles catégories, « Les producteurs les plus performants » et « Les producteurs s’étant le plus amélioré », reconnaissant ainsi les progrès des producteurs laitiers canadiens en matière de développement durable.
Selon de van der Schueren, les progrès du secteur laitier s’intégraient à la démarche de Starbucks Canada de façon idéale en ce qui a trait à leur contribution au financement des trois initiatives. « Le travail était déjà en cours aux Producteurs laitiers du Canada », a-t-elle expliqué. « Nous avons été en mesure de nous joindre au projet, de poursuivre cette démarche et de soutenir le travail qu'ils effectuent déjà en raison de nos visions communes en matière de développement durable. »
« Nous prenons le temps d'écouter, de nous adapter et de collaborer avec les parties prenantes [afin de] comprendre ce qui va fonctionner et ce qui ne va pas fonctionner au Canada », a-t-elle indiqué.
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Calendar of Events
At the time this newsletter was distributed, all event times and locations were accurate, but please check event websites for the most current information. Some events may have been postponed or cancelled.
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Aug. 17: OFC Advanced Grazing Mentorship Pasture Walk. Theme: Winter feeding and water systems. Melancthon, Dufferin County, Ontario. More info. Register.
Aug. 19 – 20: Cattle Up Stockmanship Clinic with Dawn Hnatow. Lloydminster / Marwayne / Kitscoty area, Alberta. More info.
Aug 19 – 22: Canadian Beef Cattle Industry Conference. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. More info.
Aug 24: On-Farm Pasture and Biodiversity Workshop. St.Félix-de-Kingsey, Quebec. More info.
Aug 24 – 25: Homesteading Kickstarter. Vanscoy, Saskatchewan. More info.
Aug 25: B.C. Living Lab Cattle and Forage Field Day. Prince George, British Columbia. More info.
Aug. 27: OFCAF Grazing Field Day - Kootenays. Radium Hot Springs, B.C. More info.
Aug. 27: MBFI Silage Workshop & Field Day. Brookdale Farm Learning Centre. Brandon, Manitoba. More info.
Aug. 27 – 29: Expo-Champs. Saint-Liboire, Quebec. More info.
Aug. 28: OFCAF Grazing Field Days - Kootenays. Fort Steele, B.C. More info.
Aug. 29: OFCAF Grazing Field ays - Kootenays. Creston, B.C. More info.
Sept. 10: Soils Workshop Series: Digging It. Stoddart Creek, B.C. More info.
Sept. 17: Soils Workshop Series: Digging It. Rose Prairie Area, B.C. More info.
Sept 17: Journée à foin. St-Lambert-de-Lauzon, Quebec. More info.
Sept. 24: Soils Workshop Series: Digging It. Baldonnel area, B.C. More info.
Oct. 1-3: 2024 PNW Section of the Society for Range Management Fall Tour. Merritt, B.C. More info.
Dec. 3 – 7: Canadian Forage and Grassland Association 15th Annual Conference. Guelph, Ont. More info.
More event listings:
Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN)
Agricultural Research Extension and Council of Alberta (ARECA)
B.C. Forage Council (BCFC)
Beef Cattle Research Centre webinar series
Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA)
Conseil Québécois des plantes fourragères (CQPF)
Gateway Research Organization
New Brunswick Soil Crop Improvement Association (NBSCIA)
Ontario Forage Network
Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan (SK PCAP)
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