Cedric MacLeod
From the executive director's desk
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The winter months are flying by. It’s no wonder as we focus on delivering the many projects the CFGA is leading, including the National Grassland Inventory, Canada Grassland Protocol and the Habitat and Biodiversity Assessment Tool (HBAT), to name just a few.
A large part of our time is spent delivering training to a national network of grazing mentors and distributing funds for the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Quebec. We put in a busy summer during the development phase, worked out the kinks throughout the fall and the process is now rolling along nicely. While there are a lot of moving parts keeping our growing team busy, we are encouraged to see the availability of funding to support research, knowledge transfer and rotational grazing implementation.
We, as well as our provincial partners, are hosting numerous workshops and sessions to help producers develop rotational grazing plans and apply for funding. To stay up to date, on these as well as other project events, check out our event calendar on the CFGA website.
When we wrapped up 2022 with another successful virtual conference, Cross Pollination: Co-Creating Ideas in the Forage Industry, I was excited to announce that the 2023 conference will once again be held in person. Planning has already begun for us to gather in Harrison Hot Springs in British Columbia Nov. 28 to Dec. 1. Watch the CFGA website, social media channels and this newsletter for details as they become available.
As always, If you have questions or comments, don’t hesitate to reach out to me to discuss.
- Cedric MacLeod
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Access to CFGA 2022 conference proceedings still available |
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The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) held a successful conference Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, 2022. Cross Pollination: Co-Creating Ideas in the Forage Industry was held virtually and included three days of informative and inspirational sessions on a variety of themes including living labs, grazing management and exports. You can access the full agenda here.
If you were unable to attend but are interested in getting access to the conference recordings, please contact Conference@canadianfga.ca to purchase access. You can access the conference program here.
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Ontario Forage Leader Wins 2022 Leadership Award |
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A highlight of the conference is announcing the winner of the CFGA Leadership Award. The 2022 award winner is Ray Robertson.
Nominated by the Ontario Forage Council (OFC), Ray has served as OFC’s general manager since 2000, working to ensure the council’s membership, profile and event attendance increase yearly. He developed educational programs, equipment demonstrations, a newsletter, an active website and a respected voice for forages in Ontario. Because he recognized a far-reaching need for Canadian hay, he developed the Ontario Hay Marketing Forum from which the Ontario Hay and Forage Co-op was born. Ray was a founding and dedicated Ontario director of the CFGA, including serving a chair and past chair for several years.
Ray has been involved in numerous forage fact-finding and marketing missions for Ontario and Canada on behalf of the CFGA, visiting countries including Nepal, UAE, China and Saudi Arabia. In 2004, he hosts delegations from Kenya, Costa Rica and Nepal. Prior to that, in 2003, he initiated, planned and managed a three-year co-op connection program between a Janaki Dairy Cooperative in Nepal Photo credit Evelyn Robertson
and Gay Lea Foods Co-operative in Ontario.
The CFGA presented the 2022 Leadership Award at a special virtual presentation during the third day of the conference.
“I am most grateful to receive this distinguished CFGA Leadership Award and thank you most sincerely for this honour,” Ray said in a recorded acceptance speech played during the presentation. “As I think back on previous recipients and reflect on their many achievements, their contributions to the forage sector and their communities, I am truly humbled. My history with the forage industry has certainly been a wonderful, enjoyable and productive journey.”
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About the CFGA Leadership Award |
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The CFGA Leadership Award was established in 2012 to recognize and encourage leadership in the forage and grassland sector. It recognizes individuals, groups or organizations who exemplify or enhance the goals of the CFGA and whose leadership has impact of national and/or international significance. |
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CFGA Advanced Grazing Systems Program
Learn how to get more out of your pasture
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Rotational grazing has many functions for both the environment and the family farm. That is why the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is focusing on the rotational grazing practices stream of the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
The CFGA’s Advanced Grazing Systems Program is centred on increasing the total acres under a rotational grazing system. To implement it in various growing regions across Canada, the Advanced Grazing Systems program has a two-fold approach:
- To provide producers in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec and Saskatchewan access to funding to reduce possible financial challenges associated with trying or expanding the practice of rotational grazing in their operations
- To provide producers with information and resources they need to implement rotational grazing as it makes sense for their operations
Participating in the CFGA’s Advanced Grazing Systems Program means producers can:
- Learn the basic techniques of rotational grazing independently with the Advanced Grazing Systems online courses, which use curriculum developed with Farmers for Climate Solutions
- Create a grazing plan with the help of a grazing mentor
- Apply to OFCAF for financial assistance to put your grazing plan into action if they are a producer in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec and Saskatchewan
- Receive support throughout the entire process
Find more information, and sign up for updates, on the CFGA website under Projects/Projets.
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Help make Advanced Grazing Systems Mentorship Program better |
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The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) and Farmers For Climate Solutions is have initiated research to better understand the social dynamics around BMP adoption and producer motivations when it comes to participation in programs like their Advanced Grazing Systems Mentorship Program.
Dr. Brooke McWherter, a Mitacs Elevate Postdoctoral Scholar at Dalhousie University, is leading the research, which consists of a series of surveys and interviews to collect data to understand producer perceptions and intentions going into, during and following the program. The research also involves interviewing program mentors to understand their experiences with the program and suggestions for improvements if any.
Complete the survey
Producers who have not started the program yet, are encouraged to take the pre-program survey.
The surveys take approximately 25 minutes to complete and will help the CFGA and FCS continue to develop, and where necessary, improve the program. Hearing participants’ perspectives and experiences going into the program followed by their thoughts once they complete the program is the best way to know the impact the program has.
Only summaries of the responses will be used in future reporting. Individual responses will not be disclosed in any fashion. Additionally, participation in this survey in no way affects any participation or affiliation you may have with the program or any associated funding programs but will greatly help in understanding the usefulness of the program to you and other producers like you.
“Thank you very much for your time,” says McWherter. “We know that time is money and we appreciate it if you are able to spend any of it on us.”
More info
If you would like additional information, or to receive results when they become available, contact McWherter at brookemcw@dal.ca.
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The Hoyt Report Comes to CFGA Members
The Hoyt Report is the authority covering forage markets and prices in the Western United States. With contacts around the world, its experts are plugged into the world forage market.
Josh Callen, market research analyst and owner of the Hoyt Report, will provide quarterly updates on the Canadian and world forage markets to CFGA for its members. This will include number and value reports of Canadian forage exports along with analysis on trends. Export totals from the other main exporting counties will be included and explained.
“International trade is a complex endeavor and I hope to provide some actionable information to the CFGA’s membership,” said Josh.
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Provincial Member News: Ontario Forage Council |
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Profitable Pastures 2023 presents free webinar series |
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The Ontario Forage Council (OFC) is pleased to announce that Profitable Pastures will proceed in webinar format again for 2023. There will be three live webinars airing daily from 8 - 9 p.m. EST from March 7 to 9. There is no cost to register and CEUs will be available for Certified Crop Advisors. All presentations will be made available on the OFC's YouTube Channel approximately one-week post-event. Subscribe to be notified of new presentation postings.
Here is a schedule of the free webinars:
- March 7: 2022 & 2023 Mapleseed Sheep & Beef Pasture Award Recipients, Asphodel Sheep - Todd Payne and beef TBA
- March 8: Grazing mentor panel with Anita Obrien, Birgit Martin and Dean Cober
- March 9: Grazing cell layout and design with Jim Gerrish
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OFC’s general manager one of 11 leaders being inducted into Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame |
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Nominated by the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), the OFC's general manager, Ray Robertson, will be inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame (OAHF) along with 10 other individuals who have made significant impacts on Ontario agriculture and beyond.
The OAHF Association selected the inductees as worthy candidates based on their life-long commitments to Ontario agriculture. They will be recognized in a ceremony on June 11, bringing the total number of inductees recognized since 1980 to 256. To qualify for this prestigious recognition, inductees must have shown visionary leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Our board of directors was overwhelmed by the number of nomination packages received for
consideration last year,” said Nick Whyte, president of the OAHF Association. “This level of interest really shows the importance that the agricultural industry places on recognizing its leaders, both past and present.”
Read the full media release here.
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Peterborough County farmer receives sheep pasture award |
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Sponsored by Mapleseed, the OFC and the Ontario Sheep Association, the 2022 Ontario Sheep Pasture Award goes to Todd and Jennifer Payne of Asphodel Sheep Company in the Norwood area of Peterborough County. They receive $250 and a bag of forage seed for their environmental and pasture improvements and management.
The Asphodel Sheep Company operation includes a breeding flock of 800 and basically depend on nearly year-round pasture. The pasture utilization includes rough-land pasture for the dry-mature ewes, which includes mostly orchard grass and the improved tillable pastureland for grazing replacement lambs. It contains a mix of orchard, perennial ryegrass and alfalfa on the seeded acres.
“We really pasture year round,” said Todd, explaining they strip graze corn and graze sorghum after last cut until frost and have also grazed crop residue. Use of a bale-unroller with the ewes on corn stocks also works well. The Paynes are strong promoters of rotational grazing and using portable net fencing with a solar energizer.
“It is very important to supply fresh water to the animals,” said Todd, adding he has a 1,500-gallon portable water tank on a 10-ton trailer, which allows them to put sheep on land that would otherwise be unused.
Environmental stewardship has always been top of mind for Todd and Jennifer and they have participated in the Environmental Farm Plan Program. They are trying to incorporate grazing cover crops that are planted after wheat harvest.
Nominations for the 2023 Mapleseed Awards is now open. The deadline for the Sheep Pasture Award is Sept. 20, 2023, and for the Beef Pasture Award is Oct. 30, 2023.
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ARECA presents draft agenda for 2023 annual general meeting
The Agricultural Research Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) annual general meeting (AGM) is being held in Leduc at the Best Western Plus Airport Hotel on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 8. Participants can attend all or parts of the AGM either in person or on line.
Here is a draft agenda:
1 – 4 p.m.
- Acknowledgement and thank you to RDAR, Alberta Agriculture & Irrigation, Commissions and others for their knowledge, networking, working with us and financial support for ARECA and Member Associations
- Presentation by each ARECA member Forage and Applied Research Association on their programs, projects and results
- Presentation of Environmental Farm Plan program plans moving forward with strong support from Alberta Agriculture & Irrigation
- Presentation of AgKnow (farm mental health support) which is a joint effort of ARECA and University of Alberta with strong support from Alberta Agriculture & Irrigation
- Presentation on OFCAF producer grant and grazing mentorship programs that ARECA and Associations are helping Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association and RDAR with
4 – 5 p.m.
- Short ARECA AGM business meeting
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Sustainability of Canadian Agriculture 2023 Conference to examine sustainable food production systems |
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The Sustainability of Canadian Agriculture 2023 Conference takes place virtually March 7 to 9. This year’s theme is Sustainable food production systems: Exploring new and traditional knowledge.
This online conference provides practical information and considers the future of our agriculture as we strive to further develop sustainable food production systems. The three-day conference offers a hands-on interactive morning workshop on the Holos model designed to better understand and effectively estimate on-farm greenhouse gas emissions.
Three separate sessions each day will feature brief presentations followed by facilitated panel discussions exploring the path to achieving net zero emissions on farms, addressing the role of Indigenous agriculture in our food systems and examining the importance of preserving and enhancing biodiversity on the prairies and beyond.
Co-hosted by the University of Manitoba's National Centre for Livestock and the Environment and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, this year’s conference will also provide an update on Canada’s Living Lab Projects and offer the opportunity for attendees to join two live question and answer sessions with researchers and industry experts.
This conference is intended for a diverse audience. The aim is to bring together researchers, students, producers, government, commodity organizations and industry representatives with a range of perspectives to collectively share ideas and experiences about how to improve agricultural sustainability in Canada.
The three days will provide opportunities to explore novel ideas and concepts, including an exciting session with graduate students who will share their research through short videos.
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Grassland for Soil, Animal and Human Health is theme of 2023 Health International Grassland Congress |
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The American Forage and Grassland Council will host the International Grassland Congress (IGC) in Covington, Kentucky, from May 14 to 19. The congress will offer producers, researchers and extension personnel, as well as others, a unique opportunity to listen and talk to grassland scientists, farmers, ranchers and industry leaders from over 60 countries around the world. The theme of the conference is “Grassland for Soil, Animal, and Human Health.”
The IGC program is packed with academic presentations on the production, storage and utilization of forages and will offer discussions on grassland policies, social issues and ecosystem services. There will also be a trade show marketplace, which will be the hub of the event, where over 1,000 attendees from more than 60 countries will gather to visit with sponsors and exhibitors, network at evening receptions and view scientific posters.
One day during the congress is reserved for area tours (included with registration) in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. There will also be optional pre-congress tours in the Southern Plains, Southeast, Northeast and Pacific Northwest regions of the U.S.
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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.
Feb. 17: 1-2 p.m. ET. CFGA OFCAF producer information session. Virtual. More info.
Feb. 21: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. GRO Grazing Club: Intro to cell design and grazing plans with Steve Kenyon and the intricacies of applying for OFCAF funding with Mike Hittinger. Athabasca, AB. Register.
Feb. 23: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. GRO Grazing Club: Intro to cell design and grazing plans with Steve Kenyon and the intricacies of applying for OFCAF funding with Mike Hittinger. Thorhild, AB. Register.
Feb. 23: 9:45 a.m.-3 p.m. Producer Funding Opportunities. Standard, AB. More info.
Feb. 23: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. CFGA-OFCAF Grazing Plan Workshop with Carmen Jackson. Candiac, SK. Call 306-885-4418 to register.
Feb. 23: 1-2 p.m. ET. CFGA HBAT Winter Webinar Series: Problem solving past objections with Ken Lewis. Virtual. More info.
Feb. 23: 6-9 p.m. Advanced nitrogen management training. Virtual. More info.
Feb. 27: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. CFGA-OFCAF Grazing Plan Workshop with Bluesette Campbell. Shell Lake, SK. Call 1-306-240-8044 to register.
Feb. 28: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. CFGA-OFCAF Grazing Plan Workshop with Bluesette Campbell. Goodsoil, SK. Call 1-306-240-8044 to register.
March 2: 1-2 p.m. ET. CFGA HBAT Winter Webinar Series: Supporting BMP adoption on the landscape: Ducks Unlimited. Virtual. More info.
March 3/le 13 mars: 1-2 p.m. ET. CFGA OFCAF producer information session/ACPF FAFC Séance d’information. Bilingual/Bilingue. Virtual/ Virtuel. More info/Plus d'informations.
March 7-9: 8-9 p.m. ET. OFC Profitable Pastures 2023 webinar series. Virtual. More info.
March 7-9: Sustainability of Canadian Agriculture 2023 Conference. Virtual. More info.
March 8: 1-4 p.m. ARECA annual general meeting. Leduc, AB. More info.
March 9: AFIN 2023 AGM & Conference. Edmonton and Virtual. More info.
March 17: 1-2 p.m. ET. CFGA OFCAF producer information session. Virtual. More info.
March 31/le 31 mars: 1-2 p.m. ET. CFGA OFCAF producer information session/ACPF FAFC Séance d’information. Bilingual/Bilingue. Virtual/ Virtuel. More info/Plus d'informations.
More event listings:
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