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Prairie Watersheds Climate Program (PWCP) adds peer-to-peer influencers, experienced grazing mentors to mix
Winnipeg, Mb (May 4, 2023) – Manitoba farmers interested in the rotational grazing Best Management Practices (BMPs) within the Prairie Watersheds Climate Program (PWCP) led by the Manitoba Association of Watershed Districts (MAW) received great news today.
Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) has provided MAW with a list of around 15 grazing experts located across the province for Watershed Districts (WD) to connect farmers with grazing mentors and experts to help bring their PWCP aspirations forward around grazing plans and better understanding grazing practices and BMPs.
“MAW is pleased to announce the PWCP rotational grazing support available to watershed districts through MFGA,” said Garry Wasylowski, MAW board chair. “MFGA has been a strong partner within the Prairie Watersheds Climate Program, and we look forward to their services being available to support Manitoba’s Watershed Districts in their delivery of the rotational grazing BMP.”
The MFGA Grazing Mentors all come from within the MFGA network, either board members or supporters. The group’s grazing plan approach will be organized by Larry Wegner, MFGA board alumni. Watershed Districts may use the provided MFGA mentors list to connect farmers with available mentors. MFGA mentor services to Watershed Districts may include services such as: one-on-one mentorship to answer entry level questions, Watershed District support for application review as well as rotational grazing questions.
“The role of MFGA in providing grazing mentors is a great fit for us and we thank PWCP leaders for the opportunity to show our leadership and mentoring abilities on a farmer-to-farmer basis,” said Lawrence Knockaert, MFGA chair. “Many of the leaders on our MFGA Board and among our grazing mentors are leaders on grazing and regenerative agriculture practices and fully understand what needs to be discussed around grazing plans that help access some of the PWCP Rotational Grazing funding for farmers.”
The MFGA Grazing Mentor list will help Watershed Districts facilitate increased uptake of the Rotational Grazing BMPs of the PWCP, an up to $40 million program led by MAW through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s On Farm Climate Action Fund to producers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to accelerate their adoption and implementation of on-farm Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, support production efficiency, sustainability and resiliency on their farm operations.
SIDEBAR
The Prairie Watershed Climate Program through the On Farm Climate Action Fund may fund producers for the adoption or expansion of planning and implementing grazing rotations in their operations. For rotational grazing, these include:
Infrastructure to support the Rotational Grazing Plan
- $18,0000/quarter to a maximum of $75,000. Includes all eligible fencing and watering systems.
Improving Pasture compositions by seeding legumes such as alfalfa/sainfoin
Creation of Grazing Management Plan
- 50% of cost of the plan, up to $400
Eligibility Requirements
- Funded Practices must:
- Be new practices for an operation, or
- Be expanded from what has been practiced in prior years on new land or new acres than prior years,
- Have a rotational grazing plan provided that supports the new practice, and
- Provide a rotational grazing plan that is recommended by a licensed agrology professional (with demonstrated competency in the agronomy practice area that may include the CCA designation).
For more information:
Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director, 204.770.3548, Duncan@mfga.net
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