MFGA eBulletin - August 2025

Photo credit: Nerbas Bros Angus

As the wildfire situation continues, our MFGA thoughts remain with all persons, properties, lands and communities dealing with wildfires in Manitoba and across Canada this month and for those possibly dealing with wildfires ahead in coming months. Our MFGA hopes and wishes go outward for the health and safety of all firefighters, first responders and service personnel as they battle forest and grassland fires in often challenging conditions.

From the Desk of the Executive Director

Even in a year that has been as peculiar as 2025 has been, it is hard not to notice that the signs of fall are everywhere.

And, right on schedule, the annual MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference is rounding into fine form once again, our eighth straight year of hosting our flagship event.

We plan on having a few more bursts of promotions and advertising over the next 11 weeks. As we have done in previous years, we aspire to bring in a bonus for our mostly farmer attendees in the form of a unique conference event, such as a fireside chat between grazers and regen leaders or a screening of a movie like Common Ground.

This year, we aren’t premiering a movie or a settling in for a great fireside chat.

BUT..we are going to buy you dinner and we are up to something awesome. Stay tuned for more news on that.

One thing that I absolutely know for sure is that as we sail past three months out, our conference trade show is already over half full. We have had interest from companies as far away as California as well as local groups that are calling and want to be part of our event, mostly to access and chat to the awesome farmers and families that comprise the majority our conference audience.

If you are considering including our conference in your trade show plans for November, we recommend registering at your earliest convenience.

Muchos Grasses ALL,

Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director

MFGA chair Mike Duguid (blue shirt, center) takes in a breakout pollinator presentation at Blue Dasher Farm Field Day in early August.

Duguids Dash Down to Blue Dasher

MFGA Chair Mike Duguid and wife Cheryl recently spent a quick-trip weekend near Watertown, South Dakota at the Blue Dasher Farm Field Day hosted by Dr. Jon Lundgren, a well-known regenerative agriculture leader/researcher and a previous keynote at the MFGA Regen Ag Conference. At the event, the Duguid’s joined 170 others as Jon and the Ecdysis team shared updates from the field and the 1,000 Farms Initiative, held breakout discussions about the various growing systems studied and presented some of the research results that show how regenerative farmers are delivering on the promised outcomes of battling climate change, increasing biodiversity, reversing desertification, and improving farmer wellness and resilience. Organizers also unveiled Project Avalanche, the community science project of our 1,000 Farms Initiative.

For Mike Duguid, the trip was a chance to hear Lundgren's updates and connecting to research done on his own family farm.

"Some of the research work done on our farm as part of the General Mills project was also collected by and shared with Jon’s group, making our trip a little more meaningful," said Duguid.

Harper family hosts Australian grazers at Circle H Farms

Around 30 successful livestock producers and leaders in the Australian regenerative agricultural space vised Circle H Farms, just outside Brandon Mb, on August 17. Organized by Kevin Elmy, the Circle H Farms tour was led by Brian and Kristelle Harper and featured a lunch from Solar Nutrition. MFGA was very pleased to sponsor part of the lunch and have a small number of board members in attendance.

Nominations Now Open for the 2025 Wilson Loree Award

Farm Management Canada is accepting nominations for the 2025 Wilson Loree Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to farm business management in Canada.

Deadline: October 3, 2025

Winner announced at AgEx, November 18–19 in Winnipeg

Submit your nomination here

Manitoba Crop Report – Issue 11 (as of August 4, 2025)

Recent climate data shows accumulated precipitation from May 1 to August 4 remains below normal in much of Manitoba. The Northwest and Interlake regions have large areas with less than 50% of the 30-year average. The highest rainfall in the past eight days was 19.8 mm at Sprague, while many locations recorded no precipitation. Above-normal early season temperatures have resulted in Growing Degree Day accumulations between 100% and 115% of normal across most of agro-Manitoba.

Forages

Dry, warm conditions continue to reduce pasture and hay yields, with most areas below average.
A second cut is not expected for most beef herds; dairy producers have finished second cut with low yields.
Cereal silage harvest is underway with average to below-average yields; corn intended for silage is tasseling.

Livestock

Cattle are in generally good condition, though fly pressure and some cases of foot rot and pneumonia are reported.
Dugout water levels are low in many areas; some producers are hauling water.
Pasture conditions vary widely, with some browning off due to lack of moisture or grasshopper damage; supplemental feeding has started in parts of the Interlake, Swan River, and Eastern regions.

Read the full report here: Manitoba Crop Report – August 4, 2025

Decision and Cost Calculators – Hay, Corn, and Greenfeed

Curious whether purchasing standing hay, greenfeed, or corn is financially viable this season? Use these helpful calculators to estimate costs using either the market value method or the cost of production method. These decision tools also help factor in forage costs and freight.

Major Keynote Announcement: Common Ground Movie’s Rick Clark at Eighth Annual MFGA Regenerative Ag Conference November 12–13, 2025, Victoria Inn Conference Center, Brandon

Early Bird Registration (NO FEE INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR!) is now open. To check out speaker bios, sponsorship and tradeshow opportunities, or to register and book accommodations, visit: Register Here

Experience Manitoba’s Best at the 100 Mile Dinner+

September 28, 2025 – Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Presented by WOW! Hospitality and WOW! Catering, this gourmet evening will showcase fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced within 100 miles of Winnipeg (plus select Canadian favourites) prepared by some of the city’s most celebrated chefs. Guests will enjoy wine and appetizers starting at 5:30 PM, followed by an elegant dinner at 6:30 PM.

Proceeds support BGC Winnipeg programs for local youth. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available, including premium tables and special recognition packages.

Get tickets or learn more about sponsorship: Contact Jared at 204-982-4940 or support@bgcwinnipeg.ca

MWAF's Fall Summit – October 9, 2025 – at Caboto Centre, Winnipeg

AAFC publishes Livestock Tax Deferral Regions

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has published the initial designated regions eligible for the Livestock Tax Deferral provision for 2025.

The Livestock Tax Deferral provision allows farmers that carry on a farming business in a prescribed area who sell all or part of their breeding herd due to drought, excess moisture, or flooding to defer a portion of sale proceeds to the following year.

Read more: here

EVENTS

Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show – September 9–11, 2025 – at Discovery Farm Woodstock, ON learn more and get tickets here

Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef AGM & Conference – September 23, 2025 – at Four Points by Sheraton Toronto Airport, ON learn more and get tickets here

MWAF's Fall Summit – October 9, 2025 – at Caboto Centre, Winnipeg