MFGA eBulletin - June 2024

Photo Credit: Nerbas Angus Bros.

From the Desk of the Executive Director

Each and every month, this regular assignment crosses my desk. My first thoughts are always: There’s so much going on. Where do I start?

Weather- for good or bad - is always low-hanging fruit. From tornados to rain to lower-than-normal temps, MFGA hopes all producers and farmers are in good shape on their farms. We also pass our hopes for a speedy rebuild to any farms and communities that suffered damages, in particular Swan Lake First Nation where a tornado touched down and damaged key community facilities.

It’s also never a bad thing to highlight the progression of our 2024 MFGA Regen Ag Conference. Our slate of fantastic keynotes: John & Deanne Chuiko, Stuart Chutter, Paul Overby is now filled as David Irvine, our final headliner brought onboard by our friends at Holistic Management Canada (HMC). We will be offering kids programming through HMC, a fireside chat with Jaime Elizondo and Ryan Boyd on Tuesday night following a virtual presentation by Will Harris of White Oak Pastures. Our trade show is filling up fast so please do take steps if you are interested in being part of our event. This whole event billed as a 1.5 day thing but, trust me, you will have enjoyed two full days of a fun vibe, networking, learning, trade show visits and motivating knowledge by the time you leave November 13.

Our MFGA Green Gold has come and gone, thanks to the excellent work by our MFGA Green Gold coordinator Terra Bergen on that file. And our 2024-25 MFGA corporate campaign is also in final tabulations and wind-down. A hearty thanks to Wendy Bulloch for leading our annual effort this year and sincere and robust thank you to all that have helped MFGA do our best work again this year.

Please do support the businesses and organizations whose logos are listed below and on our conference communications. They are all vital contributors to MFGA’s ability to do our best work. We’d also like to wish Manitoba Agriculture Minister Hon. Ron Kostyshyn the very best success as he and senior MB AG staff head into Federal and Provincial/Territory meetings in July.

And one final thought, I don’t think I've ever seen so many field tours in recent times as the ones organized by various players for Summer and Fall 2024. Pick out one or two that appeal to you and enjoy! I know I'm really looking forward to the WestLake Watershed District tour at Breault Ranching on July 17^th and the 2024 MFGA Grazing Day at Nerbas Bros Angus in Shellmouth, MB, Sept 19, 2024.

Happy Canada Day!

Muchos grasses,

Muchos Grasses ALL,

Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director

Forage Maturity Controls Quality

For alfalfa producers, the first cut has been begun or completed and safely stored. Why? Because they are trying to put up good quality Dairy feed that is high in energy and protein. Read More.

Terra Bergen, MFGA Green Gold Coordinator and Garett Hamm, MFGA Green Gold Participant/Canadian Foodgrains Bank Rep. showcase the 2024 alfalfa field signage

MFGA Green Gold Calls It Another Year

Low temps and high precipitation created some unusual scenarios for producers enrolled in the 2024 MFGA Green Gold program. The long-running MFGA program uses clips from prescribed alfalfa fields to help declare the best time for first cut alfalfa based on the highest potential for relative feed value. The program is aided by producers clipping their plants and sending them in, and the great work of Central Laboratories in Winnipeg testing the clips. This year, Garett Hamm participated in the MFGA Green Gold Program, including Canadian Foodgrains Bank who promoted the program via signage on their field.

First cut alfalfa dates were declared as follows:

Eastern Region: June 6

Central Region: June 10

Western Region: June 10

Read the full report: Green Gold Reports

Year Two of MFGA Bird Survey Taking Off On the Wings of Soil Health Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) conducts its second consecutive bird survey on nine regenerative agriculture-practicing farms across six farming operations. Read More.

Canadian soil health at risk: Senate report 

MFGA congratulates the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry for their recent Soil Senate Report urging the federal government to protect Canadian soil from climate change, extreme weather events, pollution, and urbanization, highlighting its crucial role in mitigating climate change and food security.

Media Release.

MFGA Media Release.

MB Cooperator Report.

“I went 18 Miles Per Hour the other way as fast as I could” 

Lawrence Knockaert, MFGA past chair, was enjoying a late sunny day cutting hay on his family dairy farm near Bruxelles Manitoba when this behemoth of a system roared through the field he was cutting without notice. Knockaert snapped this video and quickly went “18 miles per hour the other way as fast as I could” dodging the volatile situation with his beeline out of there. As scary as this was, Lawrence and the Knockaert farm, thankfully, dodged any damages. Life on the farm, eh?

Ps. You might be a farmer if halfway thru Lawrence’s getaway you start looking at his freshly cut field instead of approaching tornado….. 

Manitoba Beef Producers Data Management Workshop

 Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) is hosting a free, producer-centric workshop on data management on July 10th between 1-5 pm at the Ashern Auction Mart. This live demonstration event will feature management hardware/software available to help improve efficiencies on the farm.

What’s on tap?

• Watch different data collection hardware and software configurations working in real time.

• Learn which scale heads, tag readers, and other devices might work best for an operation’s goals.

• See how data can be used to improve farm and ranch productivity and profitability.

• Discuss and share ideas with producers and service providers.

For more details, check out: www.mbbeef.ca

Nuffield Scholarship Deadline Looming

The Nuffield Canada Scholarship is a prestigious rural leadership program for Canadians aged 25-50 with a passion for agriculture. The program encourages self-directed international travel study and research on agricultural topics, with applicants from various production philosophies. Applications close June 30.

Industry Events

Ag In Motion - July 16-18, 2024 - Saskatoon, Sk

Ag in Motion is the largest outdoor farm expo in Western Canada, showcasing the latest advancements in agricultural technology and equipment. More details.

Soil Health Workshop – July 17, 2024 – Ste. Rose, MB

Email: growcoordinator@westlakewd.com

KAP Classic 16th Annual Golf Tournament - July 31, 2024 - St. Andrews, MB

Location: Larters Golf Course, more details at KAP

Dairy Farmers of Manitoba’s (DFM) golf tournament - August 7, 2024 - Quarry Oaks, Ste. Anne, MB

DFM (dairyfarmersmb.ca) 21st Annual Sask Pasture Tour - August 7, 2024 - Estevan, SK

For more details: saskforage.ca

CCA Semi-Annual Meeting/Canadian Beef Industry Conference – August 19-22, 2024 – Saskatoon, Sk 

To register: CBIC 2024

MFGA GRAZING DAY 2024: September 19, 2024 - Shellmouth, MB

Details: mfga.net

34^th Annual Organics Recycling Conference: October 2-4, 2024, Niagara Falls, Ontario: Details here.

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

Details here: Agriculture Enlightened Conference

MFGA 2024 Regenerative Agriculture Conference - Early Bird Registration Open!!!! NOV 12-13, 2024 - Sign up now for early bird savings and block your hotel rooms.

Manitoba Farm Women’s Conference - Nov 18, 2024 - Winnipeg, MB

Details here: mfwc

2024 Western Canada Conference on Soil Health and Grazing - Dec 10-12, 2024, Edmonton, Alberta

Registration Open: www.absoilgrazing.com/ for dates and details.

Thank you to our 2024/25 Annual Supporters! 

It's never too late to join these 2024/25 leaders who are some of the best of the best in the agriculture and conservation communities - sign up here!