MFGA eBulletin - July 2025

Photo credit: Steve Langston, Dirty TShirt Productions

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

Over my times at MFGA, I have often made mention of the ebbs and flows (or lack of flows) around water and agriculture as being so heavily intertwined.

Many websites do state openly that water influences the intensity of climate variability and change. It is the key part of extreme events such as drought and floods. Its abundance and timely delivery are critical for meeting the needs of society and ecosystems.

We all know that everyone has a stake in water. And it sure doesn’t land squarely only on agriculture to manage, conserve and steward water. There are countless moving parts and players in the mix and as you peel it back a bit, you soon find there are just as many sought outcomes.

Yet, the hard truth is, our agricultural system needs and relies on water.

As a proactive thought, there is a growing and urgent need to better figure out and work within our water cycle – including the role of healthy soil and natural habitats like wetlands and grasslands that influence precipitation, evaporation, infiltration, and runoff. We should be able to plan, rely on and prosper alongside our water resources in ways that showcase how we collectively manage our water on profitable farmlands for the benefit of all.

Muchos Grasses ALL,

Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director

Aquanty celebrates MFGA’s Finalist Nomination for 2025 Water Canada Award

At Aquanty, we are thrilled to see that our partners at the Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association have been selected as one of three national finalists for this years "Early Adopter/ Innovation Partnership Award" by Water Canada.

Together, MFGA and Aquanty have developed one of Canada’s most advanced hydrologic forecasting tools—the MFGA Aquanty Model—to help farmers and communities in the Assiniboine River Basin adapt to increasingly extreme weather events. Leveraging cutting-edge HydroGeoSphere technology, this fully integrated groundwater/surface water model creates a digital twin of the basin, providing real-time forecasts, scenario planning, and decision support. Click here to learn more about the project: here

Photo Credit: Nerbas Bros Angus

2025 MFGA Regen Ag Bird Survey Wraps Up

“It was great to see and hear so many Bobolinks, Grasshopper Sparrows, and Eastern Wood-Pewees! Highlights I think would be Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, seeing a Black-billed Cuckoo at close range, Yellow-throated Vireos, and a gorgeous Adult male Orchard Oriole. Also had a nice Coyote sighting, Garter Snake, Leopard Frogs singing, and some really nice native plants in some of the pastures! Lots of birds, diversity, and just really lovely mornings!” – Meredith Stoesz, 2025 MFGA bird surveyor on nine of 14 MFGA participating farms.

Healthy lands, healthy ecosystems, healthy biodiversity, profitable farms. And for the third year in a row, MFGA's small-sample, growing-in-number-of-farms bird survey has declared bird abundance on 14 MFGA regen ag-focused farms in our network representing dairy, beef, sheep, bison, mixed, conventional grain, organic grain farms.

Watch for more information soon as a report from 2023-2025 is being developed for distribution and presentations, including the 2025 MFGA Regen Ag Conference.

Manitoba Cooperator: Polycrops Winning Practice for Manitoba Ranch

Clayton Breault, who farms and raises cattle near Ste. Rose du Lac with his wife Shauna, says that his polycrop system has vastly improved the health of his herd.

“We found over the years here when we weaned our cows, we were treating 10 per cent of our cows for sickness. Since we switched them to a polycrop diet, we’re at less than one per cent. It just totally fixed our health problems with our cattle,” Breault said.

Read more here

Manitoba Crop Report – Issue 10 (as of July 2, 2025)

Recent climate data shows total accumulated precipitation from May 1 to June 29 is well below normal across much of the province. Eastern and Interlake regions are seeing accumulations below 50% of the 30-year average, while most of Central, Northwest, and Southwest regions remain under 70% of normal precipitation. Only a few areas have received more than 80% of the historical average.

Forages

Corn intended for silage is growing well and advancing rapidly.
Moisture conditions remain variable, but recent rains are expected to benefit pasture growth.
Some producers have started haying with early yields ranging from average to below average, though younger stands are performing better.
Alfalfa fields are being monitored for alfalfa weevil; early harvest is advised where larvae density is high. Province of Manitoba | agriculture - Alfalfa Weevil

Livestock

Pastures are holding steady, with good growth in shaded areas.
Fly pressure is increasing—black flies are active and irritating livestock. Producers are encouraged to observe animals and apply fly control as needed.
Dugout levels are low in most regions of the province.

Read the full report here: Manitoba Crop Report – July 2, 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.

Tour of Rourke Farm to showcase plot tours and host thesis discussion

David Rourke will host a farm tour in conjunction with Assiniboine College July 29th, 2025 at the Rourke farm, Minto, MB. Plot tours including Soil Health trials sponsored by AAFC Living Labs along with MPSG, MFGA and Scotiabank start at 10:00 am. Other plot sites include Biological Seed Treatments, Cover Crops, Zero till and N rates, and Delayed Germination Seed Tech for One Pass spring seeded fall cover crops- still in the lab - sponsored by Rourke Farms, AgQuest and SCAP as well Bugs in a Jug sponsored by MCA and MCGA and SCAP, various biological N and Yield improvement products vs N rate Comparison and other research underway on the farm. Lunch will be served at 12 noon before Rourke gives an overview of his PhD thesis; BERT/E, and Categories of BMPs- No Regret, Neutral,Sacrifice and Dead End, Triple Win- Sustainable Farm Index, followed by round table discussion regarding the power of a Net Positive Farm Network. Register by July 25: Call or email David Rourke: drsrourke@gmail.com, 204-534-7531, or Manitoba Association of Watershed Districts to register/lunch count https://forms.office.com/r/9McjW8enhB

University of Manitoba Appoints Dr. Filiz Koksel as Manitoba Strategic Research Chair in Sustainable Protein

The University of Manitoba has named Dr. Filiz Koksel as the new Manitoba Strategic Research Chair in Sustainable Protein—a key role supporting sustainable agri-food innovation and advancing plant and animal protein research.

“My vision for this Chair is to position Manitoba as a global leader in sustainable protein innovation by uniting scientific discovery with industry partnerships,” said Dr. Koksel. “Together, we will create solutions that advance food security and climate resilience for generations to come.”

Western Producer: DUC's Winter wheat advocate set to retire

Ken Gross, Ducks Unlimited Canada agrologist has promoted winter cereals for decades remains hopeful about the crop’s future. Gross, a MFGA Wall of Fame inductee, recently announced his retirement. Read more

Experiencing Drought? Five Strategies to Support Your Herd, Pastures, and Wellbeing

Drought continues to challenge many regions across Canada, with some producers facing multiple consecutive dry years. This resource from the Beef Cattle Research Council outlines five key actions to help manage your feed, grazing strategies, water quality, and mental health during tough seasons.

Read more: here

Manitoba Government Extends Deadline for Agricultural Supports

The Manitoba government, in partnership with the federal government, has extended the enrollment deadline for the 2025 AgriStability program from April 30 to July 31, 2025, giving producers additional time to manage market disruptions and protect their farm margins. AgriStability, part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (S-CAP), helps farmers manage income risk due to production loss or market decline.

For more information, visit www.gov.mb.ca/tariffresponse/index.html#agricultural-supports

EVENTS

Soils for our Future 2025 Conference – July 20-25th, 2025 – Winnipeg, MB

“A Gathering of Global to Local Perspectives” at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Contact for info/sponsorship: soils2025@mbsoils.ca

Woodworth Grazing Club Tour July 21, 2025. Bus leaves from Lenore at 1pm. Tour with tradeshow and supper to follow. $20 per person. Contact Cameron Hodgins (204) 851.1733

MFGA Board Members on NFU’s Regenerative Ag Zoom Drop-In – Monday, July 21 @ 7 PM CST

Join MFGA board members Paul Gregory and Sean Smith for a virtual discussion on regenerative agriculture in Manitoba on NFU’s Ag Zoom Drop-In.

Join the Zoom meeting

Meeting ID: 872 9654 9176 | Passcode: 295359

KAP's Campbell Classic Golf Tournament - July 24, 2025 -at Larters at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club

Complete information on registration and the schedule for the day are available on their website at: https://www.kap.ca/events/2025-kap-golf-tournament/

Rourke Farm Tour in conjunction with Assiniboine College - July 29, 2025

1/2-mile North of Minto on #10 Hwy, East on Road 28 N 3 miles and ½ south. 10:00 am start. Register by July 25: Call or email David Rourke: drsrourke@gmail.com, 204-534-7531, or Manitoba Association of Watershed Districts to register/lunch count https://forms.office.com/r/9McjW8enhB

Carman Research and Technology Field Day - July 29, 2025 - Ian N. Morrison Research Farm, Carman, MB

Dairy Farmers of Manitoba’s (DFM) golf tournament -July 30, 2025 - Quarry Oaks in Steinbach.

Registration: (Sponsorship & golfer registration) online: https://tinyurl.com/dfmgolf2025

Ducks Unlimited Grazing Club Tour: Grazing in Drought Conditions – July 30,2025 – Mike & Scott Duguid farm north of Gimli. From Gimli take Hwy 8 and Hwy 232 11 miles north to Arnes Road. West 1 ¼ miles, yard on south side. Please RSVP Michael Thiele mthiele567@gmail.com or text 204.365.6334

Manitoba Diversification Centres: Extending Ag-Innovations for Sustainable Agronomic Solutions -2025 Annual Field Days: PESAI (Arborg) July 30; PCDF (Roblin) August 5; MCDC (Carberry) August 6

Learning events featuring producers, researchers and agricultural professionals; all focused on ensuring Manitoba producers are equipped with the knowledge and tools to grow the best food and feed crops possible: mbdiversificationcentres.ca

Manitoba Organics tour: Green Beach Farm & Food – July 31, 2025 – Koscielny family farm, 3 miles south, Strathclair Mb. Register/Map at: Farm tour with Zack Koscielny, Green Beach Farm & Food | Manitoba Organics

Manitoba 4R Day at Innovation Farms – August 6, 2025 – Grosse Isle, MB

Join EMILI for a field tour on Manitoba 4R Day to see sustainable 4R practices in action, including Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, and Right Place. Celebrate the 9th anniversary of Manitoba 4R Day and the importance of nutrient stewardship for a sustainable agricultural industry. A catered lunch will follow the field tour.

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM CDT

Location: EMILI – Innovation Farms, Road 1E, Grosse Isle, MB

Buy your tickets: here

Saskatchewan Forage Council Pasture Tour - August 6th, 2025- southwest Saskatchewan

Watch the SFC website and eNews for specific locations and more information in the coming months

Sask Forage Council Pasture Tour - August 6th , 2025 -Val Marie, Saskatchewan. Register now: Saskatchewan Pasture Tour Registration — Saskatchewan Forage Council

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

Complete information on speakers, registration, and the schedule will be available soon at: https://mwaf.ca/

2025 MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference – ALL KEYNOTES ANNOUNCED, EARLY BIRD AND TRADE SHOW BOOTHS NOW OPEN!! NOVEMBER 12-13, 2025, VICTORIA INN AND CONVENTION CENTER, BRANDON, MB. MFGA.NET

Thank you to our 2025/26 Annual Supporters!

Corporate sponsors from our 2025/26 corporate campaign are included below and will continue to be profiled throughout the next year. MFGA thanks all of these awesome groups and we proudly profile your support of MFGA and our farmer network: if your company is interested, please sign up here

MFGA PLATINUM SUPPORTERS

MFGA GOLD SUPPORTERS

MFGA SILVER SUPPORTERS

MFGA BRONZE SUPPORTERS

NOT SUBSCRIBED? CLICK HERE