MFGA eBulletin - August 2024

Photo Credit: Nerbas Bros. Angus

From the Desk of the Executive Director

Often, the question comes up from potential, new and renewing corporate MFGA supporters. They are happy with the recognition matrix we have in place and happy with our promotion of their logos as beacons for their brand and profiled commitment to MFGA.


But, they also want to know who and what they are supporting with their funds and support.


Of course, we know that answer.


MFGA staunchly believes that many farmers in our network are doing outstanding work on their farms right now from operations, soil health, water management and healthy ecosystem perspectives.


 In fact, many in our MFGA network of soil-focused farms consider their farm operations profitable, adaptable and as they manage their farms, our farmers are cognizant of the impacts of climate change: now and in the future around buffering climatic effects from flood and drought as well as more intense, localized storms that produce torrential rains in small geographical areas, as well as threats to biodiversity and species at risk and the connections to all via wise land use management.

 

The on-farm decisions of many of these regenerative-practicing farms retain, incorporate and work alongside intact natural areas such as grasslands and wetlands. The inclusion of nature and benchmarks such as bird abundance and species at risk on our MFGA farms are seen by most in our crew as a well-earned badge of honour.

 

To date, most of these regenerative-focused practices are in play on the Prairies because they have been tried, tested and adapted on a farm-by-farm scale by the early adopter farmers on their own farms. And then the farmer network takes over, where farmers love to hear things from another farmer. That is, after all, the core premise of all on-farm grazing clubs, field tours and conference/workshop-based farmer panels. Like-minded groups to MFGA, such as Holistic Management Canada, watershed districts, seed companies and conservation orgs such as ALUS and DU Canada, have added their organizing skills, workshop/field tour leaders and funding pots to help make these exchanges happen.

 

Farmers speaking to and with, and learning from other farmers.

 

As leaders and early adopters, the network of MFGA farms is farming for their families and a better society and sharing their knowledge with peers every chance they get. If you want to see this vibe in action, please do attend our 2024 MFGA Regenerative Agriculture Conference November 12-13, 2024 in Brandon.

 

In the meantime, let’s raise a hearty cheer to these farms and farm families, and let’s double that hearty cheer up for all those awesome organizations that support these farmers through MFGA’s annual corporate campaign.



Our corporate/bundled supporters can be found at the bottom of this ebulletin and our conference-only supporters are listed at MFGA.net and will be profiled on our next conference blast (stay tuned for that one! Cool stuff ahead!!)


The amazing corporate support we receive each year helps MFGA do our very best work.



Muchos Grasses ALL,

Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director

MFGA CORPORATE CAMPAIGN 2024: DAIRY FARMERS OF MANITOBA & CREDIT UNION CENTRAL OF MANITOBA STEP UP AGAIN AS MAJOR SUPPORTERS

MFGA’s annual corporate campaign is officially in the books for another year and once again, MFGA’s corporate support truly rang all the right bells for MFGA.

 

“Our corporate support is very essential to MFGA, especially from an effective organization perspective,” said Mike Duguid, MFGA chair. “We are a farmer-led organization that works hard for and cares deeply about the producers in our network. We are very grateful and humbled by the ongoing and new support of the 2024 MFGA corporate supporters.”


 Dairy Farmers of Manitoba (DFM) and Credit Union Central of Manitoba (CUCM) top the list of 2024 generous corporate supporters. DFM has committed $22,500 to MFGA over the next two years plus dairy products at the annual conference. CUCM is in Year Two of a $77,500 sponsorship broken down over five years, graciously championed through the CUCM system by Tim Klassen, President and CEO, Sunrise Credit Union.


 MFGA would like to acknowledge and thank Wendy Bulloch of Building Up Consultancy for leading the outreach and drive for the 2024 MFGA campaign. A complete list of MFGA supporters can be found on the MFGA website, where the support is recognized as corporate supporter, conference supporter or bundled supporter of both. These organizations are vital to MFGA’s best work. If you are interested in supporting MFGA please visit MFGA.net.

You Finally Got the Hay Made, How Good is It?

“You gotta make hay while the sun shines”. How many times have you heard that said throughout the years? We’ve had some sunshine this spring/summer, but making first cutting “dry” hay has really been challenging for most farmers this year. Read on.

MFGA Soil Health Collaboration Resolution Passes At KAP Advisory Council

MFGA-led KAP Resolution: July 24, 2024: passed with 78 per cent approval:



 Resolved, that KAP collaborate, organize, and facilitate stakeholder groups in the KAP network such as MFGA via a soil health roundtable format to ensure the full scope of soil health activity and farmer-led practices and initiatives are included and considered in provincial advocacy efforts with the provincial government, including Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation, as well as properly positioned in national efforts.

Read Manitoba Cooperator article: https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/news-opinion/news/kap-to-pursue-soil-health-roundtable/

Miguel Bouchard

Miguel is a high school student. He lives on a mixed livestock farm in southeast Manitoba. Miguel's father Guy Bouchard is a MFGA Board Member.

Soil - Our Most Valuable Resource


by Miguel Bouchard


Do you eat?


If you do, you have to care about our soil, the most valuable resource we have.


The choices we make – both farmers and consumers - can encourage long-term thriving healthy soil, which means plentiful food and resilience to extreme weather, or can ensure continued erosion and eventual desertification on a planet that cannot sustain health or handle extreme weather. Read on..

KAP Calls for an Immediate Solution to Canadian Railway Labor Dispute

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) is calling all parties involved in the railway labor dispute to reach an immediate agreement and prevent a strike.

The recent announcement by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board means that railway workers at CN and CPKC can walk off the job—at the earliest—by August 22 if no agreement is reached.

“A strike involving thousands of railway workers at CN and CPKC would significantly harm the movement of agricultural product in Manitoba and across Canada,” said KAP president Jill Verwey.


Visit KAP.ca for more info and updates.

"Common Ground" Movie on YouTube

"Common Ground," a deep dive look into regenerative agriculture and the reasons, rationales and farmers leading the charge was screened last year at our 2023 MFGA Regen Ag Conference. The movie is now posted on YouTube. Watch here.

EMILI Advances Digital Ag via Governments Of Canada and Manitoba Support

Canada and Manitoba are providing $2.025 million in financial support to the Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative (EMILI) for Advancing Digital Agriculture Opportunities under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Read more.

 MFGA partners at Aquanty named as finalist for national water award

Aquanty, the Kitchener-based software company that has developed the cutting-edge technology of the MFGA Aquanty model and many other water modelling efforts around the world, has been selected as a finalist for the New Tech Award at the annual Water Canada Awards. This recognition highlights Aquanty's groundbreaking machine-learning-based streamflow forecasting system, HydroSphereAI, which supports climate change adaptation and flood risk mitigation across Canada. Read more.

Canadian Beef Industry Releases Status Update

The Canadian beef industry has just released a Status Update of its 2020-24 National Beef Strategy outlining many goals attained while overcoming challenges in the industry over the past two years. The Strategy was developed by the Canadian beef industry to collectively capitalize on opportunities. The Strategy has provided guidance despite multiple supply and demand hurdles such as drought, feed shortages and post-pandemic recovery. The Status Update covers the final two years of the national strategy covering June 2022 through June 2024. Read More.

MHC receives valuable funding from ECCC; FWEF Letter of Interest Intake now open; MWF Launches grassland video series on two Wildlife Management Areas


 Manitoba Habitat Conservancy (MHC) recently received $6.1 million from the federal government’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund (NSCSF). This is the largest single financial boost MHC has ever received, and it will allow MHC to embark on their largest project to date, the conservation of around 1,200 hectares of land. Read here.


The Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund (FWEF) is now accepting applications for grants for the Spring 2025 intake. Non-profit groups, local organizations, and research organizations interested in fish and wildlife can apply. The deadline for submission is midnight CST, August 26, 2024. For questions, contact FWEF@mbhabitat.ca.


 A Manitoba Wildlife Federation video series project to implement land management techniques onto two WMAs to reintroduce the effects of natural disturbances needed to maintain a healthy prairie habitat has been launched. To learn more and view the videos, visit MWF at mwf.mb.ca

Industry Events

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

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

Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute/National Index on Agri-Food Performance Conference – Oct 2-4, Ottawa, Ontario Details here: CAPI Conference

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.

National Advancing Women Conference - November 17-19, 2024 - Niagara Falls, ON

Details here: Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference

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

Details here: mfwc

Manitoba Association of Watersheds Conference - Spearheading Success: Innovation in Watershed Management – Dec 2-4, Brandon, MB

Details here: Manitoba Watersheds Conference

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

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

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