About Us
Producer Profitability and Healthy Lands
Environmental and Economic Benefits
The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) has supported and provided strategic direction to the forage and livestock industry in Manitoba for over 30 years. MFGA represents a strong, engaged producer network and our producer-led board and dedicated staff help provide important knowledge from the industry and government levels to the farm-gate.
Maximizing forage and land production
Producers have adapted to new and creative management techniques – ones that help their herd and crops through maximizing soil health, improving water infiltration, enhancing carbon sequestration and supporting abundance of wildlife. Intensive grazing involves rotating livestock through a large number of short term, small paddocks rather than using a traditional large pasture. This encourages even animal grazing, provides ample rest periods for plant rejuvenation and evenly distributes manure throughout, providing needed plant nutrients.
Protecting our environment
We know cattle need grasslands to roam, eat and pasture on. In fact, we know grasslands and wetlands comprise some of the best intact lands for cattle, biodiversity and ecological services such as air and water quality and flood and drought mitigation. Yet, despite all their benefits to producers, communities and society, Manitoba’s grasslands continue to be lost. Some conservation groups have declared the loss of grasslands in the northern Great Plains as one of the world’s most concerning continued developments. We need to find creative ways to retain grasslands for livestock producers and society alike. As well, seeding forages and sod seeding legumes to rejuvenate stands minimizes soil erosion, adds nitrogen to the soil and helps control weeds, disease and insects by interrupting their life cycle.
Promoting our industry
Manitoba is a forage and grassland powerhouse. MFGA stands proudly as industry champions. Our hay quality is known world wide and we continue to support our exporters at the annual World Dairy Expo in the U.S., showcasing hay, timothy hay and alfalfa pellets, and compacted hay and have recently partnered with Manitoba Organic Alliance in the development of the Manitoba Grazing Exchange, a platform for connecting livestock farmers and crop farmers with land they’d like grazed.
Regenerative Agriculture
MFGA declared our organization’s position on Regenerative Agriculture in 2018 after our MFGA Board declared a determined interest in learning more, networking and utilizing regenerative farm practices, especially those with a direct focus on soil health, water management and grazing systems. Since then, MFGA has held six annual conferences on Regenerative Agriculture, with the 7th annual planned for Nov 12-13, 2024 at the Victoria Inn, Brandon, MB.
View this video developed for the 2020 Regenerative Ag Conference.
Projects
MFGA participates and leads in many projects and collaborations (summarized here). One of our major projects currently is the MFGA Aquanty Project. MFGA is the licence holder and project proponent of the MFGA Aquaty Model, Phase 1, a highly-visual water movement model across the Assiniboine River Basin of Canada's Prairies that was funded by AAFC's AgriRisk Initiatives to look at the role of forages and grasslands in time of flood or drought. Phase 2, the MFGA Aquanty Forecasting Tool has been launch and is located here.
MFGA Board By-Laws
MFGA Position Statements
Always working for producers, MFGA believes it’s important to declare our corporate position on various key issues that have huge producer ramifications and interests. MFGA also believes that the opportunity to participate in government consultation is a privilege and we take our opportunities very seriously.
MFGA Position Statements:
MFGA Regenerative Ag Position July_2019 FINAL
MFGA MB Crown Lands Oct 31_2018 FINAL
MFGA Carbon Position March 6_2017 FINAL
MFGA Carbon Position UPDATE MAY 5_2021 FINAL
Government Relations / Consultations
To be posted soon - check back
A diverse and dedicated MFGA board
MFGA is a farmer-led group with a wide network. Our entire MFGA board is comprised of farmers and producers and alongside many in our network are commonly referred to as “early adopters” of soil-focused regenerative agriculture practices, methods, mentoring and management that boost water, biodiversity and carbon gains.