Growing up on a cow‑calf farm in the Interlake shaped Kristen’s love for the industry, and she still lends a hand on the family farm whenever she can. These days, she balances her professional life with the joyful chaos of raising two daughters—often found shuttling them between activities.

In today's episode, Kristen shares the ins and outs of the Manitoba Pasture Forage and Water Quality Survey. To start with, we talk about the history of the Pasture Forage and Water Survey Conducted by MB Ag, and where the idea for this survey began.

The survey addressed declining water quality in dry regions of the province and some of the subsequent impacts that low water levels have on cattle and cattle performance. Kristen shares some of these impacts with us, as well as what was noticed between the years studied.

Kristen shares information about the water quality testing first. This conversation includes what the testing encompassed, some of the biggest impacts to water quality, sulphate levels and their impact on copper availability. We also talk about some of the best management practices that helped maintain or improve water quality.

Turning to the forage side of the survey, we chat about the testing of forage and what it was tested for, as well as any surprising results from the forage survey.

We wrap up with talking about what this survey concludes for producers and why this information is important to share.

To find out more information, you can visit:

2024 & 2025 Survey Results YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USAPEzrGJXU

Manitoba Ag Beef and Forage Technical Bulletin 17th Edition (May 2025)

https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/pubs/beef-forage-technical-bulletin-may-2025.pdf

Manitoba Agriculture's general toll-free inquiry line: 1-844-769-6224

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

He joined the agriculture industry just over 5 years ago with EcoTea. Neal was previously a golf course superintendent and has a degree in turf grass science. Once in the agriculture industry he went back to school to get his Ag Diploma from Olds College.

Neal has worked in all facets of the company from production and delivery of product to sales. He supports EcoTea Canada-wide with a strong focus on the prairies. One of his passions in the job is helping coordinate and analyze research. EcoTea has done over a million dollars worth of research in the last 5 years and is proud to share all of it - good, bad and ugly - with not only growers, but the industry as a whole.

Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate with producers, researchers, education providers, extension specialists, conservation groups, and all stakeholders in field-testing management practices and growing understanding of improved production in Manitoba. Mary-Jane holds a PhD from Purdue University in soil microbial ecology in agricultural systems, is a Professional Agrologist, and Certified Crop Advisor. Her experience in ecology and field agronomy gives her a unique perspective on the challenges facing agriculture today.

In today’s episode, we chat with Neal about his role with EcoTea, as well as a bit of history of the company and the products EcoTea has to offer producers.

Neal also explains the origin and process they use in creating the EcoTea products, and explains the process they use to ensure a consistent product year after year.

We discuss some of the research done on the EcoTea products, which have occurred in a variety of crops and locations, as well as trials that EcoTea is planning for the 2026 season.

We also chat about the benefits of using EcoTea, the benefits of increasing soil nutrient cycling and nutrient use.

We also talk with Mary-Jane about the preliminary results they have seen from their use of the EcoTea products at MBFI, as well as the trials she is looking to implement in the 2026 growing season using EcoTea products.

You can find EcoTea:

Online at: www.ecotea.ca

On X: @ecoteaag

On Instagram: @ecotea_ag

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Today we are chatting with Callum about cover crops and the Prairie Cover Crop Survey. Callum shares about his role and regular tasks with Manitoba Agriculture and shares some information about what cover crops are and some of the benefits they provide.

The Prairie Cover Crop Survey was conducted in 2020 and is being offered a second time this year. This allows Callum and his team to see what changes have occurred to cover crop implementation in the Prairies and Ontario, including challenges and benefits producers are seeing in regards to cover crop use, and why producers have started or stopped using cover crops on their land, if this change has been made.

We chat about who is eligible, and why this research is important to share. The deadline to complete the survey is March 31st, 2026.

Callum hopes to have the results of the survey compiled and ready to share by the fall of 2026.

To participate in the survey, you can head over to: https://gfo.ca/cover-crop-survey/

To find the results of the 202 survey, you can visit: https://umanitoba.ca/agricultural-food-sciences/sites/agricultural-food-sciences/files/2021-10/2020-prairie-cover-crop-survey-report.pdf

To contact Callum, please email him at callum.morrison@gov.mb.ca or call him at 1-431-344-0133. He is also on twitter @callummorrisons and on LinkedIn.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

This episode looks at the 4-5 approaches MBFI uses to grow forages. As we dig in, we examine yield data, feed quality results, the impact of soil variability to MBFI’s crop trials and the impact fertility has had in the trial plots. Much of this information is looking at the differences between monocrops and polycrop trials implemented at MBFI.

Mary-Jane also talks about some of the biggest challenges in implementing cropping trials and have she and the MBFI team have worked to either overcome these or switch the focus of the project to work within their parameters and context.

We would like to take a moment to thank Imperial Seeds, FP Genetics, Northstar Seeds, and Secan who have been project sponsors for the 2025 project year.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

A Professional Home Economist by trade, Angela has supported the Agriculture industry for over 25 years. She’s deeply committed to the agriculture industry and finds real satisfaction in the work she does every day.

In today’s episode, we are chatting with Angela Pearen, who is the Ag Extension Coordinator with Assiniboine College about the Digital Agriculture Courses that are available at AC.

The first course we talk about is the Digital Agriculture Fundamentals 8 week course. This course is offered in a blended delivery style online. The program includes 6 courses; Digital Ag course, Ag Production Best Practices, Soil Management, Precision Agriculture, Digital Ag Tools & Technology course and the Career Skills & Job Readiness course. We talk about each of these topics and what is included in each course.

We discuss the types of careers this program sets students up for, when it is offered and how interested individuals can apply.

The second course we touch on briefly is the Digital Agriculture Technology 2 year program. This program is not listed as having a future intake date planned, but we discuss what the program looks like and the goals of the program. It may be offered in the future, and if you are interested in the program, you are encouraged to contact the college via the email below to show your interest.

To find out more about the Digital Ag Courses, visit www.assiniboine.net or email agextension@assiniboine.net

You can also find Assiniboine College on:

Facebook: @Assiniboine College

Instagram: @agassiniboine

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In today’s episode, Dr. Church shares information not just on using drones to monitor cattle, but also his preliminary work in using virtual collars with bison, his work towards bison welfare, and where he thinks precision agriculture will be going in the future.

One of the ways he is using drone technology to monitor cattle is through reading RFID tags. We chat about some of the benefits of using drones for producers who farm on large acres of public lands, as well as those who raise cattle in heavily forested or difficult to access areas. Dr. Church has also used drone technology for work in feedlots to count cattle and predicts that in the future, drones may be used like pen riders to check cattle health and possibly treat cattle who are ill.

Dr. Church also shares his research using thermal imagery of cattle, as well as using drones to measure the respiration rates of cattle of different colors. We discuss his thoughts on the impact of global warming on the health of black or darker colored cattle versus those with a lighter coat coloring.

We also chat about some of the challenges and limitations of using drones, something that is becoming less of a problem as drone technology advances.

Further to this, Dr. Church has also been involved with the use of drones to assess vegetation and pastures and spraying using drones, which we touch on briefly in the episode.

To contact Dr. Church for more information, you can email him at jchurch@tru.ca

Watch his Inaugural Professorial Lecture Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n0aeTpp9Ss

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Charlotte returned to the family farm in 2005 where she farmed full time for 8 years with her parents, farming 2500 acres, including forages, backgrounders, and cow/calf. Her parents retired from grain farming in 2014 and Charlotte continued to farm 3 quarters of pastureland and maintained a herd of 65 cow/calf pairs.

Her family was awarded with the Heritage Farm award in 2022, recognizing that the farm has remained in the same family for 125 years – this is one of Charlotte’s greatest accomplishments.

With her parent’s retirement in 2014, Charlotte sought off farm employment to help supplement her cattle addiction. She was fortunate enough to land a position as the farm manager for the inaugural season at MBFI. In this position she happened to hear of an opening with Ducks Unlimited Canada where they were looking for someone to establish forage on all newly purchased lands and to work with farmers to establish forages on their own lands.

Charlotte believes that sometimes the best things in life happen when you don’t expect them, and she jumped at the opportunity to join the DUC team.

Today, Charlotte oversees the Ducks Unlimited Canada forage and marginal areas programs, manages all forage restoration field activities on purchased lands, and assists with grazing management on DUC’s existing properties.

Cattle farmers are conservationists at their core, and Charlotte feels so fortunate that she can work for Ducks Unlimited Canada during the day and moonlight as a cattle farmer. Charlotte and her cows recently moved to Rapid City, where she lives and works on her partner’s cattle operation, where they run a hay and straw business, backgrounder operation, grassed yearlings, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 650 head cow/calf operation.

In this episode, we are discussing using drones to seed marginal areas, as the first episode in our mini series on Technology in Agriculture. This program took place in Manitoba and Saskatchewan in 2024 and 2025 through the Marginal Areas Program, Agriculture Demonstration of Practices and Technologies Program and the Fall Dormant Seeding Program. There is no cost to producers to seed using drones through these programs.

Charlotte describes what marginal areas are and some of the benefits to seeding these areas from the weed control and habitat enhancement lens. Further to that, we chat about the benefits and opportunities that arise through seeding these areas using drone technology.

We also discuss challenges that arise when using drones to seed, but in general, Charlotte sees the pros out weighing the challenges of seeding these areas with drones.

We wrap up with a discussion on programs that are available to producers for the 2026 season. To find out more, head over to the website below!

Website: www.ag.ducs.ca

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Presently, they run about 1000 cows. They raise their own replacement heifers and have started selling some bred replacement heifers this year. Along with the cattle, they farm approximately 4000 acres of crop land and do some custom cropping.

The farm team consists of Suzanne, Justin, two of their sons and one hired full time ranch employee, along with seasonal employees. Suzanne’s dad is retired, but helps out on the farm in whatever capacity he wants to, and is involved in the aspects of the business he enjoys.

Suzanne is very proud that some of her children are interested in coming back to the family farm. Some of them like to work cattle and one of her boys is interested in the machinery side of the business.

Since Suzanne was young, she knew she wanted to be on the farm and would declare to her parents that she was going to run the ranch someday. She can’t see herself being anywhere else. Suzanne’s goal is to continue to make Rutledge Ranching Monitor sustainable for generations to come, not only financially, but environmentally as well, leaving the plants and the soil better than she found them.

Today we are chatting with Suzanne about her experience being raised on and transitioning to the position of owner and manager of a generational ranch.

Suzanne shares some of her early memories growing up on the ranch and what the process looked like during the transition to her management and ownership of the ranch. Along with learning a lot from her dad, Suzanne also took the Ranching for Profit program through Ranch Management Consultants (RMC) and she and her parents participated in RMC’s Executive Link (EL) program through the transition of the business. Several years later, Suzanne and Justin returned to the EL program, to continue being challenged in the business.

Suzanne also discusses their enterprise mix on the farm, giving us insight into some of the challenges in both cropping and cattle management in Special Areas 4. She also talks about her roles in the business, challenges and opportunities in owning and operating a farm at their size and scale and her goals for the future of Rutledge Ranching Monitor.

To contact Suzanne, you can email her at rutledgeranch@gmail.com

Stay tuned for Rutledge Ranching Monitor’s Facebook page and Website which are coming soon!

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

They currently operate on 2800 acres, 2640 of which is leased, and 2200 of which is crop land. They have approximately 300 head of commercial cattle including a replacement heifer enterprise and a commercial cow/calf enterprise.

Brett and Chantel were married in 2020 and now have two children, Corbin and Brylee. In 2022 Brett and Chantel joined the Ranch Management Consultants Executive Link (EL) program.

McRae Land & Livestock is committed to using regenerative agriculture practices to increase soil health and resiliency. They are very interested in innovation in agriculture, especially in finding ways to make regenerative ag practices practical on a field scale. They believe an adaptive systems approach to land and livestock management is not only possible, but will be needed to bring regenerative agriculture to a large scale. They believe that land conservation and agriculture can, and must work together to optimize farm productivity, profitability, and ecosystem services.

In today’s episode, we are chatting with Brett McRae about his use of economics and finance ratios, cash flow projections and metrics and the impact this has had on our business.

We start the episode with a discussion on Brett’s background in agriculture and what McRae Land and Livestock looked like when Brett started the business in 2012. Brett tells us how the business has changed and evolved in the past 13 years.

We talk about the programs Brett has been involved in that have positively impacted not only the business, but also Brett’s mindset about business management and his confidence in his numbers and business decisions. These included Cattleman’s Young Leaders Program (CYL) and his mentorship with Steve Kenyon, the Ranching for Profit Program (RFP) and Executive Link (EL).

Brett discusses some of the field trials he is planning for the upcoming year, as well as some of the trials he has been doing with the cattle herd.

We then move into the focus on economics and finance and some of the ratios and metrics Brett uses to measure business performance, project cash flow and know when to expand and when to hone in on making the business better before it gets bigger.

If you want to contact Brett to have him speak at an event near you or to ask him questions about McRae Land and Livestock, you can contact him on:

Twitter: @mcrae_brett

Facebook: McRae Land and Livestock

Email: brett.mcrae@icloud.com

Cell Phone: 204-729-1018

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In today’s episode, Dr. Kathy Larson shares information about her position as a production economist, as well as her ties to the agriculture industry.

As one of few production economists, she is invited to participate in many projects, analyzing the economic data and the viability of the project topics for producers.  

She shares her approach to looking at economics and what data she uses to look at the costs and returns of projects.

We talk about the net present value approach and how this is used, measuring the gain/loss from beneficial management practices that don’t necessarily have an assigned monetary value.  We talk about what Kathy has seen as trends or observations when measuring the outcomes of beneficial management practices in beef production and some of the metrics she uses to measure success when thinking about sustainability in ag.

We wrap up our conversation discussing some metrics producers might be missing in their own economics and why production economics is important to share and think about for producers.

Contact Kathy on X: @kathy_a_Larson or via email at: kathy.larson@usask.ca

Links to some of the topics mentioned during the show:

MBFI - the SmartFarm page https://www.mbfi.ca/smart-farm

BCRC Calculators - https://www.beefresearch.ca/tools/interactive-calculators/

BCRC Bull Valuation calculator that uses NPV - https://www.beefresearch.ca/tools/bull-valuation-calculator/

MB Calculators - https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/farm-management/cost-production/index.html

BCRC Financial Ratios - https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/financial-record-keeping-level-3/

Dr. Kathy Larson's Usask page - https://agbio.usask.ca/faculty-and-staff/people-pages/kathy-larson.php

Beef & Forage Roundup Podcast Episodes mentioned in the episode:

Episode # 7: Planned Grazing with Pam Iwanchysko

Episode #16: The Cost of Overwintering Cattle & Using the Feed Calculator with Ben Hamm 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Ken completed his Chartered Professional Accountant degree in 1999 from the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Manitoba. Ken has had his own public accounting practice since 2000.  Today, he and Sherri own Sharpe and Company in Brandon, Manitoba, which is a small family business that employs 5 staff, including 2 CPAs and a payroll specialist.  Ken specializes in farm, small business and personal tax.

When Ken is not busy in the office or on the farm, he enjoys spending time on boards and committees. Ken is the current Treasurer of Baseball Canada (National Association), the Former VP of Finance for the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation and the Past President of Manitoba Baseball Association (Provincial Association).  He is also a Former local School Board Trustee and Former Member of Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants of Manitoba Bylaws Committee.

In today’s episode, Ken shares valuable information when it comes to taxes, planning for the future, bookkeeping and more.

To start off with, we discuss how producers can be preparing to manage profit when selling calf crops in a high cattle market.  We also look at the situation of herd dispersal and how to manage and plan for the profit that comes with that sale.

Ken addresses some common questions he is asked by farmers as an accountant, as well as items that are commonly missed that they need for bookkeeping and tax planning and items that might be missed or forgotten about when planning cash flow.

We talk about changes to the tax laws for 2025/2026, Ken’s stance on tax payment vs. tax avoidance, and how tax planning differs between businesses looking to expand vs. those downsizing vs. those staying at their current scale

We talk about the services Sharpe and Co. offers and what makes bookkeeping easier for bookkeepers regardless of who is doing this work for the operation.

To contact Ken or Sharpe and Company, you can find their website at: https://www.sharpeandcompany.ca/

Call the office at: 204-571-1226 or toll free at: 1-877-343-6752

Or find them on Facebook at: Sharpe & Company

Links:

MB chartered accountant listing: https://cpamb.ca/main/main/find-a-cpa/find-a-cpa.aspx 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In today’s episode, Laura shares her experience transitioning from working full time as a hunting and fishing outfitter, alongside her husband Ryan, to now owning and operating their farm full time.  We discuss some of the challenges and opportunities they have faced growing their farm, which has grown to include both cattle and sheep herds.

We also chat about Laura’s journey with Cattleman’s Young Leaders and some of the valuable learning and opportunities she gained as a finalist of the program. 

Later in the episode, Laura gives some amazing advice and encouragement to women in agriculture who are balancing raising a family and building their business.  

You can find Laura and Sawmill Creek Livestock on Facebook and Instagram.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Laura also co-founded and serves as the Chair of Manitoba Women in Agriculture and Food (MWAF), a non-profit organization. As Chair, she provides leadership to the Board and oversees MWAF’s growth and financial sustainability. She is also responsible for industry relationships and representing MWAF at external events.

Inspired by the people who make up this industry, she devotes her experience and passion to advocating for women, particularly for diverse women, and the pursuit of equality for the betterment of the sector. With a servant-leader management style, her and MWAF’s values are collaboration and service.

In today’s episode, Laura discusses Manitoba Women in Agriculture and Food’s mission, goals and approaches to support women’s advancement in the agricultural industry.  We discuss a re-cap of the 2025 MWAF Summit and plans for future Summits.

We also chat about resources, subsidies, training sessions and upcoming events that MWAF is offering or partnering with other organizations to offer to women in agriculture.  Stay tuned for more information on the women’s event that MBFI & MWAF are collaborating on during Ag Days 2026!  

To learn more about MWAF or to contact Laura or the team at Manitoba Women in Ag and Food, please visit them at:

Website: www.mwaf.ca

Social media including: Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube: @MWAF or search “Manitoba Women in Ag and Food”

You can also contact Laura directly on LinkedIn @LauraLazo

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In 2011, Doris started raising purebred Simmentals alongside her dad’s commercial cow/calf herd, and today she stays hands-on in both their beef and grain operation, and working on another family-run farm. Doris’ agricultural education has mostly come from the “school of hard knocks,” where every season brings new challenges, lessons, and wins.

Beyond the farm gate, Doris is proud to serve as Chair of the Manitoba Farm Women’s Conference. Since joining the board in 2020, she has had the opportunity to connect with and celebrate women in agriculture from all walks of life. This organization has become a true community, one that inspires her daily through shared stories, learning, and laughter. Doris loves connecting with women in agriculture and building a conference and community that strives to educate, encourage, and empower.

Professionally, Doris works as an adjuster with MASC, helping producers assess crop losses and navigate programs while staying grounded in real farm life.

At heart, Doris is passionate about agriculture, community, and lifelong learning. Whether on the farm, at a conference, or around the kitchen table, Doris is always looking for ways to connect and grow, and help others do the same. Through her work, leadership, and community involvement, she’s committed to supporting the industry that shaped her while continuing to learn and grow alongside it.

In today’s episode, Doris shares information about the upcoming Manitoba Farm Women’s Conference, which is taking place in Brandon, MB November 17-19th, 2025.  This annual event brings women from across all areas of agriculture together in a welcoming, supportive and intergenerational space, where women both new to agriculture and more experienced, can connect and come together.

Doris gives us an overview of the speaker and event line up for this year’s conference.  It is going to be a jam packed few days with a powerful and inspiring speaker lineup, as well as a banquet and tours.

If you are interested in participating in planning and hosting the next conference, MFWC is always looking for board members to add to their “village” to host the event.  Please contact MWFC if you are interested in joining them! 

The 2026 conference is going to be held in Winnipeg, MB the third week of November 2026.  Stay tuned for more information on the Manitoba Farm Women’s Conference website and social media, or contact MWFC at:

Website: www.mfwc.ca

Email: info@mfwc.ca

Facebook: @ManitobaFarmWomen’sConference 

Instagram: @manitobafarmwomensconference

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

I farm alongside my husband Brett and our kids, near Brandon, MB.  Our farm, McRae Land and Livestock currently farms about 2500 acres, mostly on rented land and has about 250 head of cattle, most of which are part of a replacement heifer enterprise.  We have hopes to expand both the grain and cattle enterprises in the near future.  Brett and I are both passionate about regenerative agriculture and believe in a whole system approach to ecosystem health.  I am also passionate about farmer mental health, sharing producer profile stories and sharing the good news stories of agriculture.  

When I am not working on the farm or in the office, I love spending as much time as possible with my children and family and horseback riding whenever I get the chance.

In today’s episode, MBFI GM Mary-Jane Orr interviews me, Chantel McRae.  We chat about my background in ag, my current roles on the farm and how my work at MBFI is intertwined with my current farm roles.  We also talk about the history of Beef and Forage Roundup, how it started, where we are at today, a reflection on some of our favorite episodes and topics, and a quick discussion on what is on the horizon for the show.

To contact me, please email: chantel.mcrae@mbfi.ca or find me on:

Facebook: @McraeLandandLivestock or @ChantelMcRae

Instagram: @mcraelandandlivestock @chantelmcrae

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Clayton Robins operates a mixed family farm in Rivers, Manitoba with a primary focus on beef production.  At the present time the operation includes; cow/calf, back-grounding, and custom grazing. The operation included sheep production for about 30 years, until 2009.

Clayton graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and then spent over 20 years with Agriculture and Agri Food Canada Research Branch in Brandon studying beef and forage production: including extending the grazing season, forage-based finishing, greenhouse gas mitigation, modeling, cultivar development, and energetic efficiencies. Through this has co-authored a number of scientific papers. Clayton also served as the Executive Director of Manitoba 4-H Council for 7 years. Clayton is currently employed with Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives, working to support research and extension projects.

Clayton spent several years working on Ag industry development as a member of numerous Boards and committees. Through coaching sport, volunteer time and Board positions with Ag in the Classroom, Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba and other such youth education programs, youth development has been and continues to be an important part of his private life. 

In 2013, Clayton was awarded one of the Nuffield Canada Scholarships, touring the world to study the potential for energy-dense forages in the Canadian beef production model and has since delivered presentations on the concept in 8 countries.

Born in Windsor Ontario, Judah Logan’s early childhood was spent on the rural outskirts of Kingston township: where—through neighbors—Judah had regular exposure to dairy and mixed farming—including beekeeping, and maple syrup production.  After an unexpected move to Kingston from middle school through high school, he reluctantly lost touch with the day-to-day routines of farming life.  As a young adult, Judah studied undergraduate Arts at the University of Western Ontario, Computer Science at U of T, and recently completed the intensive 2 year Communications Engineering Technology diploma program at Assiniboine College in Brandon.  Judah says it is a pleasure to be working at MBFI where he can revisit his childhood dream with a superlatively qualified staff, 2 great farm locations, and 3 friendly felines to keep him company.

Lauren McKee grew up on a family farm southeast of Minnedosa on a mixed beef and grain operation.  Her family also raises Suffolk Punch draft horses. Growing up, she was heavily involved with all aspects of the farm and she continues to help when possible with the livestock or in the field. Lauren began working at MBFI as a summer student for 3 consecutive summers starting in 2020, where she practiced her skills and learned new things about the world of beef and forage research. Lauren attended the University of Saskatchewan and completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science. This is where Lauren met her professor, Dr. Bart Lardner, and was awarded the opportunity to work for him in the summer and fall of 2024. Lauren was able to grow her passion for beef research and landed back at MBFI in a full time position as the Beef Research Technician. Lauren is excited for her future in agriculture and the continuing opportunities to grow her knowledge and skills in the industry! 

Josie Pedersen grew up on her family’s commercial cow-calf operation near Neepawa, Manitoba, where they raised primarily Simmental-Angus cattle. She spent much of her youth involved in the Neepawa 4-H Beef Club and exploring different agricultural experiences—whether working at the local veterinary clinic or traveling on agriculture-focused trips with the Rotary Club and Encounters with Canada in Ottawa.

After high school, Josie pursued a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan, specializing in Animal Science with a focus on cattle production and rangeland management. During her summers, she gained hands-on experience at Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives (MBFI), first as a Summer Research Assistant and later as an Extension Student.

In January 2024, Josie returned to MBFI full-time as the Extension Coordinator. She now lives near Wawanesa, Manitoba, on her partner’s mixed cattle and grain operation, raising commercial and purebred black angus cattle. 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

Kristy has lived in Brandon her whole life, but even though she lived in the city she has some aunts and uncles living on farms. One is a beef cattle farm, and the other is a beef cattle and hobby farm. Growing up, it was clear she loved animals and many other aspects of the farm. She started out volunteering for her uncle’s petting zoo, then has been volunteering at veterinary clinics and on local beef cattle farms. When she’s not on the farm or at the clinic, she spends her spare time coaching basketball or badminton at her old middle school. This fall, she will be in her third year of her Bachelor of Science degree at Brandon University, majoring in Biology. In the future she plans to apply to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine with plans of becoming a veterinarian.

​​Hailey Everard grew up in Winnipeg, having dogs and cats, and always knew she wanted to work with animals. She has also always had a passion for the environment. Hailey became really interested in agriculture in her first year at the University of Manitoba, where she then decided to pursue an agroecology degree with a minor in animal science. Since deciding this, Hailey has really enjoyed being able to work on multiple cattle farms, gain experience with other livestock, and learn a lot about all the aspects that make up ag. Hailey will be graduating next year and plans to continue working in the livestock sector of agriculture and hope to raise cattle of her own someday. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, going on long drives, spending time with her friends, and finding books to add to her personal library!

Hailey Browning also grew up in Winnipeg and is currently studying at the University of Manitoba. Growing up in the city and working in the agriculture industry for the past four years has been a big step in her career and she wouldn’t wish to be a part of any other industry! Hailey is working towards her Bachelor Degree in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science. Hailey has been a part of many clubs within the university, such as Stockman’s club, 4-H Future Leaders, and FASO (Faculty of Agriculture Student Organization) where she helps organize farm tours, presentations, fundraisers and socials for the students in the faculty of Agriculture. Hailey hopes to apply to Vet school in the following year and is very passionate about large animal research. She appreciates a live band, especially if they have a fiddle! Hailey also enjoys fishing and camping in her free time.

Rhiannon grew up in Brandon, Manitoba and is entering her third year of Biomedical Sciences at Brandon University. This is her first summer being an employee at MBFI with hopes of expanding her knowledge on beef cattle to pursue Veterinary Medicine in the future.

If you are interested in being a summer student at MBFI for future years, or know a student who might be interested, please watch for the annual advertisement for available positions.  As an MBFI Summer Student, you are sure to gain hands-on experience in both the cattle and crop industries.  

The ability to hire these summer students has been made possible through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

Lardner’s work on fall and winter grazing systems and water quality has been widely adopted by producers in Canada and the United States, and his current work evaluating novel forage mixtures and the impact on animal performance, enteric emissions and economics is contributing to changes that will significantly improve beef cattle production in western Canada.

Lardner’s research program works closely with industry and producers to ensure applicability of results back to industry. These activities have resulted in the publication of over 250 articles and fact sheets in popular farm press, numerous YouTube videos and over 75 abstracts and 110 peer-reviewed scientific journal manuscripts. As a Professor, Dr. Lardner has taught numerous forage, range and animal sciences courses, advised over 100 undergraduate students, and guided the research of 55 MSc, PhD and PDF’s during his career.

Lardner’s professional accomplishments have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Golden Harvest Award (2008), Canadian Animal Industries Award in Extension and Public Service sponsored by Canadian Society of Animal Science (2013), American Society of Animal Science’s Western Section Extension Award (2018), Dean’s Award for Excellence in Outreach and Engagement (2018), Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (2022), and Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for Contribution to Agriculture (2022).

In today’s episode with Dr. Lardner we are talking about preference grazing and persistence of new forages.  Dr. Lardner shares a broad overview of this project, which includes a study in cattle’s preference grazing different types of forages, as well as the persistence of these forages to re-grow after intense rotational grazing.

We talk about the potential impact of this research and how it can assist producers economically, as well as improving the environmental sustainability of their farm.

Animal temperament and its impact on grazing behaviour was also studied through this research.

To find out more about this project, or others that Dr. Lardner is working on, please visit:

Western Beef Development Centre Website: http://westernbeef.org/index.htm

Western Beef Development Centre YouTube: @wstrnbeef

Dr. Lardner on X: @DrBart_Beef

Contact Dr. Lardner via phone: 1-306-966-2147

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Dan joined us back in 2023 for episode #21 with Lynda Nicol where we first discussed the Manitoba Association of Watersheds or MAW and the programs and background on MAW.  Today we are chatting about the changes and evolution that has been happening over the past 2.5 years.

Dan shares information about MAW’s provincial projects and what each of these projects entails. One of the big changes from 2023, is the end of the Living Labs-Eastern Prairies project.  Dan shares some findings from this project that have come out thus far, as well as about the conclusion of this project.  Dan also discusses the new project, “Living Lab Manitoba,” which is under a new project called Agricultural Climate Solutions and has some more narrowly focused projects, while still carrying forward some of the projects that we previously included in “Living Lab- Eastern Prairies.”  

“Living Lab - Manitoba is a research-based program that collaborates with producers to develop grassroots solutions for reducing agricultural impacts on climate and environment.” (Manitoba Association of Watersheds, retrieved July 2025)  Dan shares some of the benefits from doing this research right on Manitoba farming operations.  We also chat about how carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon are included as areas of study in this project.

To find out more about Living Lab - Manitoba, please visit the links below.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Manitoba Association of Watersheds: Living Lab - Manitoba information page:

https://manitobawatersheds.org/llmb

Find MAW on:

X & Facebook: @Manitoba Association of Watersheds

Instagram: @mb_watersheds

YouTube: @MB Watersheds

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

To kick off this episode, we discuss what a livestock focused smart farm is and what kinds of technologies are used in MBFI’s operations. One of these technologies, the focus of today’s episode, is a product called the Optiweigh System, which is one option available to use to weigh cattle on pasture.

The Optiweigh System, is the brainchild of Bill and Jacqui Mitchell.  From the website (link below), “The Optiweigh System is farmer developed technology that is making precision livestock management a reality.” The system was developed and is made in Australia.

Mary-Jane shares her experience using the Optiweigh system, including what it looks like, what set up entails, how it works and what data can be collected using this technology.  We also chat about using an “attractant” to encourage cattle to step onto the platform, allowing their front end weight to be taken.  From this front end weight, a proven formula is used to calculate the full body weight of the animal.  This information is sent to the Optiweight system, with the reading of their RDIF tag, allowing producers or researchers to gain valuable information about the weight of specific animals, daily gain or average weight of the group.  This information can then be used in decision making.

As usual, we chat about how this technology might benefit producers to be more sustainable and profitable, as well as environmental benefits this technology can offer.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Optiweigh Website: https://www.optiweigh.com.au/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Dahlen joined the North Dakota State University faculty in 2010 as a Beef Cattle Extension Specialist where he engaged in integrated Extension and research efforts taking place on over 350 commercial beef operations. The unique mix of his research background and practical experience has led to several novel research techniques, data collection efforts, and training methodologies.  

His current research program focuses on implications of maternal nutritional management on offspring characteristics.  In 2018 Dahlen transitioned to a position that allowed him to dedicate more time to research, as well as teach undergraduate/graduate classes in reproductive physiology.

A new facet of his research program has been dedicated to addressing whether paternal (i.e. sire) nutrition and management was not only impacting semen characteristics and molecular composition, but also implicit in offspring outcomes. Other recent efforts involve evaluating impacts of nutritional perturbations during gestation on offspring and transgenerational endpoints. 

Dahlen is currently a reproductive physiologist with an 80% research and 20% teaching appointment; teaching graduate and undergraduate Physiology of Reproduction classes. The aim of his program is to enhance reproductive efficiency in livestock species with a focus on implications of maternal nutritional management on offspring characteristics through multiple generations, and addressing whether paternal (i.e. sire) nutrition and management is implicit in offspring outcomes. Many of his research models have included precision feeding and management techniques and have incorporated equipment to remotely monitor cattle activity and feeding behavior.

In today’s episode, Carl shares information on some of the projects he has been working on that look at nutrition and mineral supplementation in beef cattle reproduction.  

He shares the impact that supplementation of vitamins and minerals has on bull fertility and dam pregnancy.  As well as why nutrition in early pregnancy is especially important.

We focus on a project published in 2024 on maternal weight gain during early pregnancy in beef heifers and the subsequent impacts on daughters and granddaughters of these heifers.  Included in this project is fetal testing, placental weight testing and the research of how heifer weight gain impacts subsequent generations. For more information on this project, please visit the link below.

We chat about how this information can impact the productivity and sustainability of beef operations and the beef industry as a whole, and other key management strategies to consider during early pregnancy. 

Links mentioned in this episode:

“The influence of gestational body weight gain rate on the development of two generations of beef cattle”  2024 North Dakota Livestock Research Report

https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/sites/default/files/2024-09/The%20Influence%20as2241-12.pdf

NDSU Animal Sciences Program: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/animal-sciences

Facebook: @NDSUAnimalSciences

Instagram: @ndsu_animal_sciences 

X: @ndsu_ansc

To contact Carl, please email him at: carl.dahlen@ndsu.edu 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Dr. Gibbs shares his agricultural background, growing up as the son of a bee keeper, as well as some information about his research background and how this early interest and exposure to bees has led him on his career path.

Today we are taking a close look at the benefits that wild bees and pollinators bring to agricultural landscapes.  There are estimates that you can get an increase of 5-10% yield in agricultural crops from insect pollination and about 35% of crops benefit from pollination, along with many other benefits that wild bees and pollinators bring to agricultural production.  There are many types of agricultural production that require these pollination services.

We talk about the history of the number and diversification of the population size and diversity of wild pollinators in Manitoba.

Jason discusses the difference between wild bees and honey bees, what bees require for habitat and what practices in agriculture may be threatening these important insects, including the use of pesticides. 

Conversely, we discuss management practices that benefit wild pollinators and other beneficial insects, especially the use of floral or pollinator strips.  Jason also explains some of the benefits to crop health as a result of floral strips.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Gibbs’ Faculty Page U of Manitoba: https://umanitoba.ca/agricultural-food-sciences/entomology/jason-gibbs 

Gibbs Wild Bee Lab Website: https://sites.google.com/site/dialictus/home?authuser=0

Find Jason on Instagram @gibbsbeelab or https://www.instagram.com/gibbsbeelab/

Dr. Gibb’s Articles: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5SWs9jQAAAAJ&hl=en

Current projects: 

https://umanitoba.ca/agricultural-food-sciences/leap

https://genomeprairie.ca/project/gg4ghg_grassland_genomics/

Museum of Entomology:

https://umanitoba.ca/agricultural-food-sciences/wallis-roughley-museum-entomology

https://ecdysis.org/collections/misc/collprofiles.php?collid=129

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In today’s episode, Dr. Biligetu shares information about his work developing native and tame forage varieties and mixtures.  We discuss the objectives of this project and what forages were selected for study.  He also shares some of the science behind breeding forages and how this study is being carried out.

Sainfoin is one of the forage species being studied in the project.  Dr. Biliegtu shares some information about what sainfoin is and how it is being studied.

We also chat about the economic benefits that higher yielding, nutritious tame and native forage varieties could have for cow-calf producers in Western Canada.

Links mentioned in this episode:

University of Saskatchewan Project Page: Developing Native and Tame Forage Varieties and Mixtures https://lfce.usask.ca/documents/biligetu_forage_varieties_in_progress.pdf

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In this episode, we are talking about MBFI’s Mineral Case Study.  With the drought in 2022, MBFI’s cattle herd experienced higher than usual open-rates, which was widespread throughout the area.  After testing the animals in their herd, MBFI found that many were deficient in micronutrients, with copper being a common deficiency. 

Mary-Jane shares some of the symptoms and clinical signs they noticed in their cattle during this time, and the immediate and lingering impacts this has had.  There are many factors that probably contributed to this, Mary-Jane and the team have been working to look deeper into each to determine where they can make changes in their program.  

We discuss what the pregnancy rates looked like in 2022, 2023 and in their 2024 testing, and which ages and groups of cattle had the highest fall out of the program.

We also discuss the use of Multi-Min and why MBFI chose to use this product in their herd, and the economics of adding this direct cost to their program.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Manitoba Ag Pasture Tour Information: https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/beef/pubs/pasture-tour.pdf

Shoal Lake MB Grazing School:

https://holisticmanagement.ca/courses/july-5-6-shoal-lake-mb-grazing-school/

MB Beef Producers - Producer Workshop on Unconventional Succession Planning:

https://mbbeef.ca/events/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

She is a key liaison with the CRSB’s multi-stakeholder membership and supports marketing initiatives of those using the CRSB Certified program.

Andrea Chairs the Communications Council of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) and sits on Communications working groups across the Canadian agri-food sector, such National Centre for on Agri-Food Benchmarking and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops.

Andrea grew up in Winnipeg, MB., receiving her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Masters of Science in Food Science from the University of Manitoba. Prior to the CRSB, she worked in various roles with the BC Cattlemen’s Association, BC Association of Abattoirs, Canada Safeway and others.

Ryan Beierbach is the Chair of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef.  

He grew up on a ranch in Southwestern SK, an area dominated by native grasslands. Ryan ranches with his wife Tania and family in Whitewood, in the pothole region of southeastern Saskatchewan, where the landscape includes small wetlands with pastures mainly made up of tame grass. Beierbachs operate a mainly cow/calf operation with some backgrounding and grass cattle. Ryan has served on many cattle industry boards and committees including the Saskatchewan Cattle Association (Board Chair; Chairs of Environment, Research and Animal Health Committees), and Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (board member). 

Ryan is a former Chair of the Beef Cattle Research Council and currently serves as a Saskatchewan representative. He has been a director for the Canadian Cattle Association Board since 2020 and was elected as Vice President of the CCA Board in March 2025. Ryan began in the role of Chair of the CRSB in 2022 and represents the Canadian Cattle Association on the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef Board of Directors.

In today’s episode, Andrea and Ryan are sharing all about the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, and what is involved in CRSB Certification.

Included in this conversation are some ways producers can ensure they are getting the most out of their CRSB certification through initiatives such as those through Cargill and FCC, as well as some of the other benefits from membership, such as advocacy for the benefits the industry provides and the positive impact that raising beef cattle has on the environment.

We chat in depth about the Guiding Principles of the CRSB and much, much more!

To contact Ryan you can call or text 1-306-735-1341.

You can email Andrea or Ryan at info@crsb.ca 

Links mentioned in this episode:

CRSB organization website: https://crbs.ca – note the Benchmarking menu and landing page has the National Beef Sustainability Assessment videos, reports and the “NBSA” page has infographics etc.

FCC Sustainability Incentive: https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/financing/agriculture/sustainability-incentive-program

CRSB Certified program website: https://crsbcertified.ca

The factsheet and FAQs on the Qualifying Cattle Requirements: https://www.crsbcertified.ca/producers/become-certified/

Cargill Sustainability Partnership:

https://www.cargill.com/sustainability/beef/beef-partnership-collaboration

2024 National Beef Strategy Report:

https://beefstrategy.com/pdf/2024/2024_08_cca-nbs-report.pdf

You can also find the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef at:

X: @CRSB_beef

Facebook: facebook.com/CRSBbeef

IG: @CRSB_beef

Youtube: @CRSB_beef or Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

LinkedIn: search for Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

She was raised in Virden and moved to the farm when they married. For 5 years they lived in a trailer and had one daughter there. They started into cattle with 6 mixed breed cows in 1989.

In 1991 they moved to the home farm where the Odell's began in 1892. They are the 4th generation of Odell's on that land. Donna's family also had connections to Hargrave and she too is the 4th generation to live in that community.

They raised 3 daughters. One of which farms with her husband across the highway from them. They help each other with labour and equipment and are working on succession plans. 

Donna volunteers on the board of the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program and finds purpose in speaking with farmers and others about mental health issues and finding help. She would love to see the stigma disappear.

Today Donna shares her story and experience with postpartum depression, depression and anxiety, as well as some of the factors that have contributed both positively and negatively to her mental health on the farm.

We chat about the power in sharing your story, and how this can help each of us to reduce the stigma around mental health.

As a board member for the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program, Donna shares some of the changes to the program, which include increasing the number of sessions per year to 9 per person, as well as opening this service up to farm employees as well.  

You can connect with Donna on facebook at: @Donna Greig Les Odell

The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program offers confidential, free, counselling services to Manitoba farmers, farm families and employees. 1(204) 232-0574.

The National Farmer Crisis Line is a free, confidential service available 24/7.  The phone number to call for this service is 1-866-FARMS01 or 1-866-327-6701.  

Links mentioned/used in this episode:

CBC News Article: “Virden woman wants to help farmers get mental health support from those who know ag sector” Oct. 23, 2023

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/farmer-mental-health-counselling-1.7003528

National Farmer Wellness Network & National Farmer Crisis Line: https://ccaw.ca/national-farmer-wellness-network/

Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program: https://manitobafarmerwellness.ca/book-an-appointment

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In this episode, Gerry shares his story about and the aspects of his life as a farmer that contributed to his mental health, positively and negatively.  From his experiences with mental health struggles and alcoholism, comes the book,  “The Recovering Farmer: A Journey Through the Labyrinth of Anxiety and Depression.”  Gerry shares some of the stories, tools and strategies that can be found within his book.

We also talk about some of Gerry’s blog posts.  This is a quote from Gerry’s blog post titled, “The Hidden Risk: How Mental Health Impacts Farm Safety” published March 16th on your website, “Farmers deal with countless factors outside of their control—commodity prices, weather, equipment failures, and market uncertainty. This constant unpredictability wreaks havoc on our minds, leaving us feeling powerless. And yet, the pressure to “push through” remains. There’s an unspoken expectation in agriculture that you work until the job is done, no matter the toll it takes on you. But at what cost? When exhaustion sets in, mistakes happen. A missed step, a moment of inattention, or a delayed reaction can turn into a life-altering accident.

The culture of farming has long been one of resilience, but resilience doesn’t mean suffering in silence. We need to start having open conversations about mental health in our farm communities.”

There is another quote from Gerry’s blog post titled, “Coming Out of the Closet” from October 20th that is discussing the stigma attached to mental health, which in part reads, 

“Talking about things that are keeping us in our closet takes courage. The word most used to describe the ability to open up is vulnerability. I have used it lots but, for interest’s sake, I looked it up in the dictionary and realized that perhaps I had never fully understood the meaning. I always assumed it simply meant that we let our guard down, to be open and honest. But there is more to the definition, something a little more nefarious.

To be vulnerable is also the susceptibility to an emotional attack, to be open to criticism and to potentially be emotionally wounded. That makes it sound scary and I suspect that’s why many avoid being vulnerable. Its bad enough that we experience mental illness and often question our value. Our self-esteem is fragile so by opening up and being vulnerable we run the risk of having our values questioned and risk our self-esteem taking another blow. So it feels safer to stay in the closet.

The good news is that vulnerability breeds vulnerability. I found it interesting that when I started openly talking about my journey others opened up to me as well.” 

We wrap up the show talking about the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program, and what that program offers to farmers and farm families here in Manitoba.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Gerry Friesen: The Recovering Farmer: https://www.gerryfriesen.ca/

National Farmer Wellness Network & National Farmer Crisis Line: https://ccaw.ca/national-farmer-wellness-network/

Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program: https://manitobafarmerwellness.ca/book-an-appointment

Find Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program on social media at:

Facebook: @Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program

Twitter: @mfarmerwellness

Instagram: @manitoba_farmer_wellness

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Today Briana joins me on the show to share information about the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing and the programs and crisis line that is available through CCAW.

We also discuss stressors that impact farmer mental health, common positive and negative coping strategies used by Canadian farmers, and some additional positive strategies producers can try if they are feeling the stress and weight that can come with this work.

We also talk about the National Farmer Crisis Line, what producers, family members or farm employees can expect when they call in, and who they will talk to when they make the call.  A take away from today’s episode is that, you don’t need to be in crisis to call the National Farmer Crisis Line.  You can call 24/7 and there is no cap to the number of times you can call in.

Find the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing online at: www.ccaw.ca 

Or on their social media accounts at:

Facebook: Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing

Instagram: @cdnagwellbeing

LinkedIn: Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing

Twitter (X): @cdnagwellbeing 

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing: https://ccaw.ca/

National Farmer Wellness Network & National Farmer Crisis Line: https://ccaw.ca/national-farmer-wellness-network/

Deep Rooted Documentary Information: https://www.deeprootedfilm.ca/supporters

Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program: www.manitobafarmerwellness.ca 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Lesley is a leader in advancing mental health in agriculture. As a trained peer supporter and co-founder of the Do More Agriculture Foundation—a Canadian charity dedicated exclusively to farmer mental health—Lesley has been instrumental in breaking down stigma, increasing access to mental health resources, and supporting farmers across North America. Since 2018, the foundation has trained thousands of farmers in mental health awareness and resilience. Her efforts have been recognized through numerous accolades, including the Farm and Food Care Champion Award, the YWCA Women of Distinction Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. 

Beyond her farm and advocacy work, Lesley serves as a Director for Saskatchewan Wheat and co-hosts the podcast What The Farm, where she dives into topics at the intersection of agriculture, leadership, and rural life. In her spare time, Lesley is running to the hockey rink with her two sons, learning to cook for a hungry harvest crew, or spending time with her husband. 

Lesley’s goal is simple but powerful: to build stronger communities through connection, compassion, and collaboration, ensuring a brighter, healthier future for both farmers and the agriculture industry as a whole.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Do More Ag: https://www.domore.ag/

Do More Ag Crisis and Support Resources Page: https://www.domore.ag/crisis-contacts

High Heels & Canola Fields: https://highheelsandcanolafields.com/

“Without the Farm, There is No Farmer” The National Farmer Crisis Line is a free, confidential service available 24/7.  The phone number to call for this service is 1-866-FARMS01 or 1-866-327-6701.  

The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program offers confidential, free, counselling services to Manitoba farmers, farm families and employees. 1(204) 232-0574

Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program: https://manitobafarmerwellness.ca/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Gordon Beddome is a cow-calf producer who lives near Shilo, Manitoba.  His previous work at the Research Station at Brandon started his interest in the research side of cattle production.  Gord has rented and grazed the native pastures at the Yellowquill Prairie Preserve for 25 years and has learned a lot about grazing native range in that time.  

In today’s episode, we are talking about the Yellow Quill Prairie Preserve, which is owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada.  The Yellow Quill Prairie Preserve is an intact native mixed prairie grassland.  Josh shares some information about what NCC is and what their aim is, as well as the history and significance of this piece of land.  Gordon shares information on the grazing history of this land, from his 25 years of experience renting and grazing cattle here.  Gordon also shares a bit about his grazing plan, stocking rate, grazing rotation and things he has to keep in mind when grazing native pastures.

We chat about some of the species at risk that call this pasture home and how Gord sets up his rotation to ensure the best care is given to the native plants and wildlife. Along with this, we discuss some of the other challenges that come with this land.  Brush encroachment, leafy spurge and areas of bush pasture are all items that can create challenges.  Gord shares his experience working with nature, use of prescribed fire and how he has tried to manage these challenges.

To contact Josh call 1-877-231-3552  Ext. 4303

Links mentioned in this episode:

Nature Conservancy of Canada: https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/

Facebook: @Nature Conservancy of Canada/Conservation de la nature Canada

X (Twitter) : @NCC_CNC

LinkedIn: @Nature Conservancy of Canada/Conservation de la nature Canada

Instagram: @ncc_cnc

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

The farm operates about 6000 acres in prairie pothole country, which consists of mostly tame pasture, hay, and some annual crops. Tyler has spent most of his off-farm career in the field of livestock price risk management after he received a degree in Agribusiness from the University of Manitoba.  He is passionate about improving the tools and programs available for cattle producers to manage risk on their operations.

Tyler currently serves as a Director with Manitoba Beef Producers and has newly taken on the role as the President of the Canadian Cattle Association.

In today’s episode, Tyler gives us a broad overview of the current tariff situation and where this stands at our April 11, 2025 recording date.  We discuss the current state of the Canadian government and how this puts Canada at a higher risk during the uncertainty of the tariff situation.

We are hoping today to steer away from speculation of what might happen with future tariffs, or what we think might be going to happen. Instead, Tyler, shares some information about the work the Canadian Cattle Association is doing to advocate for the Canadian Beef Industry given this situation. We discuss the timeline of how quickly implementation of tariffs would impact primary producers in the beef sector.

While there are a lot of unknowns and uncertainties, there are some things producers can do to mitigate risk, like using the Agristability Program, using Advance Program Payments and Livestock Price Insurance.  Tyler shares information about all three of these risk mitigation strategies.

Tyler gives some reflections on the trip he took to Washington to meet with members of the House of Representatives and Senators and their staff, as well as USDA representatives and the takeaways from these conversations, which were positive and hopeful.

We recognize that the uncertainties of the tariff situation is another thing on the minds and shoulders of our Canadian Farmers.  The Beef & Forage Roundup Podcast will be releasing a mini series through the month of May on the topic of Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture, which coincides with the 2025 Mental Health Awareness Week in Canada which is May 5-11th.  Through the month of May, we will be sharing stories of producers’ mental health journeys, as well as sharing information about resources that are available at no cost to farmers, farm families and farm employees here in Canada.  We all know someone who is struggling with their mental health and we are hoping to help reduce the stigma of asking for help.  

To contact Tyler, reach out on social media at: @etfulton on X or by searching for Tyler Fulton on Facebook and Instagram.  You can also reach him on his cell phone at: 204-842-3353.

Links mentioned in this episode:

For the most up to take information on tariffs, visit the Canadian Cattle Association’s Action News: https://www.cattle.ca/news-and-events/action-news

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

To start off today, Mary-Jane shares some of the things she considers when planning winter feed for MBFI’s cattle herd.  We then discuss some of the alternate winter feeding ideas they have used at MBFI to reduce winter feeding costs and how this might vary year to year based on the growing season.  Knowing how high winter feed costs can be, we chat about ways to reduce feed waste, and which strategies have yielded the most and least “waste.”

Mary-Jane also shares information on feed testing. Beef Cattle Research Council  has an excellent resource page on feed testing practices, you can find the link below.

We also discuss the 2024 silage variety trial and what the preliminary outcomes of this research, as well as what is next to come for this in the 2025 growing season.

For more info on winter feeding strategies and analysis tune in to:

Beef & Forage Roundup Episode #15: Extended Grazing at Brookdale Farm with Shawn Cabak

Beef & Forage Roundup Episode #16: The Cost of Overwintering Cattle & Feed Calculator with Ben Hamm 

Beef & Forage Roundup Episode #18: Bale Placement & Binding with Dr. Mary-Jane Orr 

Links mentioned in this episode:

BCRC Feed Quality, Testing & Analysis: https://www.beefresearch.ca/tools/feed-testing-analysis-for-beef-cattle/

MBFI YouTube Webinar Series: https://www.youtube.com/@MBBeefandForage

CowBytes Information Link: https://www.beefresearch.ca/cowbytes/

MB Ag Extension Contact Information: https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/crop-management/forages/contacts.html

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Dr. Morrissey has published over 95 highly cited journal articles and book chapters and in 2020 was named to the Royal Society College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. Her work has also been featured broadly in the national and international media and documentaries (CBC, BBC, National Geographic, Nature of Things, and The Messenger film). 

She is currently co-leading the NSERC funded Prairie Precision Sustainability Network Marginal Land Solutions project and the Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab to implement Nature-based solutions to improve sustainable agricultural production.

To start off today, Christy shares a bit about her background and her interest in agricultural pesticides and the impact of environmental contaminants on birds and insects.

We chat about her work with the Prairie Precision Sustainability Network and how they are looking at the the environmental and ecological threats to cultivating marginal farm land, and solutions to reducing these through the seeding of marginal areas.

She also talks about the challenges does that cultivation of this land offers to producers/farmers, both ecologically and economically.

If listeners are interested in finding out more or want to become involved in this project, please visit https://www.prairiepsn.ca/.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In today’s episode, Joey gives us an overview of what the ALUS Growing Roots program is and what the goals of this program are.  He describes the thought process behind the moto “Farm the best, leave the rest” in relation to the Cultivated Cropland aspect of the project, which aims to improve water quality by reducing nutrient run off, reduce soil erosion, provide carbon sequestration and provide wildlife and pollinator habitat.  Joey also discusses the changes they are seeing in areas where this program has been implemented and what impacts this has to the environment.

Along with the Cultivated Cropland aspect of the program, Joey shares information about the Class 4 and Class 5 Forage/Grazing Land programs, including the annual payment, contract length and amount SRRWD pays towards the establishment cost of these forages.

He wraps up with some information on other programs that are available in this watershed district, including the Preservation Project and The Pasture Riparian Fencing Project.

For more information about the programs available in your watershed, contact your local watershed district today.

To contact Joey 

Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District Website: www.srrwd.ca

Email: info@srrwd.ca

Office Phone Number: 204-326-1030

Instagram: @seine_rat_roseau_watershed

Facebook: Seine Rat Roseau Watershed District

X: @SeineRatRoseau

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In this episode, Justin tells us what Young Agrarians is and the missions and goals of this very farmer education focused organization.  He also shares about his role and some tasks within the Manitoba section of YA.

One of these roles has to do with the Apprenticeship Program through YA, and Justin shares how this program works, the number of farms included in the program for 2025 and how farms can be involved. 

Young Agrarians offers an array of courses and conferences.  Today, we are focusing specifically on the “How to Hire Farm Workers Course.”  This program discusses human resources on the farm from creating job ads, to the hiring process, retaining great employees and working together on the farm.  The course also discusses onboarding, skills training, communication and farm culture.

To contact Justin email: manitoba@youngagrarians.org

Visit Young Agrarians on their social media platforms: @youngagrarians 

Links mentioned in this episode:

To find out more about the course or to sign up, visit: https://youngagrarians.org/shop/e-learning/self-paced/how-to-hire-farm-workers/

Young Agrarians Home Page: https://youngagrarians.org/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Today we are chatting about livestock inspection and traceability in Manitoba.  Carson shares what the proposed system looks like in Manitoba and when producers could expect implementation to occur.  He also tells us about the process, cost and what paperwork will be included with this change.

We also chat about the current holes in the traceability and inspection system in Manitoba, and the reasoning behind making this change.  We chat specifically about cattle theft and fraud, and some tips for producers to protect themselves against animal theft. 

If you would like to find out more, this will be a topic at the AGM on Feb. 20 & 21 in Winnipeg.  Register online or call the MBP office if you’d like to attend.

To contact Carson, please email him at ccallum@mbbeef.ca or call him at the office at: 204-772-4542

Links mentioned in this episode:

Manitoba Beef Producers: https://mbbeef.ca/

Manitoba Beef Producers Newsletter Sign-up: https://mbbeef.ca/news/

RealAg Radio Podcast: https://www.realagriculture.com/podcasts/

MBP Fall District Line Up Information: https://mbbeef.ca/events/district-meetings-manitoba-beef-producers/

MBP Events Page: https://mbbeef.ca/events/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

specializes in agricultural innovation and human resource development services. Agri

Skills provides market development consulting services, custom skills development and training programs, and field scale precision trial services to several major manufacturers and retailers in western Canada and the northern United States. He completed a Masters degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Manitoba in 1992, manages the family farm in Carman and is currently project lead for an ambitious Soil Health Network initiative with Assiniboine College.

This is a quote from the  Weston Family Soil Health Initiative Webpage (2024) “Loss of biodiversity on agricultural lands is occurring at an unprecedented rate due to agricultural intensification and habitat loss. Research shows that Canada’s agricultural lands offer an immediate and large-scale opportunity to mitigate further biodiversity losses, and by promoting and increasing soil organic matter, we can help support more adaptive and resilient agricultural lands.” 

On Feb. 15, 2023, Assiniboine College released a news bulletin that stated, “The Weston Family Soil Health Initiative, which seeks to expand the adoption of ecologically based beneficial management practices (BMPs) that increase soil organic matter to improve biodiversity and resiliency on agricultural lands across Canada, has granted Assiniboine Community College $1,680,827 for a five-year project to enhance soil ecosystems in Western Canadian agriculture.”

This has resulted in a project now known as the Soil Health Network.  In this episode, Brent shares information about the project and how they are using farmer peer groups to determine where the questions are in agriculture and where more research is needed.

He tells us what can be found on the Soil Health Network website (link below), how the SHAPE tool works and the resource bank that is being developed.

We also talk a bit about feeding the growing global population sustainably.

Links mentioned in this episode: www.soilhealthnetwork.ca 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

To start off today, Kristen tells us a bit about her background in agriculture and how her position as the General Manager of MB Ag Days has changed over the years.  Along with that, she gives us a bit of history on the Ag Days Show and how it has evolved over the past 48 years.

The 2025 Ag Days show is coming up next week on January 21 - 23rd at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, Manitoba and is Canada’s largest indoor farm show.  Expecting 35,000 - 40,000 attendees, the show sells early bird tickets online which are available until midnight Jan 20th, and at the door for in-person sales.

Along with displays, vendors and a packed speaker line up, attendees can visit the Produced on the Prairies Market, which is new for 2025.

Along with the show, there are many events occurring outside of the “business hours,” as the Ag Days Board and staff realize how much business happens outside of the traditional business hours.  For more information on all that is going on, visit the Ag Days website and follow them on social media.

Or find MB AgDays at: https://www.agdays.com/

Ticket Sales: www.agdays.com/ticket

Facebook: @MbAgDays 

Instagram: @MbAgDays

X (Twitter): @MbAgDays

YouTube: @Manitobaagdays6005

This year at Ag Days, MBFI is hosting the Women in Beef Event with a keynote presentation on Building Positive Public Perception in Beef TogetHER with speaker Amie Peck, Public and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist Canadian Cattle Association.  Email information@mbfi.ca for more information or to RSVP today!

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Dallas has led RMC since 2019 and worked with thousands of ranchers across North America, Australia and the UK to position their business for economic profit and ecologic health. After working with University of Wyoming Extension for 18 years, Dallas started teaching the Ranching For Profit School in 2012 and quickly established himself as an elite instructor. 

Dallas and his wife Dixie, have two adult children and own and manage a grazing operation near Wheatland, WY. RMC is focused on creating profitable businesses, with healthy land and happy families.

To start off today, Dallas shares about his background in agriculture and about his work and transition to ownership of Ranch Management Consultants.  

We chat about this quote, “This one-week investment with our expert instructors offers exactly what you need to boost profits, improve land health, strengthen business relationships and enhance your overall satisfaction with your operation.”  (Retrieved from the Ranching for Profit School “About” page on the Ranching for Profit website) and a broad overview of what the Ranching For Profit curriculum is and why it works.

Previously, this school was offered in a 7 day format and this year RMC offered a trial of a 5 day format.  We talk about the thinking behind this shift and the benefits of attending a full school rather than just the short workshops that RMC offers to introduce the Ranching for Profit information.

The school focuses on business strategy, economics and finance, people management, and leadership. Gone are the days when a farmer can just be a farmer and now business strategy and skills are essential.  Dallas breaks each of the curriculum topic areas down for us a bit and touches on one or two key ideas behind each.

We also discuss the following quotes from the book, “Healthy Land, Happy Families and Profitable Business” Pratt, D. 2013 “Is your ranch a business, or is it a collection of assets and a bunch of jobs? If you can’t leave, or if things would fall apart if you did…you don’t own a business you own a job.”  “We are hitting the bull’s eye, but we are aiming at the wrong target” and, “The cow/calf business is really the cull cow business.” 

Along with this, we talk about the Executive Link program, which is a program for Ranching for Profit Graduates, as well as other alumni resources that are available.  

If listeners are interested in attending one of the schools, workshops or joining the Executive Link program, you can check out the RMC website at: https://ranchingforprofit.com/

Or find RMC at:

Facebook: Ranching For Profit

Instagram: @ranching4profit

X (Twitter): @Ranching4Profit

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Ranching4Profit

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Brock is the Past President of the Livestock Markets Association of Canada and shares a bit about his role with this organization.

Brock gives us a breakdown of what is involved in livestock marketing and the main considerations for a producer over a production year.  He also discusses where he sees the biggest opportunities for an operation to improve profit when developing and carrying out a marketing plan. 

We discuss the optimism that was in the cattle industry early in the 2024 year and how this optimism has remained and maybe even built through the year and looking into 2025.  Along with this, Brick shares his expectations in the cattle markets looking into 2025 and the next 2-3 years.  

We round out the episode with a bit more information on marketing tips and where producers could go to find out more about when and where to market their cattle.

To contact Brock or find out more about Taylor Auctions, please visit https://taylorauctions.ca/ or call the office @ 204-522-3996 or Brock directly @ 204-522-6396.  Taylor Auctions is also on Facebook at Taylor Auctions.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

The farm is located just east of Pipestone, MB in sandy soils bordering Plum Lake. The operation utilizes a land base of 9000 acres of deeded and rented land for pasture, hay, and 700-900 annually cropped acres that produce silage feed grains and some cash crops. 

Around 750-800 cows are calved annually in May/June with the calves predominantly sired by Limousin bulls. Calves are weaned and backgrounded with additional purchases of 200-350 calves.  They annually pasture around 500 of these calves as yearlings for this summer.

In today’s episode, Trevor tells us about the large operation that he and his family own and operate here in Manitoba.  He is a regenerative cattle farmer with and intentional focus on soil health and utilizes rotational grazing and extended grazing in his operation.  We discuss how the operation has changed over the years and how it has evolved into the enterprises that are run today.  

Included in their operation is a large calf backgrounding enterprise, which is the focus of most of our conversation.  Trevor shares what his experience has been in backgrounding calves and what he has learned along the way.  We discuss growth implants and how these have worked in their operation.  Trevor also shares how he utilizes feed that is produced on farm in his backgrounding system, and how this changes with the year.

Trevor also shares some of his marketing strategies, economics of backgrounding in his operation, his daily cost of gain and costs, and target profit.  We wrap up with some information about his goals moving forward with the business.

To contact Trevor, call him at 204-522-5542 or email him at poplarviewfarm@gmail.com

Or follow Poplarview Stock Farm on Facebook.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Beef Cattle Research Council Silage Cost of Production Formula: https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/silage-cost-of-production/

MB Ag Cost of Production Spreadsheets: https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/farm-management/cost-production/index.html

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Froese Family Farms, a certified seed farm near Boissevain in Southwestern Manitoba is her home base, where she farms with her husband, son, and daughter in law.

Faith Today magazine calls her “Canada’s Farm Whisperer”.

CBC radio calls her the “Dr. Phil for farmers. “

Penny ,Ruby, and Read call her “Gramma.”

Elaine understands the culture of agriculture and is gifted at helping folks see great outcomes and workable paths for their family farms. Her team of 5 next-gen coaches work with farms and ranches all over Canada and the US. Elaine’s monthly membership site is a live group coaching experience 3 times a month for over 55 farm families.

Her mission is to help families find harmony through understanding.

In today’s episode, Elaine and I chat about all things farm transition planning, including the reasons why this can be such a difficult conversation to start and continue for farm families.  We talk about why communication is so important and some of the steps Elaine and her team take in helping families navigate difficult situations and move towards a place of harmony.  

Elaine shares her thoughts on where farmers should be during each decade of their life on the farm in terms of ownership and transition to the next generation. 

Elaine shares stories, her passion and her wisdom in this amazing episode.  To hear more from Elaine, listen to her podcast, The Farm Family Harmony Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.

To contact Elaine, 

Website: https://elainefroese.com/

Facebook biz page: https://www.facebook.com/farmfamilycoach

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmfamilycoach

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farmfamilycoach/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/farmfamilycoach/videos

Twitter: https://twitter.com/elainefroese

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farmfamilycoach

Farm Family Harmony Podcast: https://elainefroese.com/farm-family-harmony-podcast/

Email: elaine@elainefroese.com

204-534-7466

www.elainefroese.com

@elainefroese

Links mentioned in this episode:

Shop for Elaine’s books at: https://elainefroese.com/shop/

The Economics of Family Living by FCSAmerica staff published May 21, 2021 : https://www.fcsamerica.com/resources/learning-center/2021/the-economics-of-family-living

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In today’s episode, Aaron shares information on his position with Agriculture and Agri Food Canada and some of the projects he is currently working on.  He also shares his experience working with Eastern Prairie Living Labs.

Aaron’s current research focuses on studying how grazing management can impact sequestering carbon vs. methane emissions from the cattle.  He also shares the tools he is using to take these measurements and what information is being collected using these tools.  While this research has been ongoing for a few years, it is still early in the research that Aaron hopes to do in this area. 

Aaron shares the trends he is seeing from his research thus far and we discuss how this research and carbon sequestration impacts the environment and producers.

Much of this work has been completed on Lowry Farms, with Glen and Pam Lowry, who were profiled in Episode 71, sharing their experiences working with the Living Labs and about their farm and grazing practices. 

To Contact Aaron, you can call him at 204-578-6585 or email aaron.glen@agr.gc.ca 

Links mentioned in today's episode:

Living Labs - Eastern Prairies Clip: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/living-laboratories-initiative/living-lab-eastern-prairies

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Their commitment to the land is illustrated by the fact that they are participating in a Agriculture and AgriFood Canada long term research project that compares the carbon sequestration of their grassland pastures to the methane emission of the cattle.

They were recipients of the 2023 TESA The Environmental Stewardship Award award, and the 2023 Redboine Watershed District  Award.  Lowry Farms includes 220 acres of pasture and 100 acres of sensitive wetlands.  Their cattle herd includes 85 commercial cow-calf pairs. Extended grazing, and rotational grazing are part of their daily routine.  They are always striving to improve uses that benefit their beef operation, while at the same time being good stewards of the land.

In today’s episode, Glen and Pam Lowry share all about Lowry Farms.  They start with sharing their decision and transition from mixed farming to focusing solely on cattle and grass production and how they came to today where their main focus is capturing as much rainfall as they can each year to preserve moisture and produce grass.  Along with this, they have done and continue to do a lot of work to protect land and water resources.  Their dedication to the land and environment was recognized in 2023, when they were the recipients of both The Environmental Stewardship Award and Watershed District Awards in 2023.  

Glen and Pam have also been featured on Great Tastes of Manitoba.  To view their episode, please visit the link listed below.

Glen and Pam share information on their summer grazing plan, fence and water infrastructure and winter feeding, and what they have noticed in the soil health, grass production and overall ecosystem on their farm as a result of their grazing practices and management.

Glen and Pam are participating in the Manitoba Association of Watershed Living Lab Eastern Prairies and have collaborated with a number of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers. One aspect of this has been working with Aaron Glen on measuring methane production vs. carbon sequestration while grazing.  They share a bit about the preliminary findings of this research, as well as about other research that has been conducted on their farm.

For more information about the research on measuring methane and carbon sequestration, please tune into our next episode featuring Aaron Glen.

Links mentioned or used for research in today's episode:

Glen and Pam’s Great Tastes of Manitoba Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehvg4AWS8ls

Living Labs - Eastern Prairies Clip: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/science/living-laboratories-initiative/living-lab-eastern-prairies

MB Cooperator Article, “Beef Producers Honour Environmental Role Models” Stockford, S. March 3, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2024.

https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/news-opinion/news/beef-producers-honour-environmental-role-models/

Redboine Watershed District Award Winners Page:

https://www.redboine.ca/award-winners

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Born in Windsor Ontario, Judah Logan’s early childhood was spent on the rural outskirts of Kingston township: where—through neighbors—Judah had regular exposure to dairy and mixed farming—including beekeeping, and maple syrup production. After an unexpected move to Kingston from middle school through high school, he reluctantly lost touch with the day-to-day routines of farming life. As a young adult, Judah studied undergraduate Arts at the University of Western Ontario, Computer Science at U of T, and recently completed the intensive 2 year Communications Engineering Technology diploma program at ACC in Brandon. Judah says it is a pleasure to be working at MBFI where he can revisit his childhood dream with a superlatively qualified staff, 2 great farm locations, and 3 friendly felines to keep him company.

In today’s episode, Mary-Jane and new MBFI staff member, Judah Logan, introduce us to the virtual fence trial that is underway at MBFI, using the Gallagher E-Shephard Virtual Fence Collars. This technology could open many doors for producers and increase the efficiency of rotational grazing practices or grazing in remote areas.

This conversation shares information about the collars themselves, as well as the technology that makes virtual fencing a reality. We discuss the process to put the collars on and train cattle to their use, as well as the pros and potential downsides that MBFI staff have found while using the collars, as well as some considerations producers might want to think about prior to implementing them on their own operations. We also discuss the economics that are being considered in this trial.

To contact Judah, please email: judah.logan@mbfi.ca

Links to more information:

Web Page to visually demonstrate collar application and in-field use: https://www.mbfi.ca/eshepherd

YouTube video link for the eShepherd trial:

eShepherd Collars in Action - Summer 2024 (youtube.com)

Links to Other Virtual Fence Projects:

https://www.nofence.no/en/

https://www.agcanada.com/daily/virtual-fencing-piloted-in-northern-saskatchewan

https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/hub/vence

Gallagher’s eShephard Virtual Fence website:

https://am.gallagher.com/en-CA/new-products/eShepherd

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Today, Alex is sharing information from his research on grazing riparian areas.  First, we start off with what a riparian area is and how these change seasonally and annually depending on water levels.  Alex also shares what the role of a riparian area is and why they are so important not only to agriculture and the environment,  but also to recreational activities and in particular, their importance during years of drought. 

We chat about phosphorus loading and the concern that the freeze thaw cycle in Canada brings about when talking about phosphorus.  Removing vegetation prior to freeze up can help with soil phosphorus content, and Alex shares why grazing and using livestock to remove this biomass is preferred over mechanical options.  We also talk about how this is contradictory to what the current best practices are for management of riparian areas and what risks might be associated with giving livestock access to those riparian areas.

Alex offers an overview of the “Effects of Riparian Grazing on Distinct Phosphorus Sources” study.  Including his findings from this research and recommendations he would make to producers who are looking to graze riparian areas in this way.  We wrap up with discussing what Alex hopes to tackle next in this research and the larger scale study that he would like to see.  

This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change and a Lake Winnipeg Basin Program grant awarded to the Manitoba Association of Watersheds. Additional research funding was provided through a Brandon University Research Committee grant awarded to Alex Koiter.

To find out more, please visit:

www.alexkoiter.ca or Effects of Riparian Grazing on Distinct Phosphorus Sources, Koiter A & Malone T. Aug. 6, 2024  https://alexkoiter.ca/riparian-grazing-manuscript/

Or contact Alex at koitera@brandonu.ca or find him on Twitter @Alex_Koiter or on Mastodon.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In today’s episode, Carson gives us an update on what Manitoba Beef Producers has been working on.  Included in this is the three year funding agreement that MBP has signed onto with Agriculture in the Classroom- Manitoba and the Verified Beef Production Plus Incentive Pilot Program that is now rolling out.  

The main focus of today’s episode is the topic of traceability, which was a topic discussed at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference, and was also a hot topic in Carson’s mind when we scheduled the recording. Revised traceability regulations are coming from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).  Carson shares what the purpose of this system is and who it aims to protect, as well as the current regulations for livestock identification and traceability.  Carson also outlines the changes that are coming to these regulations and what this is going to look like for producers moving forward.  We talk about the benefit of a robust traceability system for the beef sector.

We also mention some upcoming events for listeners to be aware of.  First off, MBP is partnering again this year with MBFI and Manitoba Agriculture to host the second Manitoba Beef and Forage Conference and second is MBP’s Fall District Meetings. Also of note is that the MBP AGM this year will be in Winnipeg February 20th & 21st.  To find out more about these, please visit: 

To contact Carson, please email him at ccallum@mbbeef.ca or call him at the office at: 204-772-4542

Links mentioned in this episode:

Beef and Forage Roundup Livestock Predation Prevention Pilot Program Episode #9 with Ray Bittner available at: https://beef-and-forage-roundup.captivate.fm

Manitoba Beef Producers Website: www.mbbeef.ca

MBP Fall District Line Up Information: https://mbbeef.ca/events/district-meetings-manitoba-beef-producers/

MBP Events Page: https://mbbeef.ca/events/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In today’s episode, we are discussing water quality testing, how water quality can impact animal health and productivity and linking all of this to the bottom line, looking at the economics associated with water intake and weight gain, reproduction and overall health.  

Dwayne shares his personal history in agriculture and what led him to his current position as a Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist with the Government of Saskatchewan.  We also discuss the defining moment in Dwayne’s agricultural history that led you down this path of interest in water quality for livestock.

Starting very broadly, Dwayne shares the importance of water in animal health when thinking about the psychological processes required by the body and how much water is required by cattle at different stages of growth and development.

We move into talking about water management and how to test water quality.  Dwayne shares information on the compositions of water and what ideal ranges are for consumption by cattle.  Including pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Copper, Nitrates and Nitrites.  Dwayne also discusses secondary deficiencies and why this is important to think about in water management.

We also discuss the presence of viruses and parasites, and blue-green algae and how it impacts livestock health.  Dwyane also shares the process of how  producers can reduce the risks of a blue-green algae problem in their water.

We start to wrap up by discussing what management options are available to producers when good quality water is not available and then dive into a bit of the economics and statistics of weight gain in calves under different water management strategies. 

For more information visit these links:

Province of Mb; Evaluating Water Quality for Livestock:

https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/pork/evaluating-water-quality-for-livestock.html

Gov of Canada; Livestock Watering

https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/water/livestock-watering

Gov of Canada; Water Quality Impacts on Livestock

https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/water/livestock-watering/water-quality-impacts-livestock

Gov of Canada Publication: Livestock Water Quality A field Guide for Cattle, Horses, Poultry and Swine Andrew A. Olkowski, PhD., DVM., MSc., BSc., (Biochemistry) University of Saskatchewan, 2009

https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2009/agr/A22-483-2009E.pdf

Agri-Facts: Water Analysis Interpretation for Livestock (April 2007)

https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex718/$file/400_716-2.pdf?OpenElement

To contact Dwayne, please email: dwayne.summach@gov.sk.ca or call 1-306-867-3966

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Briel Lemoing is from a grain farm near Basswood, Manitoba.  She is entering her second year of a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Animal

Science at the University of Saskatchewan.  She plans on pursuing a career in cattle genetics and hopes to eventually return to her home farm and working cattle into their operation. 

Megan Harris grew up in Brandon, Manitoba and is entering her fourth and final year of her Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences at Brandon University.  This is her second summer as an employee for MBFI.  During her summers working at MBFI Megan has learned a ton of new knowledge and skills relevant to the beef cattle industry and rangeland management.  Going forward Megan hopes to continue and expand her skills and knowledge to make positive impacts throughout her future career and life.

Sydney Creasy grew up on a large cattle ranch near Coronation AB. From a young age she has been helping on the ranch, she enjoys all aspects of the cattle business. This fall, Sydney will be going into her second year at the University of Saskatchewan taking Animal Science. She is hoping to become a livestock nutritionist or a career in the agriculture industry. 

If you are interested in being a summer student at MBFI for future years, or know a student who might be interested, please watch for the annual advertisement for available positions.  As an MBFI Summer Student, you are sure to gain hands-on experience in both the cattle and crop industries.  

The ability to hire these summer students has been made possible through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Dr. Penner’s research focuses on forage utilization, beef and dairy cattle nutrition, and regulation of gastrointestinal function in ruminants. Individual projects range from a focus on fundamental aspects of physiology to those with applied outcomes that can help promote efficient and sustainable beef and dairy production. He has written many published papers in peer reviewed journals on his findings and has received a number of research focused awards for his work.

Greg is actively involved in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels within the Animal Science program in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. Greg is also heavily involved in activity at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence and enjoys outreach activities. 

In today’s episode, we are talking about harvest timing for green feed.  Dr. Penner shares a bit of the background on this research and what research he has done in this area.  He also shares what the different stages of maturity are and a little bit about the characteristics of the crop at each stage, as a bit of an introduction or refreshed on the different stages.

Previous recommendations for cutting barley crops for greenfeed or swath grazing indicated the best time was at the early dough stage, while the recommendation for cutting oats was the late-milk stage.  Dr. Penner shares the research that has been done and how this changes the recommendation.  Further to this, Greg discusses the benefits and risks of leaving the crops in the field to continue maturing before cutting.   We also dig into specifics of feed quality,  nutrient composition and digestibility at different stages and wrap up with a discussion on how ruminally cannulated cattle have been such an important tool in this research.

For more information please visit the following article: 

https://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/features/cut-cereal-crops-later-to-feed-more-cows/

To contact Dr. Greg Penner, please email him at: greg.penner@usask.ca or find him on X @Gregpenner3, University of Saskatchewan: @usask or via the Livestock & Forage Centre of Excellence: @LFCE_usask

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate with producers, researchers, education providers, extension specialists, conservation groups, and all stakeholders in field-testing management practices and growing understanding of improved production in Manitoba. Mary-Jane holds a PhD from Purdue University in soil microbial ecology in agricultural systems, is a Professional Agrologist, and Certified Crop Advisor. Her experience in ecology and field agronomy gives her a unique perspective on the challenges facing agriculture today. 

The Sod Seeding Project is being implemented at MBFI’s First Street Pasture, which is a marginal pasture on sandy soil. This is a three year project that builds on previous work by Jane Thorton (previous MB Ag Staff) on Mob and Sod Seeding.  This project is in collaboration with Ducks Unlimited Canada.  While looking at this project, Mary-Jane shares how the site was prepped, how the trial is set up, what the objectives are and what aspects are being evaluated in this research.

Along with this, Mary-Jane gives us an overview of what the goals of pasture rejuvenation are and what needs to be considered before choosing to rejuvenate forage stands or not.  As always, we include a bit of information on the economics for this project and what is being considered when looking at the economics of pasture rejuvenation in this way.

Mary-Jane also shares what the forage living library is and what the purpose and goals of having a forage living library are.

Thank you to DSV Northstar and Ducks Unlimited Canada for sponsoring the Sod Seeding Trial. Thank you also to DLF Pickseed, DSV Northstar Seed, BrettYoung Seeds and Ducks Unlimited Canada for being the sponsors of the Forage Living Library.

Related Resources:

Beef Cattle Research Council: Rejuvenation of Hay and Pasture June 23, 2023 Retrieved May 13, 2024 

https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/rejuvenation-of-hay-pasture/ 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

It is medicine.

They are passionate about creating food that can heal and understand that the mind, body and soul are of one essence and the entirety of nature and the human connection to it will create whole-body wellness. With this mantra, they extend a welcome to their farm family for whole-body wellness by putting on farm tours, meals, cooking classes and foraging classes where those looking for peace and calmness can come to connect to nature in its entirety.

To create an ecological Farmacy, they add as much biodiversity to their land as they are able! Each new species they introduce attracts new birds, insects and animals. Each of these plays an intricate role in increasing soil health, which creates healthier plants to create healthier, tastier food.

They believe that if you take care of your soil, your soil will take care of you.  And that taking care of your soil isn't as easy as planting a few seeds. Healthy soil requires hundreds of different species of fungi, bacteria, nematodes, insects, amphibians, and plant and animal varieties. 

Paramount to all of this is maintaining the underground ecosystem with as little disturbance as possible! Living soil is the most precious asset on their farm and everything Sean and Kristi-Lyn do is with the health of the soil in mind. They do not use chemicals or synthetic fertilizers, and instead utilize no-till methods when seeding new plant species. They have created a self-regenerating, beyond-organic ecosystem that only continues to improve with each new growing season and each new farm family member.

They strive to be a zero-waste farm, so whatever cannot be utilized by humans or animals goes back to feed the soil in the form of compost.

Today we are back with a producer profile episode with Sean and Kristi-Lyn of Deer Meadow Farmacy.  They share their backgrounds in agriculture and what their current farming operation looks like.  They have changed how they farm over the past few years and have big ideas for continuing to move towards their goals.  They each have important roles to play on the farm, and share how they do this while also raising a young family. 

Sean and Kristi-Lyn share information about their marketing, and what has worked best for them in their marketing strategy.  They also discuss how important the consumer is in the path of farming and how much power consumers hold with their buying power. 

If you want to find Deer Meadow Farmacy, please visit: https://deermeadowfarmacy.com/

Facebook: Deer Meadow Farmacy

Instagram: @deermeadowfarmacy

Phone: (204)512-0282 or (204)851-5459

Email: deermeadowfarmacy@gmail.com 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUEh5gmmAzBWfUAJsP8UeGA

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

My Digital Farmer Podcast with Corina Bench https://mydigitalfarmer.com/podcast/

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or visit the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

Today Donalee shares information about the Great Tastes of Manitoba TV show and how the show works to showcase local farmers and connect consumers with food production.  The “Before the Plate” section of the show shares information about Manitoba farmers, on their farm, and was born because the data shows that consumers trust farmers more than any other source of information. 

Donalee has been immersed in public trust data and public perception in the agriculture industry so close to her heart.  Through her role with Great Tastes of Mantioba, Donalee has a lot of experience sharing the farm stories of others, and shares some ways producers can share their stories and connect directly to consumers.  She shares that there are many ways producers can combat misinformation in ag, share their values and the values of ag, and the many benefits that agriculture brings to Manitoba and Canada, even if they are not wanting to do so via social media.

She has recently shared a beautiful video on social media that shares some information about her farm and what coming home to the farm means to her.  We discuss the idea of coming home and why this seems to hit home for many farmers.  To view this video, please visit Great Tastes’ links below.

Donalee wraps up today’s episode with a teaser of what is coming in this 35th anniversary season of Great Tastes of Manitoba.  You won’t want to miss it.

Links mentioned in today's episode:

The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity 2022 Public Trust Research:

https://www.foodintegrity.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022-ENG-Public-Trust-Research-Report.pdf

You can find and follow Great Tastes of Manitoba at the links below:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreatTastesTV

Website: https://greattastesmb.ca/

Facebook: @Great Tastes of Manitoba 

Instagram: @greattastesmb

X: @GreatTastesMb

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Today’s episode is the first in a three part mini series talking about Public Perception in the Ag and Beef Industries.  

For this first episode, we are talking to Amie Peck, the Stakeholder Engagement Specialist for the Canadian Cattle Association.  Amie shares her journey to this position, as well as what this position entails and some of the items she and her team are currently working on to support public perception of the Canadian Beef Industry.

We talk about the Guardians of the Grasslands Documentary and the newly released Guardians of the Grasslands Game, as well as the most recent documentary, Reduce, Reuse, Ruminate. All of these are available on Raising Canadian Beef’s YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@raisingcdnbeef

We know that a large portion of consumers today are further removed from agriculture than ever before.  Amie shares information about this disconnect from the process of food production and what questions or concerns this seems to bring up for consumers.

There were many positives and strengths of the beef industry that came from the Perception and Consumer Behaviour Study that was conducted in 2020 and 2023.  Amie shares some of the insights from this research, as well as trends in consumer behaviour and consumer trust in the beef industry. Amie tells us that from their research, “There is a ton of trust and positive perceptions around farmers and ranchers and the way beef cattle are raised.”

Thinking more about the producer perspective, we chat about how producers can share their story and how to find their target audience.  Amie shares how social media can be used to positively influence public perception and why it is so important to reach the demographic that uses social media.  We also talk about ways producers can share their story, brand and values if they are not interested in using social media.

For more information visit these links:

AAFC’s Sustainable Agriculture survey: https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/aac-aafc/A22-671-1-2022-eng.pdf

PSE’s 2023 Public Perception research: https://vimeo.com/864152128/8c41cc0280?share=copy

Beef Advocacy Online Course: https://beefadvocacy.ca/

Raising Canadian Beef’s YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@raisingcdnbeef

Guardians of the Grasslands Game: ​​https://gotggame.ca/play-game

Or follow Raising Canadian Beef:

@RaisingCdnBeef on X and Instagram 

@Raising Canadian Beef on Facebook

To contact Amie, please email: pecka@cattle.ca

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Scott Wright is the Director of the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) at the University of Saskatchewan.  Scott started his Saskatchewan career in 1983 as a Graduate Student at the U of S Termuende Farm on pasture rejuvenation and fertilization.  He has been a plant breeder with Agriculture Canada in Saskatoon, working on brome and crested wheatgrass, alongside the Ecovar development program in native grasses with Ducks Unlimited.  

His forage work included Forage Management at the Melfort Research Station and he Co-chaired the Western Forage Beef Group at Lacombe before taking on leadership roles with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Science and Technology Branch, Agri-Environment Services Branch, Research Branch and Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration), Saskatchewan Agriculture and Alberta Agriculture. 

Scott is delighted to carry the accountability for the LFCE and looks forward to strengthening the partnerships to support producer relevant, integrated forage and livestock research.

In today's episode, Scott shares a bit about his personal history in agriculture and some of the roles and experiences he has had in his time in the Canadian Beef Industry, before taking the position as the director of the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence.  Scott also talks about his views on the role of research in agriculture, and the beef industry.

Scott shares the goals and an overview of LFCE (The Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence), as well as discussing some of the evolutions of the facility since it’s opening.  

We discuss many aspects of LFCE, as well as current research projects and how they are relevant to the beef industry.  In particular, we touch on the Bison research, the environmental quality site monitoring, and the feedlot and cow calf program research. that you are able to measure and why this is important.

We wrap up with a bit of information about the 2024 Field Day, planned for June 18, 2024.  All are welcome to attend! 

 For more information about the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence, please visit: https://lfce.usask.ca/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

The farm operates about 6000 acres in prairie pothole country, which consists of mostly tame pasture, hay, and some annual crops. Tyler has spent most of his off-farm career in the field of livestock price risk management after he received a degree in Agribusiness from the University of Manitoba.  He is passionate about improving the tools and programs available for cattle producers to manage risk on their operations.

Tyler currently serves as a Director with Manitoba Beef Producers and as the Vice-President of the Canadian Cattle Association.

In this episode, Tyler shares a bit about his experience as the Vice-President with the Canadian Cattle Association and past-president with Manitoba Beef Producers.

We then dive into risk mitigation tools producers can use to protect their bottom line. Tyler has used the Livestock Price Insurance Program for many years an urgers producers to look into the program both for the economic benefits, but also the confidence and peace of mind aspects as well. 

Along with LPI, we discuss forage and pasture insurance, the AgriStability program and other programs that can assist Manitoba producers in their risk management strategies.

To contact Tyler, reach out on social media at: @etfulton on X or by searching for Tyler Fulton on Facebook and Instagram.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Today’s episode is jam packed with information about the Livestock Price Insurance Program.  If you have questions on the following topics, this episode is for you.

• What is Livestock Price Insurance and how does it work?
• How are animals insured? 
• What is the length of the policies? 
• How are settlement indexes generated? 
• How do policies differ between calves, feeder cattle and fed cattle?
• Can producers insure calves regardless of when they are born?
• What happens if animals die or are below the anticipated weight?
• What are the steps to purchasing Livestock Price Insurance and what is the price for policies?
• Who is eligible?
• How are claims made?
• What resources are available online to assist producers with making decisions in regards to their policy?

Links & Resources:

MB Ag Stock Talk Webinar Series YouTube: StockTalk Feb 15 (youtube.com)

Province of Manitoba | agriculture - StockTalk (gov.mb.ca)

Article: “Looking Good for Livestock Insurance” Don Norman, March 4, 2024, Manitoba Cooperator

https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/news-opinion/news/looking-good-for-livestock-insurance/?utm_source=GFM+Publications&utm_campaign=0cbbfff932-Manitoba+Co-operator+daily+enews+Mar+05%2C+2024&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2da8244677-0cbbfff932-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=0cbbfff932&mc_eid=804353aa5e

Contact Information: 

Livestock Price Insurance Website: https://lpi.ca/

MB Office Toll Free Phone Number: 1.844.782.5747

Facebook: @Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation

X: @MASC_MB

Jeff’s email: jlegaarden@masc.mb.ca

Jeff’s phone number: 1-204-648-5254

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In this episode, we chat with Malcolm MacLean about the Ultimate Stockmanship Challenge that he and his wife, Jenny, are founders of.  This school and competition are held annually at the Pincher Creek Alberta Rodeo Grounds.  The event aims to allow stockmen the opportunity to showcase their skills and focuses on the improvement of the cattle through proper stockmanship.  Malcolm tells us a bit about the history of the Ultimate Stockmanship Challenge, and how it has evolved since it started, as well as the goals of the challenge and how the judging occurs. 

We also talk about what low stress cattle handling is, and what some of the methods are that are used in this approach.  Malcolm shares some of his experiences, and draws on the knowledge of Bud Williams to talk about why it is so important to use low stress methods from both the animal and human perspective.

We wrap up with a bit of a discussion on the cues cattle give us and what you should do if you are charged by a cow. 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate with producers, researchers, education providers, extension specialists, conservation groups, and all stakeholders in field-testing management practices and growing understanding of improved production in Manitoba. Mary-Jane holds a PhD from Purdue University in soil microbial ecology in agricultural systems, is a Professional Agrologist, and Certified Crop Advisor. Her experience in ecology and field agronomy gives her a unique perspective on the challenges facing agriculture today. 

This project is being implemented at MBFI’s Brookdale Farm, which was previously used for a project exploring planned versus continuous grazing. 

Mary-Jane shares information on plant forage species changes that have been observed since the beginning of the project, differences and trends in forage production, regrowth and forage quality, which has impacted grazing days in each treatment.

A lot of information is included in the economic analysis for this project.  Mary-Jane shares how labour and materials were accounted for, as well as other economic factors that have been considered.  These costs were broken down into cost/cow for the MBFI herd, and Mary-Jane shares this information as well.

Resources and Links:

MBFI Website: www.mbfi.ca

Grazing: Impact of Utilization Project Page https://www.mbfi.ca/grazing-impact-of-utilization

Planned Grazing Project Page: https://www.mbfi.ca/planned-grazing

Manitoba Beef & Forage YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxu5nJ0Cs9pUdSzJjEBwZRA/featured

Episode 7: Planned Grazing to Increase Forage Production with Pam Iwanchysko

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a787adae-e6c6-4028-a56f-dc47f40af24c

Beef Cattle Research Council: www.beefresearch.ca  

Farmers For Climate Solutions: https://farmersforclimatesolutions.ca/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

X (Twitter): @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Dr. Emma McGeough is an associate professor of Sustainable Grasslands and Livestock Production Systems in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Manitoba. Dr. McGeough’s research has focused on annual and perennial forage production and utilization for overwintering of beef cattle in western Canada at both the small plot and large pasture scale. This has included corn grazing, the use of perennial grains and intercropping. Her research program also includes ruminant nutrition and mitigation of enteric methane and greenhouse gas emissions associated with both pasture and confinement -based beef production in Canada.

 Today we are exploring the proof of concept study, “Exploring Corn Intercropping Strategies to Increase Protein and Profitability of Beef Cattle Grazing.”  Drs. Lawley and McGeough share an overview of this project and what the objectives of this proejct are. 

We discuss the treatments that are used on both 30 and 60 inch corn rows, and what influenced their choice of intercrop species, as well as the outcomes on biomass, corn production and protein for the treatments.  Along with this, the project looks at the rate variability of nitrogen fertilizer and the outcomes that were seen between different amounts of nitrogen applied.

This project is still under analysis, so some of the financial information and end results are not yet available, but we encourage you to check back on this project for those final results.

We also broadly discuss some of the extended grazing practices available and how popular these approaches are in Western Canada, as well as the disadvantages to grazing corn and what supplementation is usually required to complete the ration for beef cattle.

References and Links:

Beef Cattle Research Council Project Page: “Can Including High Protein Forages with Corn Improve Winter Grazing Practices Leading to Improved Beef Cattle Health and Environmental Footprint?”

https://www.beefresearch.ca/fact-sheets/can-including-high-protein-forages-with-corn-improve-winter-grazing-practices-leading-to-improved-beef-cattle-health-and-environmental-footprint/

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Alex Griffiths grew up and still helps farm on a cow-calf operation west of Onanole, right up against the south side of Riding Mountain National Park. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with an Agronomy major and a Soil Science Minor. He has been working with Ducks Unlimited Canada since January 2020 managing the Forage Program and Winter Wheat Programs which provide financial incentives and agronomic advice for producers growing those crops.

In this episode, we are talking about two Ducks Unlimited Canada programs; Sod Seeding Acres and the Hay Establishment Trial from the Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation at Roblin.

For our listeners that may not be familiar with Ducks Unlimited Canada’s agriculture  programs, Alex gives us some background on how Ducks Unlimited agrologists work with Manitoba farmers.

Diving into the Sod Seeding, Cam, discusses what sod seeding is and what the process looks like.  We also chat about why this is a focus for Ducks Unlimited and how many acres have been sod seeded so far in Manitoba.  We discuss the Sod Seeding Acres Program eligibility, application process and the amount per acre producers can expect to receive, as well as additional support offered to producers through this program. 

To find out more about the Sod Seeding Program, please visit www.ag.ducks.ca or contact Cam directly at 204-868-8145 or c_ross@ducks.ca.

Switching gears, Alex shares an overview of what the Hay Establishment Project is and what the objectives of this program are, as well as a discussion on what nurse crops are and why this practice is used when establishing a perennial forage crop.  In this project, different seeding rates are applied and Alex shares some of the outcomes of these treatments.  While the program is still underway, the economics are not yet available, but Alex expects that some preliminary information may be available in the fall of 2024.  He also speaks to the trade-offs economically when comparing the financial benefit of the nurse crop income the first year weighed against the impact of the nurse crop on perennial establishment and longevity in subsequent years.

To find out more about the Hay Establishment Trial, please visit www.ag.ducks.ca or www.mbdiversificationcentres.ca or contact Alex directly at 204-848-0514 or a_griffiths@ducks.ca.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In this episode we are talking with James Frey about the Teff trials he is implementing at the Parkland Crop Diversity Foundation Diversification Centre.

Teff is a warm season grass, native to Northeast Africa, where it is used primarily as a grain crop.  The very small seeds are threshed out, ground and used for human consumption.  It was first introduced in North America as feed for race horses.  In Manitoba, the use of teff is leaning more towards forage production, but grain could also be harvested with modifications to a combine.

Currently being used in small plot trials and some small acre field trials. James believes that, “This specific tool of teff could be used for a very specific use where having high protein feed, a very high TDN feed, a very parable feed is going to be used.”

James shares information about seeding rates, depth and crop yield and goes over some quick economics for producers who are interested in using teff in their feeding program.  James also shares some advantages and disadvantages of growing teff.

Several articles were used for the research for this episode, please follow the links below to find more information, or email James at james.frey@gov.mb.ca, visit mbdiversificationsentres.ca, follow James on X (Twitter) @james.frey21 or call him at 204-247-0346.

References:

Article: Teff a Promising Forage in Dry Year, Gord Leathers, Sept. 12, 2022. Retrieved Jan. 17, 2024 https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/news-opinion/news/teff-a-promising-forage-in-dry-year/

Article: Manitoba trials forage grass from Africa, Melissa Jeffers-Bezan, Sept. 22, 2022. Retrieved Jan. 17, 2024

https://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/crops/forages/manitoba-trials-forage-grass-from-africa/

Article: African forage grass shows early promise, Don Norman, Aug. 16, 2022. Retrieved Jan. 17, 2024

https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/news-opinion/news/african-forage-grass-shows-early-promise/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In 2016 Joe had a decision to make.  He was not enjoying the stress and heavy operating cost that comes with conventional farming, and the draw of a 9 to 5 job was becoming ever more attractive.  He had been introduced to soil health principles in university and had started attending soil health conferences and he knew that if something didn’t change his time farming would be limited.  So, in 2016 he took a leap and improving their soil became the focus of the farm.

Joe and his family started growing full-season cover crops in 2018, and with the help of his good friend (and now business partner) Travis Avery, they documented every step along the way.  By the end of the year, they had collected a massive amount of data and knew they could prove the benefits of plant diversity. After another year of data collection and seeing the positive effects that plant diversity had on Joe’s farm, they decided to take the leap and Covers & Co was born.

When he’s not farming, or on the road with Covers and Co. work, he has a number of other hobbies that keep him busy including Baseball, hockey, and curling. He also volunteers on several boards within his little community.  His most precious time however is spent on the farm with his wife and ever-growing gang of farm pets.  

Joe gives us a bit of information on the history and background of Covers and Co. before moving into a bit of a recap on what has been happening with Covers & Co. since we talked to Owen Taylor in Episode 22. 

Joe shares information on what forage soybeans are and where the idea to pair them with corn came from.  We discuss the benefits of using forage soybeans as an intercrop with corn.  We also chat about the 2023 corn soybean trials, how the addition of soybeans impacts corn yield and the economic outcome of adding them to corn. 

Jow shares information on the benefits of a soybean corn crop, both from a soil health perspective and the economic benefits it can have. 

We wrap up with a discussion on what to expect for the 2024 grazing season in soybean corn trials with Covers & Co.

Covers & Co. Intercropping with Forage Soybeans Blog Post, Feb. 17th, 2023.  Retrieved Jan. 2024

https://www.coversandco.ca/blog/corn-intercropping-with-forage-soybean

You can follow Covers & Co. on social media at:

Instagram: @covercropcompany

X: @Covers_co

Facebook: Covers & Co.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

He had the opportunity to add custom grazing beginning in the early 2000s, with adjacent lands being available to rent and purchase. Being the only operator on the farm, and no extra help, he made the decision to take the hay ground and fence off into paddocks to aid in soil health and better grazing land for the cattle.

They keep their cattle out on pasture or hay fields all year, utilizing bale grazing to  improve soil health. Their land can sustain our cow/calf herd, with custom grazing a couple of other herds separately for the grazing season. Randy practices a rotational grazing system with all herds and uses pipeline watering systems throughout the farm. They also have pasture hens that run on the pastures a few days after the cows have grazed and market grass fed beef.

One of Randy’s philosophies is that planting fence posts is something that can help extend the grazing season.  He uses Poly wire, acting as a Shepherd, to narrow paddocks. He has been successful in using cover crops to eliminate the need for fertilizer and to extend their season grazing.

He also believes that the more you experiment the more you realize you don't know and there are many lessons yet to be learned. It's fun to learn and it's okay to fail when doing your own farm research. If you don't risk failure, you are guaranteed failure.

Randy uses Social media to connect with other Farmers, which has made him eager to learn more, and to share ideas.  You can find him on social media and YouTube at “Life on a Manitoba Farm”, 

Randy shares his rotational grazing strategies and his goals for his herd.  Randy farms grass and focuses on soil health, and with the help of fence posts and polywire, he has greatly extended his grazing season. 

References and Links:

Manitoba Grass-Fed Beef Association http://www.manitobagrassfedbeef.ca/About/Tkachyk/

Manitoba Beef www.manitobabeef.com 

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSugCIc23bot5a2OhRGagdA

Instagram & Twitter: @lifeonamanitobafarm  

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Prior to her role with MCA, Pam was the General Manager for two Manitoba commodity organizations and worked for the provincial government in the agriculture department. Pam received a B.Sc. in Agriculture and a M.Sc. in Plant Science from the University of Manitoba.

Pam, her husband, and their two boys, own and operate a purebred Simmental cow/calf operation near Haywood, Manitoba. Pam’s spare time is spent photographing her farms’ activities and being her boy’s biggest fan at their sporting and 4-H events.

Pam shares some of the history and background of Manitoba Crop Alliance and how this organization is structured to best meet the needs of its members through the use of crop committees.  These committees allow for more targeted advocacy for each crop type.  She also discusses MCA’s 5 main objectives, focusing on objective 1’s priorities, with a focus on variety development and genetic enhancement.

We chat about the “Research on the Farm” and “Whole Farm Research” programs and why on-farm research is important for producers and the industry.

There are many upcoming projects to keep an eye on, including, “Straw Harvesting Strategies to provide feedstock while maintaining soil and environmental quality”, which may have some interest to livestock producers.

If you are interested in finding out more, you can visit MCA’s website (below), get a copy of “The Fence Post” or “The Focal Point” publications by MCA.

MCA website: https://mbcropalliance.ca/

Information Email: hello@mbcropalliance.ca

Office Phone Number: 204-745-6661   Toll Free Number: 1-877-598-5685

Social Media: Instagram: mb_cropalliance   Facebook: Manitoba Crop Alliance   

X: @mb_cropalliance

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In this episode we are talking with Dr. John Campbell about his work with the Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network and some of the key findings that have come out of the project.  

The Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network gathered samples and data from beef producers and herds across Canada to look at many different aspects of the beef industry.  This included breeding rates, calf loss, weaning information, feeding, blood samples, disease testing, economic analyses, etc. and allowed for productivity bench marking showing the top 25% of producers. For more information, please visit the BCRC link below.

We also chat about Dr. Campbell’s recently published article “Update on copper and selenium in Canadian cow-calf herds - regional differences and estimation of serum reference values”, and the impact of insufficient trace minerals.  As well as another recent publication “Producer attitudes regarding antimicrobial use and resistance in Canadian cow-calf herds.

Although this project has reached completion, another project, the Canadian Cow-Calf Health and Productivity Enhancement Network or C3H-PEN will be beginning shortly to continue this research.  If producers are interested in participating or want to find out more, they can email Jayce Fossen at c3h.pen@usask.ca, call 306-966-7870 or visit the link below.

For more information, you can contact Dr. John Campbell at john.campbell@usask.ca or listen to “The Beef Cattle Health and Nutrition Podcast”, available anywhere you listen to podcasts and online at https://bchn.transistor.fm/

The Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network; Beef Cattle Research Council:

https://www.beefresearch.ca/fact-sheets/the-canadian-cow-calf-surveillance-network/

Canadian Cow-Calf Health and Productivity Enhancement Network; USask:

https://research-groups.usask.ca/c3sn/index.php#Contact

Johne’s Disease Calculator:

https://www.beefresearch.ca/tools/johnes-disease-calculator/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Today we are talking to Dana Penrice about her experience with Holistic Management Canada, Ecological Outcomes Verification, and the Regenerative Accelerator Program.

Dana shares what holistic management is and how it is similar and different from regenerative agriculture practices. Dana also shares her role with Holistic Management Canada and HMC’s goals and objectives. 

We discuss this quote, from the Holistic Management Canada Website’s “About Us” page, retrieved October 15th, 2023.  Full link to this page is included below. “There are 271,935 farmers in Canada managing approximately 153 million acres of farmland and ranchland. Land managers are facing growing uncertainty from increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, unstable financial conditions, and rising societal pressures. 2023 has been another unprecedentedly difficult year for farmers and ranchers on the frontlines.

Across Canada, in all ecoregions, farmers and ranchers are facing the same challenge. We have been living through relatively stable conditions and have gotten by with a recipe-type approach to land management. If I do this, I can expect this. In this new uncertain world, this approach no longer serves us.

We need an approach to management that helps land managers predict changes, diagnose problems, and design solutions in contextually-appropriate, adaptive and timely ways for the ecology, economy and for society. Holistic Management Canada is growing the network of practitioners and educators in Canada through our programs and our courses.”

We chat about some of the courses that are offered through HMC and what participants can expect from these.

We switch gears a bit to talk about Ecological Outcome Verification. Including, what is EOV and why it is useful for producers.  We discuss how producers can implement EOV on their farm and what that process looks like.

We also talk about the Regenerative Accelerator Program and how it supports producers.

We wrap up by discussing Dana’s role with and an overview of Young Agrarians and Dana shares one of her favorite resources to share with producers.

To contact Dana, please email danapenrice@gmail.com or find her on Facebook at @Dana Penrice or Instagram at @dana_penrice.

References and Links:

• Holistic Management Canada EOV website page, retrieved October 14th, 2023 https://holisticmanagement.ca/ecological-outcome-verification/
• Regenerative Accelerator Program https://holisticmanagement.ca/regenerative-accelerator-program/
• Holistic Management Canada Website “About Us” page, retrieved October 15th, 2023 https://holisticmanagement.ca/about/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Brenda is also interested in practical solutions to address antimicrobial resistance at the farm level for the targeted selection of antibiotic groups for better animal outcomes and enhanced antibiotic stewardship.

After 35 years with Alberta Agriculture as a District Agriculturist, Beef Specialist, and most recently a Research Scientist, Brenda transitioned to Lakeland College in the fall of 2021. Brenda grew up on her family’s century farm northeast of Calgary, where she remains today helping with their commercial cow/calf, forage, and grain operation with her husband Phil and 17-year-old son Mark. 

Brenda received a B.Sc. in Agriculture from the University of Alberta, M.Sc. in Veterinary Parasitology from the University of Calgary and a Ph.D. in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences from Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia.

To start this episode, Brenda gives us an overview of this project, which encompasses a large scope of research, all geared towards itchy cattle.  In this project, cattle herds across the Prairie provinces were examined for lice, environmental factors, allergies and nutrient deficiencies as causes of itching.  Feed and water were studied for potential toxins and nutrients, and blood samples and liver biopsies were taken for further analysis.  Baldness patches and skin hydration were also studied.

The preliminary results might come as a surprise to many.  The research team found that 80% of the cattle (itchy and non-itchy) had no lice.  About 17% had 1-2 lice per site that was looked at, which is not significant enough to be considered an infestation.  Of the cattle included in the study, only 3%had high enough numbers of lice to be considered infested. 

Interestingly, one of the big takeaways from this study is to consider looking twice at your mineral and supplementation program, as copper deficiencies could be contributing to the itchiness of cattle.  There was a significant difference with the itchy cattle having much lower levels of copper than non-itchy cattle.  This can be determined using blood samples, or liver biopsies. 

Full results will be available in the New Year. Listeners can check out the Lakeland College, Beef Cattle Research Council or AVL Solvent websites for more information.  Links for all of these are available below.  Information will also be shared in industry magazines and through producer meetings. 

We also briefly touch on lice resistance to pour on products and alternative options for producers, as well as the possibility to manage a herd, genetically or though breeding or retainment selection, to be resistant to lice, skin conditions or allergies.

For more information, please take a look at the following links.

References and Links:

• The quote included in today’s episode was pulled from the Background Section of the Project Page, found on the Beef Cattle Research Council website at beefresearch.ca (retrieved October 14th 2023) https://www.beefresearch.ca/fact-sheets/scratching-the-surface-investigating-the-prevalence-nature-and-potential-causes-of-itchy-cattle/
• Lakeland College: https://www.lakelandcollege.ca/index.aspx
• BCRC: https://www.beefresearch.ca/
• AVL Solvet:https://solvet.ca/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Together, they calve out approximately 80 purebred Gelbvieh and Balancer (registered Angus x Gelbvieh) cows and 20 commercial cows and run Gelbvieh, Balancer and Angus bulls.  They have gradually pushed their calving back to early May and calve in a large paddock.  They run their cows as one breeding group with multiple bulls and DNA all calves for parentage verification. 

Deanne completed her undergraduate at University of Guelph with two semesters on an exchange to SLU (Swedish agricultural university) and attended veterinary school at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, where she graduated in 2012.  Since then, she worked at a mixed animal practice in Russell MB for 3 years, followed by 6 years at a small animal practice in Dauphin, also running a solo vet, mixed animal ambulatory practice at that time. She started with Manitoba Agriculture in 2021 in the Extension Veterinarian position and has been working there since.

In this episode, we are discussing herd health planning. We start with a run through of the key times and activities producers need to be planning for in order to maintain a healthy and productive herd from cow-calf to backgrounding weaned calves.  Deanne shares how the immune system works and what occurs when an animal is given a vaccine.  She also describes the different types of vaccines and what someone should be looking for when comparing different products. 

We chat about some of the most common infectious diseases in beef cattle in Manitoba and in Canada, and how cattle are exposed to these pathogens.  Deanne gives us her tips and tricks that are important to ensure you know prior to administering a vaccine in order to have the best immune response and considerations for handling and administering them.  Further to this, we touch on why vaccines might fail in some scenarios.

We begin to wrap up the conversation with discussion on other management measures that are required to provide protection to your herd, what a “closed herd” is and how this may or may not change the vaccination protocol Dr. Wilkinson recommends. 

Finally, we end with a conversation around the ongoing discussion in beef marketing that avoids the use of vaccines, antibiotics, etc.  Dr. Wilkinson shares how safe meat consumption is after the withdrawal period has passed.  

For more information, please contact the Chief Veterinary Office at: chiefveterinaryoffice@gov.mb.ca or call 204-945-7663.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Today we are chatting with Pam Iwanchysko about the inaugural Manitoba Beef and Forage Production Conference taking place in Brandon, Mb December 12th & 13th, 2023.

See the list of presenters and topics below.

Tuesday, December 12th:

• New Technology for Beef Production with Dr. Susan Markus (Lakeland College) Transition and Succession Planning with Tim Lang (FCC) 
• Reducing Methane Emissions in Beef Cattle Production with Dr. Karen Beauchemin (AAFC).  

Afternoon Breakout Sessions:

• Dr. Kim Ominski (U of M) & producer Betty Green: Going Green with Implants
• Elizabeth Nernberg (MB Ag) & producer Kathleen Walsh: Feedstuffs, Requirements and Everything in Between
• Dr. Yvonne Lawley (U of M) & Dr. Mary-Jane Orr: Intercropping to Overcoming Nutrient Deficiencies
• Mae Elsinger (AAFC) & producer Graham Tapley: Fixing Your Pasture Composition

Banquet Keynote Presentation: 

• Lewellyn Melnyk: “Rooted” How to Stay Small Town Strong, Thrive on the Farm and Make Yourself a Priority

Wednesday December 13th:

• Key Findings from the Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network with Dr. John Campbell

Morning Breakout Sessions:

• Dr. Stephen Crittenden (AAFC) & producer Clayton Robins: Sifting Through Soil Health
• Dr. Shania Jack (Morden Vet Clinic) & Clover the Cow: Calving 101: Malpresentations and What to do When Things Don’t Go According to Plan
• Charlotte Crawley (DUC) & producer Gerald Bos: Plant Diversity - Species Selection to Get the Most Out of Every Acre
• Annelise Walker (Maia Grazing) & producer Ron Moss: Grazing Fundamentals: A Practical Introduction to Graze Planning

Go to mbfi.ca to register today!  

Can’t make it to the conference this year?  Stay tuned for more information on the 2024 Manitoba Beef & Forage Production Conference. 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Macros has a number of current research projects listed on his University of Manitoba profile, many of which are looking directly at different aspects of the beef industry in Manitoba and the Prairies.  One of his current projects is titled, “Estimating Carrying Capacity of Crown Lands for Beef Cattle Grazing in Manitoba.”  

In this episode, we discuss how carrying capacity is currently assessed on crown lands in Manitoba and how Mr. Cordeiro is using data sets to estimate forage yield, carrying capacity and stocking rates.  

Also included in today’s episode, is a discussion on how higher stocking rates can reduce or lower the beef industry’s carbon footprint, impacts this could have for producers for future carbon markets and in general, the role of the beef industry in promoting ecological goods and services.

We also touch on another of Marcos’ current projects, titled, “Beef production in the Canadian Prairies: Prospects of feed availability under climate and land use changes.”  We discuss what this project is looking at and what observations have been made thus far.

The final project we discuss in this episode is looking at nutrient export in Canada and how producers can impact surface run off on their operation.

References and Links:

Cattle Country: Manitoba’s Agricultural Crown Grazing Lands – Assessing Potential for Growing the Beef Industry” written by Peter Frohlich, National Centre for Livestock and the Environment (NCLE), University of Manitoba.  Originally published in Cattle Country in March 2023. Accessed on the news.umanitoba.ca website. https://news.umanitoba.ca/cattle-country-manitobas-agricultural-crown-grazing-lands-assessing-potential-for-growing-the-beef-industry/

University of Manitoba Profile: Marcos Cordeiro Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences

https://umanitoba.ca/agricultural-food-sciences/animal-science/marcos-cordeiro

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

They are the third generation on the Edie Creek Farm, where they raise cattle that calve in the spring in a low management system. They have worked for many years to incorporate genetics into their herd that work well with their management, and sell bulls and bred heifers with these genetics at their annual bull sale. 

Jonathan Bouw loves trying crazy new grazing and farming practices, trying to push the envelope of things that can (‘t) be done. Jonathan enjoys seeing the intersection of grazing management & the well-being of livestock operations—logistically and economically. Developing water infrastructure and planting fence posts (temporary posts & permanent) have made a big difference in the grazing capacity and cost of production with limited land resources on his family’s farm.  Electric fencing has also improved cattle-handling psychology as the cattle are trained to temporary electric fence (Polywire), which has a multitude of applications.  Water pipeline infrastructure has enabled the flexibility to create small paddocks that result in short graze periods and long recovery times, which has improved the productivity of their pastures.  

The Genetics of maternal Angus cattle that thrive in low-input management systems is Jonathan’s passion, which is shared with his brother Stefan.  Together with their families, they run Edie Creek Angus at Anola, MB with parents Herman & Marilyn, and have recently acquired the Howrey Angus herd which stay in North Dakota under the care of the Rath Family Ranch in Sterling, ND.  They’re excited about the first “Grazer’s Edge” bull sale, which will be held online & ending November 16th.

Jonathan and his wife Eileen have 4 wonderful kids, and they enjoy being actively involved in their neighborhood & church communities. 

Stefan was raised on a feedlot operation in the small town of Anola, just east of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has always had a passion for the cattle industry, and his parents taught him the value of combining a thirst for knowledge with hard work and passion. Stefan received a diploma in Agriculture from the University of Manitoba while also playing Volleyball for the University of Manitoba team. During that time, he also married his wife Kendra and has since been blessed with four children - Jaxon (13), Mikaya (11), Alexa (9) and Micah (7). 

Twenty years ago, the Bouw family shifted operations with the start of a purebred Angus herd - Edie Creek Angus. Alongside his dad and brother, the third-generation farm now has an annual bull sale, where they sell two-year-old bulls and bred heifers. Their breeding program centres around maternal traits, with fertility and longevity in low input, forage-based systems being focal points. . 

Stefan continues to be an active participant in opportunities that expand his knowledge of the industry. Having taken the Holistic Management and Ranching For Profit courses, he uses its principles to ensure that business decisions benefit his family, the community, biodiversity and profitability.

Through their years of farming, they have attended both the Holistic Management and Ranching for Profit courses, which have resulted in a change of mindset and a change of their paradigms. Together, they are challenging the norms of raising cattle in Canada to increase their profit and to help other producers with profitable beef production as well. 

They believe in the power of sharing information, attending professional development and continuous learning.  Annually, they host a fall grazing tour at their Edie Creek farm and they invite producers to come and take a look at their grazing practices, genetics and management approaches.  Their 2023 tour is set for December 1st from 1:30-4:30 p.m.  They invite you to attend, if you are able.

If you would like to contact Jonathan or Stefan, you can reach them by phone, though their websites or on social media as listed below:

Edie Creek Angus Website: https://www.ediecreekangus.com/

Howrey Angus Website: https://howreyangus.com/#why_howrey

Jonathan: 1-204-471-4696

Stefan: 1-204-232-1620

Twitter: @ediecreek_howrey

Facebook: Edie Creek Howrey Angus

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Joy’s professional passions and strengths are at the intersection of agriculture, innovation, research, and teaching, allowing her to build and nurture high performing teams and programs to accelerate the development and adoption of technologies and best practices to benefit the agricultural sector in Canada and beyond. 

In an article on the Canadian Agr-Food Automation and Intelligence Network website, Joy is quoted as saying, “What I love about what I’m doing now, is that I get the best of both worlds. Not only do we have about 60 projects wrapped up in the smart farm envelope, but I also work hands-on with fantastic researchers, teachers, and students. I’m engaged in research while supporting the teaching and training of the next generation. This is my dream job.”

In this episode, Dr. Agnew shares her role at Olds College and the history of the Olds College Smart Farm.  

She discusses one of the applied research studies monitoring nitrous oxide emissions and how the Smart Farm research team is working to predict the impact that changes in farming practices has on the carbon footprint of crop production, as well as other current studies at Olds College.  More on these can be found in the June 2023 Smart Farm Newsletter, which is linked below.

Joy discusses the development and current phase of the Pan Canadian Smart Farm Network, including the primary purpose of the network and where she would like to see it develop in the coming years.  She also shares where network Smart Farms are located and how they are working collaboratively and individually in the context of this development phase.  MBFI is excited to be one of the Smart Farms included in this Canadian network.

We wrap up with discussion on some of the challenges in agriculture that are being addressed through this work and how Dr. Agnew is hoping this information will benefit farmers.

References and Links:

Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network Website:

https://www.oldscollege.ca/smart-farm-research/pan-canadian-smart-farm-network.html

Olds College Smart Farm Website:

https://www.oldscollege.ca/smart-farm-research/index.html

June 2023 Smart Farm Newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/oldscollege.ca/smart-farm-newsletter-june-2023

September 2023 Smart Farm Newsletter:

https://us6.campaign-archive.com/?u=d4284de5cf8534c07ae591437&id=e9d23583ca

Contact Information for Olds College Centre for Innovation:

1-403-507-7970

occi@oldscollege.ca

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Adrienne starts this episode by sharing information on what “Smart Agriculture” is, and how Lakeland College is a working Smart Farm.  From there, we move into an in-depth discussion on the new Bachelor of Agriculture Technology that is being offered at Lakeland College as a two year degree program.  This program is preparing students for careers in agriculture, involving skills that set students up for success in the rapidly evolving agriculture sector.

Adrienne shares an overview of what the program looks like and how courses are balanced across grain crop and livestock production and gives us a closer look at some of the courses that are included in the program.  Included in this program is a large project that incorporates both the first and second year students, “Farm 4.0 - The Future of Agriculture’ at Lakeland College.”

Further this, she shares some of the career opportunities that students will be qualified for at the end of this program and options to further their education.

We wrap up with a conversation about the collaborative project Adrienne is involved in, “Improving data literacy among producers through continuing education modules and extension.”  This project includes online modules that will be available to producers to assist with data collection, organization and more! 

References and Links:

Lakeland College Main Page:

https://www.lakelandcollege.ca/index.aspx

Lakeland College Bachelor of Agriculture Technology Program: 

https://www.lakelandcollege.ca/programs-and-courses/agricultural-sciences/bachelor-of-agriculture-technology.aspx?utm_term=&utm_campaign=20230118_AgSc_BachAgTech_WebTrffc-PMax&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=6838733874&hsa_cam=19586684360&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjt-oBhDKARIsABVRB0w1UK9qnAPSiFBDrpm_9fozYszBoSEgQ76CM3FS3YvAfVYMkZUSt4saAr8zEALw_wcB

Farmer 4.0: How the Coming Skills Revolution Can Transform Agriculture https://thoughtleadership.rbc.com/farmer-4-0-how-the-coming-skills-revolution-can-transform-agriculture/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate with producers, researchers, education providers, extension specialists, conservation groups, and all stakeholders in field-testing management practices and growing understanding of improved production in Manitoba. Mary-Jane holds a PhD from Purdue University in soil microbial ecology in agricultural systems, is a Professional Agrologist, and Certified Crop Advisor. Her experience in ecology and field agronomy gives her a unique perspective on the challenges facing agriculture today. 

This project started in 2022 and is ongoing at MBFI and has been supported by funding and in-kind donations from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, DLF Pickseed and Secan Seeds.

Mary-Jane begins with an overview of the project, the research objectives and what data is being collected for this project, as well as sharing information on the plot design and implementation.  She also shares some information on the definitions of monocrop, cover crop, intercrop and polycrop for the purpose of this project. 

There are vast benefits ecologically that polycrops provide that aren’t seen in monocrop use, which include forage quality, soil fertility and soil health.  Mary-Jane shares how each of these are being measured in this project and although there were many challenges in the 2022 seeding and growing season for this project, there have been some observations made in terms of forage yield, forage quality differences and regrowth that we discuss in this episode.

We discuss the benefits of polycrop use in terms of the financial aspect, as well as the flexibility this system offers to producers and round our conversation out with a discussion on why this information is beneficial to share with producers in general.

Additional project information for the “Annual Forages for Soil Health Project” at MBFI can be found at the following link: https://www.mbfi.ca/annual-forage-polycrops-soil-health

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In this episode, Melissa shares information about her role and duties as a Research and Extension Specialist with Manitoba Beef Producers, as well as her goals in this position. 

She also shares some information about the background of Beef Cattle Research Council and its importance to the beef industry.  Melissa is actively involved with BCRC and discusses her role, how BCRC’s research program selection works and some research projects that might be especially interesting to producers to keep an eye on in the near future. 

We chat about national resources that are being brought to Manitoba, as well as sharing work that is happening right here, in Manitoba, that is gaining national recognition. 

Melissa is also working in collaboration with MBFI in many aspects.  In particular, we discuss the demonstration of using calf growth promotant ear implants in suckling calves, that is currently underway at MBFI.  There will be some preliminary findings released this fall, looking at calf gains and returns on investment of the implants using a comparison of implanted and not implanted calves.  Looking into the future, this project will also be used to determine if there are any negative effects on the use of implants in heifers that are kept as breeding stock.

To contact Melissa for additional information, please email: matchison@mbbeef.ca

References and Links mentioned in this episode:

BCRC Website: https://www.beefresearch.ca/

BCRC Year in Review: https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/2022-2023-year-in-review/

MBP page with funding information: https://mbbeef.ca/our-news/potential-funding-opportunities-available-for-beef-producers-in-manitoba/

Manitoba Beef Producers: ​​https://mbbeef.ca/

CBIC website: https://canadianbeefindustryconference.com/wordpress/ 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Sydney Gerelus grew up on a mixed grain and cattle farm southwest of Shoal Lake. This fall, she will be going into her second year of her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science, at the University of Saskatchewan. After finishing her degree, Sydney hopes to continue to be a part of the agriculture industry by working in livestock nutrition and management or veterinary medicine.

Jayne Leslie grew up near Austin, Manitoba on a small family farm.  She is currently entering her second year of Agribusiness at Assiniboine Community College.  After graduation, she hopes to continue to work within the beef industry and possibly further her education. After finishing her education, Jayne hopes to one day take over her family’s farm. 

Emily is a commercial and purebred cattle farmer from Alexander, Manitoba. This fall, she is going into her second year of agribusiness at Assiniboine Community College. In the future, Emily would love to have her own purebred simmental herd and continue showing and fitting livestock.

If you are interested in being a summer student at MBFI for future years, or know a student who might be interested, please watch for the annual advertisement for available positions.  As an MBFI Summer Student, you are sure to gain hands-on experience in both the cattle and crop industries.  

The ability to hire these summer students has been made possible through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

In this episode, Carson updates us on the many provincial and national conversations Manitoba Beef Producers is currently involved with.  Included in these are some current trends in today’s beef industry.  We also discuss the new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership and funding programs that are available to Manitoba Producers, Resilient Agriculture Landscape Program (RALP) and Sustainable Agriculture Manitoba (SAM).  Further to this, Carson updates us on the Crown Lands Legislation, we discuss carbon credits, MBP advocacy efforts with Bill C282 and other trade concerns and more.  

To find out more information on any of these topics, or to get in contact with Manitoba Beef Producers please call 204-772-4542 or email info@mbbeef.ca. 

You can contact Carson directly at ccallum@mbbeef.ca

 Keep current with Manitoba Beef Producers on Facebook  @Manitoba Beef Producers or on Twitter @ManitobaBeef.

References and Links:

Manitoba Beef Producers Home Page: manitoba beef producers

MBP Potential Funding Opportunities Page: https://mbbeef.ca/our-news/potential-funding-opportunities-available-for-beef-producers-in-manitoba/

Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) Information: https://www.gov.mb.ca/scap/climatechange/carbon-sequestration.html

Sustainable Agriculture Manitoba (SAM) Information: https://www.gov.mb.ca/scap/climatechange/sustainable-agr.html

Canadian Beef Industry Conference: https://canadianbeefindustryconference.com/wordpress/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Stacey Domolewski is a Research and Innovation Coordinator with the Beef Cattle Research Council.  She grew up on a cow/calf operation in Southern Alberta and received both her Bachelors and Masters of Animal Science at the University of Saskatchewan.  Stacey now lives on a grain farm near Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.

At the Beef Cattle Research Council Stacey works primarily in the areas of forage, environment, and cattle feeding and feed grains. Her role involves both being involved with research funding and the development and maintenance of the extensive resources available on beefresearch.ca.

According to the map on the Government of Canada’s Canadian Drought Monitor, as of June 23, 2023, close to half of Canada is currently abnormally dry or in moderate drought conditions.  Further to that, there are pockets in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick and the Northwest Territories that are currently either in severe or extreme drought. Especially in the prairie provinces, the drought situation has worsened in the past month.  The Beef Cattle Research Council released an online article on June 16th titled, “Facing Drought? Six things Beef Producers Can Focus On” and another on Aug 18th, 2021 titled, “Decision Making During Drought.”  The links for both BCRC articles and the Drought Monitor are available below.

The ideas shared in this episode from the above mentioned article are feed inventory and feed testing; including potentially dangerous substances and supplementation.  We also discuss ideas for alternative feeds, water testing, culling, dry lotting and early weaning.  Further to these topics, we discuss proactive steps to drought planning and how critical rain dates can assist in making big decisions.

We know this can be a very stressful and emotional time for producers.  Stacey encourages producers to reach out to professionals for help, or visit The Do More Agriculture Foundation website at https://www.domore.ag/ for resources surrounding mental health.

References and Links in this episode:

Canadian Drought Monitor:

https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/weather/canadian-drought-monitor

"Decision Making During Drought", June 16,2023, Beef Cattle Research Council: 

https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/decision-making-during-drought/

"Facing Drought? Six Things Beef Producers Can Focus On" Aug 18, 2021  - Beef Cattle Research Council:

https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/six-things-beef-producers-can-do-in-drought/?utm_source=BCRC+Blog+Subscribers&utm_campaign=65572117ba-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_03_22_05_49_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-73388c1b81-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

BCRC Drought Resource Page:

https://www.beefresearch.ca/drought https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/drought-management-strategies/ 

The value of salvaged crops calculator: https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/salvaging-a-crop-here-are-some-things-to-consider-when-valuing-a-crop-for-feed/

The feed testing tool: https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/new-feed-testing-tools/

The Do More Agriculture Foundation: https://www.domore.ag/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC).

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Dr. Edward Bork is the Mattheis Chair in Rangeland Ecology in Management, and Director of the Rangeland Research Institute at the University of Alberta. He has been teaching and conducting research for more than 25 years on basic and applied topics, including integrated weed control, grazing systems, fire ecology, forage production, agro-forestry, and recently, the role of rangelands in providing alternative ecosystem goods and services, including carbon storage, greenhouse gas reduction and biodiversity retention. He has supervised 48 graduate students, including 11 PhD students. Dr. Bork maintains close ties with the agriculture industry, and has given numerous extension talks.

Dr. Bork starts the episode with a brief explanation of what the carbon and methane cycles look like in different aspects of beef production, as well as the difference in the impact between carbon dioxide and methane when it comes to global warming.  He continues with a definition and explanation of what carbon sources and what carbon sinks are and what the biogenic carbon cycle is, in order to familiarize listeners with common terms and components in the discussion of the carbon cycle in Canadian agriculture. 

From there, he discusses the global temperature changes that have been noticed over time and the concerns with this from a global perspective, as well as the impact this has for producers and consumers here in Canada, in terms of both negative, and unintended positive effects.

We talk about the problems and challenges in how calculations for carbon sequestration and emissions are measured or monitored.

Dr. Bork discusses the role and positive impact of grasslands, native prairies, wetlands and forest areas play in carbon sequestration, as well as the impacts of converting these lands to conventional ag practices, both in terms of carbon sequestration and other ecological goods and services.

According to the Government of Canada website on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Agriculture is rated 5th out of 7 sectors shown for the amount of emissions, and accounted for 10% of the total national emissions in 2020.  Relatively speaking, the amount of global greenhouse gas emissions on an annual basis agriculture is responsible for a fairly small percentage of the total emissions.  Dr. Bork shares why he thinks that the conversation seems to have such a focus on agriculture rather than other industries.

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/greenhouse-gas-emissions.html#agriculture 

Dr. Bork also discusses the differences he sees between the impact of conventional agriculture versus regenerative practices, in terms of sequestration of carbon and practices producers can implement on their operations today to increase carbon sequestration.  He also shares information on the benefits to producers of increasing soil carbon on their land.

We talk briefly about carbon credits and opportunities in the carbon credit markets and wrap up the conversation with some discussion on what is next for this research and what still needs to be done.

Dr. Bork welcomes your questions.  Please contact him via email at: edward.bork@ualberta.ca 

Carbon Cycle & Beef Cattle, Beef Cattle Research Council, 2022, obtained Jan 13, 2023

https://www.beefresearch.ca/topics/carbon-cycle-beef-cattle/ 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Government of Canada, 2022, obtained Jan 17, 2023

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/greenhouse-gas-emissions.html#agriculture

Dr. Bork has provided us with a list of a number of scientific articles that listeners may want to review for more information.  If you would like to access a copy of these, please contact Dr. Bork and he will provide you with them.  They may also be available by searching online.

Hewins, et. al. 2018 Sci Reports - Grazing and climate effects on soil organic carbon concentration and particle-size association in northern grasslands

Chaun, et. al. 2018 Ecosystems - Long-Term Grazing Accelerated Litter Decomposition in Northern Temperate Grasslands

Dobert, et. al. 2021 Geoderma - Adaptive multi-paddock grazing improves water infiltration in Canadian grassland soils

An, et. al. 2022 GCB Bioenergy - Quantifying past, current, and future forest carbon stocks within agroforestry systems in central Alberta, Canada

Bork, et. al 2021 Rangeland Ecology & Management - Comparative Pasture Management on Canadian Cattle Ranches With and Without Adaptive Multipaddock Grazing

Upama KC, et. al. 2022 Applied Soil Ecology - Adaptive multi-paddock grazing increases soil nutrient availability and bacteria to fungi ratio in grassland soils

Shrestha, et. al. 2020 Agronomy - Adaptive Multi-Paddock Grazing Lowers Soil Greenhouse Gas Emission Potential by Altering Extracellular Enzyme Activity

Bork, et. al. 2019 NRC Research Press - Herbage biomass and its relationship to soil carbon under long-term grazing in northern temperate grasslands

Lyseng, et. al. 2018 Plant Ecology - Long-term grazing impacts on vegetation diversity, composition, and exotic species presence across an aridity gradient in northern temperate grasslands

Grenke, et. al. 2022 Journal of Applied Ecology - Limited impacts of adaptive multi-paddock grazing systems on plant diversity in the Northern Great Plains

Chaun, et. al. 2020 Science of Total Environment - Limited impacts of adaptive multi-paddock grazing systems on plant diversity in the Northern Great Plains

Bork, et. at. 2020 Soil Use & Management - Soil carbon increases with long-term cattle stocking in northern temperate grasslands

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP),and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate with producers, researchers, education providers, extension specialists, conservation groups, and all stakeholders in field-testing management practices and growing understanding of improved production in Manitoba. Mary-Jane holds a PhD from Purdue University in soil microbial ecology in agricultural systems, is a Professional Agrologist, and Certified Crop Advisor. Her experience in ecology and field agronomy gives her a unique perspective on the challenges facing agriculture today. 

During this episode, Mary-Jane begins by sharing what pasture cropping is, the land types it may be best suited for and some of the benefits and disadvantages of implementing this on-farm.

The Pasture Cropping Project was implemented using an idea from Australia that allows producers to grow two crops in one year, modified to suit the climate and growing season in Manitoba.  During this trial, two treatments were used to suppress pasture forages and then a crop was planted into the pastureland.  A control strip was also used to determine differences from the untouched pasture.  The harvested forage was used for winter feeding cattle at MBFI.

Mary-Jane shares the outcomes of this project, as well as how this is relevant, and possibly a beneficial practice for Manitoba producers who are looking to add diversity or flexibility to their mixed farming operations.

We would like to thank Imperial Seed and Zeghers Seed for their contributions which made this project possible.

References and Links:

To view the full project report, please visit the “Pasture Cropping Comparison” information at: https://www.mbfi.ca/pasture-cropping

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Stuart is a 38 year old farmer on a first-generation farm near Killaly, Saskatchewan.  Inspired by his farm customers while working in agriculture banking, he began his farm career 12 years ago.  Currently the farm operates in forage production – for both grazing and forage seed.  Most on-farm production practices are driven by the five foundations of building healthy soil – keeping the soil covered, minimizing disturbance, planting diversity, keeping a living root long in the season and integrating livestock.

 Stuart also works as a Policy Analyst at Agriculture Financial Services Cooperation for the Business Risk Management suite of products and services for Alberta Agriculture.  AFSCs vision is to build a strong, growing and diversified agriculture and agri-food sector in Alberta, and soil health and farmer resilience are fundamental to that strength.

In this episode, Stuart shares information about his role with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, including his duties and goals in the position.  

Recently, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation has started a conversation about the impact soil organic matter has on crop yields and how this could be used in the future to calculate crop insurance premiums.  We take some time to discuss how this connection was made and how the process to evaluate the relationship was started.  We discuss what this could mean for farmers, recognizing that at this time, it is a very preliminary conversation and that there is much work to be done before this moves from anything more than a topic of conversation.

While this does not mean that there is movement towards reducing insurance premiums based on soil organic matter at this time, it is a very interesting idea and a valuable conversation to start.

To contact Stuart with any questions, please email schutter@afsc.ca. 

Stuart would like to send acknowledgements to Kim Cornish for her work on soil organic carbon that has made this conversation possible.

Links to articles mentioned in this episode:

Should soil organic matter be a factor in insurance premiums? - Alberta Farmer Express (albertafarmexpress.ca)

https://www.albertafarmexpress.ca/crops/should-soil-organic-matter-be-a-factor-in-insurance-premiums/

 What’s the relationship between soil organic matter and crop insurance? - Grainews https://www.grainews.ca/news/whats-the-relationship-between-soil-organic-matter-and-crop-insurance/

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), and  Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In this episode we are discussing the fencing solutions used by MBFI for rotational grazing setups, as well as batt latches and other tools that assist with the grazing practices as MBFI.

For any listeners who are new to the podcast, and haven’t heard us discuss the grazing practices at MBFI, Leah gives an overview of the grazing practices and principles used at MBFI.  For more information on this, listeners can tune in to Episode 4, where Leah joined us to discuss “Balancing Range Health and Cattle Production” or Episode 7, “Utilizing Planned Grazing to Increase Forage Production with Pam Iwanchysko”.

Leah shares information on MBFI’s year round grazing, and the fencing strategies that are used to allow cattle to graze during the different seasons. 

She also shares information on calculating grazing days, how often the herds are moved on different grazing forages, how staff measure the grazing allotment for the moves. 

Leah discusses the permanent and temporary fencing options that are used at MBFI, as well as some challenges that each presents, and any changes she would make to the fencing design at each farm.

MBFI uses a mobile fencing cart for temporary fencing throughout the year.  Leah describes the design of the cart and how it is used.  

Leah discusses the use of lifts versus gates and training cattle to move under overhead wires, the pros and cons of batt latches, from her experience, and other tools that are used at MBFI to assist in fencing set up.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Handout: Determining Forage Dry Matter Yield, Grazing Calculations, and Stocking Rate: https://www.mbfi.ca/production-resources 

Gallagher Fence manuals and support videos are available at: https://am.gallagher.com/en-CA and selecting “Support” from the options menu located at the bottom of the page.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

We start today with a general overview of the 4-H program for listeners who have never heard of 4-H before, or who have limited exposure to 4-H and a bit of information on the history behind the 4-H program, which started right here in Manitoba.  Shannon shares the goals and mission of 4-H and a few of the many program opportunities that are available to members aged 6-25 years. 

We talk about the opportunities that exist through 4-H to foster the development of professionals entering the workforce.  This includes responsibilities that are available to members that provide life skill development at a club, regional and provincial level, as well as public speaking opportunities, and resources that are available to support members in getting career ready.  

The 4-H program has grown to include the “4-H at Home” program which allows members to participate in 4-H programming with their parents, and without needing to travel to club meetings, as well as the “Careers on the Grow” program.  

Shannon also shares information on conferences, travel and exchanges that are available to 4-H members, as well as different scholarship and award opportunities for both members and 4-H alumni.

We wrap up today’s discussion with new and exciting things on the horizon for 4-H in Manitoba.  

For more information about 4-H Manitoba, or the many programs and opportunities 4-H offers, please visit: www.4h.mb.ca or call the Provincial Office at 204-726-1914.

4-H Manitoba can also be found on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

We focus our discussion on Mae’s experience working with leafy spurge, covering how biocontrol measures can be used to reduce its presence. We also touch on a previously completed project led by Jane Thornton, now retired Manitoba Agriculture extension specialist, to train cattle to consume leafy spurge to improve pasture utilization.

Mae was raised on a subsistence farm in the bush in Northern Alberta, so she grew up with an appreciation of farming and knew she wanted to work outdoors.  Mae trained at the University of Alberta in Environmental and Conservation Sciences. As part of that program, she focussed on Rangeland Management. She got her start with Rangeland Management as a student and then a full time biologist with the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA), a branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, working with the Community Pastures Program. That is where she first learned about leafy spurge, but also got first hand experience dealing with rotational grazing systems, brush and weed management, and other management challenges on large marginal pastures. At the closure of PFRA and the divestiture of Community Pastures about 10 years ago, her job changed to more of a research orientation, experimenting with different native and tame grasses and legumes and planting pollinator habitats, but more recently she has gotten back out on producers’ pastures collecting forage and grazing management information for the Living Laboratories Eastern Prairies Project. She lives in Brandon, Manitoba and experiments with gardening when not out and about exploring Manitoba’s multitude of hidden grasslands.

We start with outlining what Leafy Spurge is, where it is found in Manitoba and why it has such a negative impact on the landscape.

For this episode, we have used information and drawn questions from research on the following projects.  The final reports for these studies are available at www.mbfi.ca 

• 2015 - 2017 “Leafy Spurge Biological Control Agents” in collaboration with Bev Dunlop (AAFC) and Jane Thornton (MB Agriculture) 
• 2016 - 2017 “Leafy Spurge and Cattle: teaching cattle to eat leafy spurge” in collaboration with Jane Thornton
• 2019 - 2021 “Understanding and manipulating leafy spurge population with cattle grazing and biological control agents” 
• 2022 ongoing project  “Exploring enhanced biocontrol techniques for controlling leafy spurge” 

In the project information it references, “Leafy spurge infests at least 1.2 million acres in Manitoba and has a direct cost to the livestock industry of 10.2 million based on lost carrying capacity.”  This is a huge cost and a big problem for producers in Manitoba.

Mae shares the most commonly applied control tactics and how well they work in the control and eradication of Leafy Spurge.

We talk about what the economic threshold is, or the amount of plants at which point cattle will reject grazing an area.

We move to a discussion on the use of biological controls or “biocontrols” for invasive weeds like leafy spurge, and what some of the biocontrols are that have been used in the past to reduce leafy spurge.

Mae shares information on the history and evolution of Leafy Spurge Flea Beetle releases and how this has evolved, as well as how spurge beetles assist in the reduction of leafy spurge and when they have the biggest impact.

In 2016, a project led by Jane Thornton started building on evaluation of the impact of grazing on spurge. The demonstration study looked at applying the Kathy Voth method, “Teach cattle to eat weeds program” to train cattle to consume leafy spurge despite having a strong aversion.  We discuss how this training is carried out, as well as the outcomes of this training and the subsequent impacts cattle consumption had on the leafy spurge populations.

Mae shares many possible search topics for listeners to look up, if they are interested in more information.  Further to this, you can always email information@mbfi.ca for more information. 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), and Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Doug has worked with many operations in Manitoba and Eastern Saskatchewan. He develops nutritional solutions with products designed with Cargill’s- Beef Max Ration Balancing Program and markets brand name products like the Right Now Mineral Program which is registered with Altosid IGR.

Casey White was born and raised on a commercial cow-calf operation south of Marfa, Texas. After receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science from Angelo State University, he attended Texas A&M University where he was awarded a Master of Science Degree in Entomology, with a focus in Medical/Veterinary Entomology. 

Upon graduation, Casey managed the Veterinary Entomology Research Laboratory at New Mexico State University for two years. His work was focused around conducting industry sponsored efficacy evaluations of various insecticidal formulations against pest species of livestock. For the past 19 years, Casey has been employed with Central Life Sciences, and currently serves as the Sr. Director of Technical Services & Innovation. In this role, he manages a group of entomologists responsible for supporting customers, end users and sales and marketing groups, as well as conducting field trials, product evaluations, demonstrations, and education of the existing products in their portfolio.

In this episode, we are discussing the new product for horn fly control that has been registered in Canada, Altosid IGR.

We start off with some general information on what horn flies and other external parasites are, their negative impact on livestock and the time of the year when their impact is most significant.

We talk in detail about the trialing of the Altosid IGR mineral at MBFI, including how it works to prevent the completion of the horn fly life cycle, how the trial and evaluation were approached, how mineral consumption was measured through the trial, and what the outcome was for the group of cattle who consumed the treated mineral product.   

Over the trial period we did not observe an impact on cow weights or body condition scores, but did see an increase in the weaning weight as % of dam weight in the treated group.  Doug provides us some context on how this observation may be linked to lower horn fly pressure. 

We relate all of this back to an economic perspective, as well as that of herd health, and wrap up by discussing why this is an important topic for producers to be thinking about.

For more information on the Altosid mineral product, please visit www.altosidigr.com or contact:

Doug Allison by phone at: 204-724-2652 or via email at: Doug_Allison@cargill.com  

Casey White by phone at: 1-972-888-8591 or via email at: CWhite@central.com

MBFI would like to acknowledge and send a big thank you to both Cargill and Central LIfe Sciences for their support, which made this project possible. 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Charlotte returned to the family farm in 2005 where she farmed full time for 8 years with her parents, farming 2500 acres, including forages, backgrounders, and cow/calf. Her parents retired from grain farming in 2014 and Charlotte continued to farm 3 quarters of pastureland and maintained a herd of 65 cow/calf pairs. 

Her family was awarded with the Heritage Farm award in 2022, recognizing that the farm has remained in the same family for 125 years – this is one of Charlotte’s greatest accomplishments.

With her parent’s retirement in 2014, Charlotte sought off farm employment to help supplement her cattle addiction.  She was fortunate enough to land a position as the farm manager for the inaugural season at MBFI. In this position she happened to hear of an opening with Ducks Unlimited Canada where they were looking for someone to establish forage on all newly purchased lands and to work with farmers to establish forages on their own lands. 

Charlotte believes that sometimes the best things in life happen when you don’t expect them, and she jumped at the opportunity to join the DUC team. 

Today, Charlotte oversees the Ducks Unlimited Canada forage and marginal areas programs, manages all forage restoration field activities on purchased lands, and assists with grazing management on DUC’s existing properties.

Cattle farmers are conservationists at their core, and Charlotte feels so fortunate that she can work for Ducks Unlimited Canada during the day and moonlight as a cattle farmer.  Charlotte and her cows recently moved to Rapid City, where she lives and works on her partner’s cattle operation, where they run a hay and straw business, backgrounder operation, grassed yearlings, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 650 head cow/calf operation.

In today’s episode, we are focusing on some of the many programs Ducks Unlimited Canada offers in Manitoba.  Ducks Unlimited Canada is an organization that started in Manitoba with the mission of conserving wetlands for the benefit of waterfowl.  Since its origin, Ducks Unlimited Canada has grown and evolved to include the restoration and conservation of all lands, with a focus on the whole ecosystem.  

The Guardians of the Grasslands film highlights the positive role of beef cattle production in habitat conservation. In Charlotte’s daily work, she works with farmers to purchase, restore and resell grasslands that are vital to both ducks and cattle in Manitoba.  Through this program, DUC purchases land, restores it back to grasslands and re-sells the land to beef cattle producers.  Grasslands are an important part of the habitat needed for nesting waterfowl, and are necessary for the production of beef on the prairies. 

Charlotte also shares information about the Ducks Unlimited Forage and Marginal Areas Program, and what is new for this program for the 2023 field year.  In this episode, we discuss the payments available to producers for these programs, and share that there has been a proposed increase per acre.  This episode was recorded in December 2022, and 2023 program details were not yet confirmed.  At the airing date of this episode, more information and an announcement is anticipated to be available to producers. 

We also discuss what the Winter Wheat Incentive Program is and the benefits growing winter wheat has in regards to migrating and nesting waterfowl.  This program often fills up quickly, so producers are encouraged to reach out early if they are interested in participating.  Through this annual program, producers receive both a financial incentive and support from Ducks Unlimited to grow a winter wheat crop.

If producers don’t live within the target areas, but want to get involved in Ducks Unlimited Canada initiatives, there are many opportunities for volunteering or taking on roles with Ducks to be involved in their initiative to preserve and protect native habitats.

We also discuss opportunities for youth in this episode.  If you are a youth interested in agriculture and conservation, Ducks Unlimited Canada has opportunities for you!

We wrap up by talking about other programs that will be coming up for the 2023 year, so please take a listen for those. 

To contact the office for Ducks Unlimited Manitoba, please call 204-285-9799 or email their general mailbox at du_brandon@ducks.ca.

The website where you can find information about Ducks Unlimited Canada, including history, job postings, etc. is www.ducks.ca.

To find more information on specific programs, please visit www.ag.ducks.ca.

If you want to contact Charlotte to find out more about anything we discussed in today’s episode, she can be reached by email at c_crawley@ducks.ca or by phone at 204-868-5599.  

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In the early 1960’s Ron’s dad became the Kelvington Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) pasture manager and eventually their family moved on to the pasture. Horses and cattle were a big part of Ron’s life. During his teen years, Ron rode on one provincial community pasture and four PFRA pastures while he was going to high school and university. A lot of weekends were spent competing in horse sports at the small fairs and rodeos.

In 1978, Ron graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon with a degree in Agriculture with a major in animal science and a minor in economics. He also married Yvonne Murrison that year and went on to have three children Alison, Ryan and Andrea. All three of their children also enjoy working with horses. Ron and Yvonne have eight grandchildren, who are now the most important thing in their lives.

Direct out of university, Ron started with PFRA construction based in Regina. He checked contracts on the pastures such as building, fences, breaking and seeding and spent six weeks with an aerial spray crew. August of 1978, Ron came to Dauphin as a land manager which was called pasture supervisor back then and held this position for 25 years supervising the 12 pastures in the north half of Manitoba. 

In March of 2004, Ron took the Technology Transfer Coordinator position and was in this position until he retired in March 2012. One of the goals of the position was to communicate with producers on activities that had worked and some that had not worked. Community pastures were involved with activities or applied research to not only help with their operations but also to benefit the agricultural community. 

Ron and Yvonne bought their first cow in the early 1980’s and built up a small herd using rented pastures and yard sites. In 1989 they bought a quarter section just north of Dauphin and still live there. Influenced by Jim Gerrish’s Management Intensive Grazing and a 2006 Holistic Course with Don and Bev Campbell, the pasture for the cows has 23 permanent rectangular paddocks and they are usually moved twice a day in each paddock with temporary fencing. At the present they are a small cow-yearling operation content to have 30 cows. They have a low management herd on the pasture year round using bale grazing to accomplish this. Calving is in May-June, calves are kept over and grazed at their daughter Alison’s place the following year. The yearlings are sold at the end of September from 13-15 months of age.

Ron strives to produce a healthy landscape, make a few dollars and have fun doing it.

If you would like to contact Ron to find out more about his grazing methods or the Advanced Grazing Mentorship program, please email him at mossron95@gmail.com or phone 204-647-9271.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Hydrate the Earth: The forgotten role of water in the climate crisis

By Ananda Fitzsimmons 

Management-Intensive Grazing: The Grassroots of Grass Farming

By Jim Gerrish

Advanced Grazing Systems program online resources: www.farmlearninghub.ca/bundles/grazing-course-bundle-mb

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Based in Indiana, Stephanie Frischie works with the Xerces Society to provide pollinator and beneficial insect habitat expertise in Canada, the U.S. and Latin America for a range of land use types - farms, energy infrastructure, natural areas, and urban green spaces. She also works with the native seed industry and researchers to plan and develop seed supply of important plant species for creating and restoring habitat. Stephanie volunteers as a rare plant monitor with Plants of Concern and is a founding board member of the International Network for Seed-based Restoration.

In this episode, we are exploring two projects that were undertaken at MBFI revolving around increasing pollinator habitats; The Cows and Bees Project and Operation Pollinators.  

Kim and Stephanie share a wealth of information on why we are seeing a decline in pollinating insects in the Prairie Region and why pollinators are so important, not only in agriculture, but in ecosystems as a whole.  They also discuss each of the projects in detail, along with the project findings. 

During our conversation, we discuss how this is relevant to farmers and what implications increasing pollinator habitats could have for the land and crops they farm.  We wrap up this conversation by discussing some ways to use pollinator plots or strips, the timing to plant them and the maintenance they require.

For more information, you can contact Kim or Stephanie at their email addresses below:

Kim Wolfe: Kim.Wolfe@gov.mb.ca  

Stephanie Frischie: Stephanie.Frischie@xerces.org

In this episode, Stephanie also mentions a great resource for you to read.  If you would like to learn more, you can view, “Rangeland Management and Pollinators: A Guide for Producers in the Great Plains” (U.S. focused, but applicable to Manitoba) at the link below:

 https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/20-001.pdf

Each of these projects link to snap shots and a full report on the project and its outcomes, which is located on the MBFI Website or can be accessed by following the direct project links for the final reports below:

Operation Pollinator Project: www.mbfi.ca/pollinator-habitat

Cows & Bees Project: www.mbfi.ca/cows-bees

A very important thank you goes to Mae Elsinger (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) for her advisory role in the Cows & Bees Project. 

MBFI would also like to thank project funders and supporters for these projects; Syngenta Seeds and Xerces Society. 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

For information on upcoming events, visit www.mbfi.ca. 

Brenna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Ecology, with a major in Clothing and Textiles/Textile Sciences, from the University of Manitoba. After working in her field, she pursued her certification in Human Resource Management from Red River College. She has significant experience working in project management, communications, and consensus building.

Brenna has a passion for agriculture and working with members of the entire value chain to ensure positive collaboration from all aspects of the Canadian agricultural industry.

Morag Marjerison grew up in England and emigrated to Manitoba in 2004.  She is a qualified workplace safety and health professional and has specialized in agricultural safety for over 25 years.  Morag has also owned her own farms for much of her adult life, so understands the challenges of matching the practical day to day running of agricultural operations with implementing expected health and safety standards.  She currently works for Keystone Agricultural Producers as the Farm Safety Consultant for FarmSafe Manitoba.

In today’s Bonus episode, we are talking with Brenna Mahoney and Morag Marjerison of Keystone Ag Producers.  Annually, during the third week of March, Canadian Agricultural Safety Week occurs as a public campaign to raise the awareness of ag safety.  This year, that week is March 12-18th. 

Keystone Ag Producers is involved in Farm Safety through offering resources and information, and Free Farm Safety Consultations through their program, Farm Safe Manitoba.  To view the Farm Safe Manitoba website, please visit: https://farmsafemanitoba.ca

Brenna discusses the 4 Building Blocks of Farm Sare Manitoba, which have been created in order to give “bite sized” pieces of information to farmers who are interested in learning more.  The Building Blocks are; Be Farm Safety Aware, Follow the Law, Prepare to be Farm Safe and Sustain Safety on Your Farm.  Brenna and Morag both discuss farm safety as a carousell, which means you can get on board with farm safety at any time, and there is no specific start or end to being safe in your operation. 

Currently, Keystone Ag Producers is working on a wide variety of resources that will be available on their website soon through the Farm Safe Manitoba Program!  Producers are also able to email, call or contact Morag through the website to ask questions, book a consultation or to request information on safety related topics.  Morag is a wealth of information and is one of KAP’s greatest safety resources. 

Morag shares information on steps to better farm safety and the importance of having both farm meetings to discuss safety and “near misses,” as well as on-the-job training for all employees on the farm. 

While the amount of legislation is too large to discuss in the short time frame of the podcast, Morag does mention some very important pieces of legislation all farmers, farm workers and farm owners should be aware of.  These include the Workplace Health & Safety Act, which has aspects that are applicable to all farms, regardless of their size or number of employees and Young Workers Readiness through Safe Work Manitoba.  

Through the Farm Safe Manitoba Program, producers can access free, confidential farm safety consultations.  These consultations can be anything from an email or a phone call, to a coffee shop meeting, to an on-farm consultation with or without notes.  These consultations are set up with Morag, who can give as much, or as little support as producers are wanting and can focus on specific aspects of the farm, or can include a look at the entire operation.   

Before we wrap up, Morag also gives us a few tips and tricks to achieving and sustaining farm safety in all operations. 

To contact Brenna, please email: brenna.mahoney@kap.ca

To contact Morag, please email: morag.marjerison@kap.ca

There are many resources mentioned in this episode. 

To find out more information on Keystone Ag Producers, please visit: https://www.kap.ca

Manitoba Workplace Safety & Health Act: 

https://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety/pdf/whs_workplace_safety_act_and_regs.pdf

Young Workers Readiness/Safe Work Manitoba Website:

https://www.safemanitoba.com/Education/Pages/YWRCC.aspx

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Quinn was a 4-H member for 14 years and held a number of  club positions(e.g. club reporter, secretary, vice president, and president). He had the honour to be awarded travel opportunities through 4-H and traveled to the 4-H Citizenship Seminar in Charlottetown, PEI, 4-H Canada Members Forum in Toronto, ON, and the 4-H National US Conference in Washington, DC.

Quinn grew up on the family farm and has been  working with livestock since a young age. Quinn started buying into the farm and sharing more of the percentage in 2016 and at present day they are getting close to 50-50 split between them. He and his dad work together to run a commercial beef production farm at the moment but growing up they had sheep in their grazing system as well. 

Clayton Robins operates a mixed family farm in Rivers, Manitoba with a primary focus on beef production.  At the present time the operation includes; cow/calf, back-grounding, and custom grazing. The operation included sheep production for about 30 years, until 2009.

Clayton graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and then spent over 20 years with Agriculture and Agri Food Canada Research Branch in Brandon studying beef and forage production: including extending the grazing season, forage-based finishing, greenhouse gas mitigation, modeling, cultivar development, and energetic efficiencies. Through this has co-authored a number of scientific papers. Clayton also served as the Executive Director of Manitoba 4-H Council for 7 years. Clayton is currently employed with Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives, working to support research and extension projects.

Clayton spent several years working on Ag industry development as a member of numerous Boards and committees. Through coaching sport, volunteer time and Board positions with Ag in the Classroom, Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba and other such youth education programs, youth development has been and continues to be an important part of his private life. 

In 2013, Clayton was awarded one of the Nuffield Canada Scholarships, touring the world to study the potential for energy-dense forages in the Canadian beef production model and has since delivered presentations on the concept in 8 countries.

In this episode, Clayton and Quinn share information about their current practices in grazing and cover crop use. 

Clayton discusses some overall trends he has observed in approaches to improving grazing and beef cattle production, as well as how work on their farm has inspired practices in MBFI’s farm operations and project ideas. This has included the use of small diameter bales, dropped where harvested, in the field for later season grazing of bales and intercrop regrowth to MBFI.

Quinn shares some of the biggest changes he has noticed on their farm because of the practices he and Clayton have been using.  He also discusses some of their plans for the future to continue these practices.

Clayton also talks about his experience with Nuffield Canada and the opportunity to be awarded a Nuffield Canada Scholarship in 2013.  During this journey, Clayton started out by considering the role of “energy-dense” forbs on beef cattle nutrition and he shares how their practices have changed and stayed the same since completing his studies.

If you would like to contact Clayton or Quinn about their practices, or to talk to Calayton about his experience with Nuffield Canada, they are very happy to have listeners reach out via email at: 

Clayton: ish@rfnow.com 

Quinn: quinner@rfnow.com 

For more information on the Nuffield Canada Program, please visit: https://www.nuffield.ca

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Katlin Lang is the Co-Founder of FarmSimple Solutions from Vibank, SK.  He was born and raised on a cattle farm near Francis, SK with his 3 brothers.  Katlin was involved in raising purebred Charolais and Red Angus since he could walk. 

Katlin is now a Professional Engineer.  He studied Electronic Systems Engineering at the University of Regina, then worked in Construction Management and Electrical Consulting fields until he decided to get back to his farming roots and try his hand at a tech startup for the livestock industry.  Katlin feels that technology development has ignored the livestock sector and as such the industry is lacking the technology diversity that could be used to improve the lives and economic efficiency for producers who operate on razor thin margins.

In this episode, Katlin walks us through the beginning of FarmSimple Solutions, a company that has created and manufactured technology that alerts farmers to low water or low water temperatures which could result in freezing, depending on the product model.  These products started out as a prototype for a friend of Katlin’s and has since evolved into a business that is helping producers to reduce time and money spent to check water bowls at all times of the year.

Currently, FarmSimple has two products on the market, the “Herd Hand” which monitors water levels, and the “Herd Hand DT” which monitors water temperatures and alerts when temperatures drop and before freezing occurs.  More information on both of these products can be found at their website, by following the link below.

Katlin also shares information on what technologies are on the horizon for FarmSimple solutions to better meet the needs of producers, especially those with pastures in remote locations, which may not have cell service. 

At MBFI in the winter of 2023, we will demonstrate the Herd Hand Dual Temperature to monitor for frozen waterers. In the summer we’ll be trialing the Herd Hand low water sensor in our Brookdale Farm summer water system. Stay tuned for upcoming field days to see the systems first hand!  

If you have questions for Katlin, you can contact him by phone at 1-306-994-5641 or via email at: info@farmsimple.ca 

For more information about FarmSimple, or their products, please visit: https://farmsimple.ca

To try out the cost calculator to see what your trips to check water cost you, please visit: https://farmsimple.ca/calculator/

FarmSimple is also on Facebook by searching: FarmSimple Solutions Ltd. and on Twitter: @FarmSimple_

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

They start calving in mid-April on stockpiled grass and rotationally graze their cattle herd throughout the grazing season. For the last few years, Owen has been selling the steer calves in mid-November and keeping the heifer calves to breed the following summer.

Owen’s dad, Mark, started experimenting with seed blends more than a decade ago. Mostly oats and peas for the purpose of livestock feed. They started trying more complex blends with limited results. They were using 6-8 species but only ever saw 2-3 species in any amount. Now, they use Covers & Co. blends for silage bales, dry bales, mob grazing, early spring grazing, fall grazing and swath grazing. They have used no synthetic fertilizer on their farm for 4 years.

In this episode, Owen introduces us to Covers & Co. A seed supply business built in the small community of Crystal City, MB by founders who believe wholeheartedly in the power of regenerative agriculture, the importance of sharing knowledge and in supporting small communities. 

Owen shares information about why intercropping, growing cover crops, and growing diverse crops is so important, as well as how the use of cover crops and plant diversity can reduce input costs, extend the grazing season and improve soil health.

We discuss many elements of the Covers & Co. website, which hosts a variety of resources, including the Intercrop Library Resources, information on past and current on farm trials. The Small Community Fund, Farm Panel Discussion Webinars and the Soil Health Blog. The link for their website can be found below.

We also discuss where a farmer should start when thinking about trying intercropping or cover cropping for the first time and seed blends currently available at Covers & Co. and what is coming up for them in the future. 

For more information, please visit their website: https://www.coversandco.ca

Or follow them on:

Facebook at: facebook.com/covercropcompany

Instagram at: @covercropcompany

Twitter at: @covers_co

Youtube at: youtube.com/c/covers_co

Email them at: info@coversandco.ca

Every field has its own unique growing conditions and MBFI encourages all producers to seek feedback on their crop rotations and fertilizer recommendations from a Professional Agrologist certified in agronomy. 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Lynda Nicol is the Executive Director for the Manitoba Association of Watersheds (MAW).  She has worked in not-for-profit organizations for over 15 years specializing in strategic planning, operations and communications. Lynda has a Bachelor of Arts in political studies and is committed to ongoing personal and professional development to support her work. In her role as MAW’s Executive Director, Lynda oversees all aspects of the association including member services, program development, industry engagement and stakeholder relations.

Dan Cox is the Project Manager with Manitoba Association of Watersheds. He brings 14+ years of project management experience in the renewable energy sector to the MAW project team. Dan’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science from the University of Winnipeg and an advanced diploma in GIS from Red River College. His role within the organization is to oversee all projects which MAW administers on behalf of the Watershed Districts in Manitoba.

In this episode, we are focusing on two of the provincial projects that Manitoba Association of Watersheds is currently working on; The Living Labs Eastern Prairies and Prairie Watersheds Climate Program (PWCP).  

We start today’s conversation with a brief introduction to the Manitoba Association of Watersheds, including recent changes to the watershed districts, some information about the differences between districts and a general overview of information that is important for producers to know about MAW.

Dan shares information about the Living Lab - Eastern Prairies project, including the main goals of this work, and the activities that take place there.  He outlines some of the main takeaways from the project so far, and gives a bit of a timeline as to when additional findings will be published for producers to review.  He emphasizes this work’s importance to producers, as trial and error could be reduced on private operations based on the outcomes of the work they are doing at the Living Labs.  Following along with the project outcomes could save producers the investments of time and money.  Dan also shares some information on upcoming Living Labs projects and how interested producers can get involved.

If producers want to learn more, you can contact your local watershed district or find information at the link below:

https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-science-and-innovation/living-laboratories-initiative/living-lab-eastern-prairies 

The Manitoba Association of Watersheds is leading the delivery of the Agricultural Climate Solutions  On-Farm Climate Action Fund in Manitoba and Saskatchewan - known as the Prairie Watersheds Climate Program (PWCP).  Lynda shares some information on the primary goals of PWCP and what this program means for Manitoba producers.

There is a lot of information to share on the 3 Streams of funding available; rotational grazing, nitrogen management and cover crops; and we only very briefly touch on these in the episode.  For more information on what is eligible and not eligible for this funding, you can view the fact sheets on each stream, which are available at this link:  

https://manitobawatersheds.org/prairie-watershed-climate-program

Lynda stresses the importance of contacting your local watershed district and talking with them about eligible projects, as they will be able to assist you with your project application, determining what is eligible for funding and guiding you through the process. 

To visit the home page of Manitoba Association of Watersheds, please follow this link:

https://manitobawatersheds.org

To see a list of the watershed districts and to find out more information about your district, you can visit: https://manitobawatersheds.org/districts-1

For more information on Agriculture and Agri Foods Canada, which was mentioned in this episode, please visit: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

David and Diane have farmed at Minto Manitoba since 1980, when a chance to rent 300 acres became available. Armed with $4000 and an MSc in Plant Science, and a lot of determination, they raised a family of 4 and are blessed with 9 grandkids. They also grew the farm to 6000 acres and built a contract ag research business. AgQuest grew to have 26 research crews at 5 locations across Western Canada. The Rourke’s have tried many enterprises along the road, including feeding 15,000 pigs/year with an on-farm feed mill and complimentary ethanol plant. They have milked 500 goats and grown high-generation potato seed from tissue-cultured plantlets. They also tried their hand at breeding wheat, corn and soybeans as well as a short stint at organic farming. 

David has a deep interest in finding a solution to eliminating fossil fuel use in the agricultural sector, which is rooted in his care and concern for the earth we are leaving for our future generations. David shares some very powerful thoughts from his book that dives into the question of whether the life we are living is sustainable, and what will be left for our children and grandchildren, if it is not.

We discuss the practices David has identified as unsustainable in the ag industry and his opinion on what it would look like for farms to be truly sustainable, as well as why this is important, both from the global perspective of extreme weather events and the financial perspective, which hits a bit closer to home.

David shares some of his ideas and solutions to becoming fossil fuel free and steps he is taking on his farm to reduce and eliminate emissions and fossil fuel use.  He challenges other producers to think about ways to reduce or eliminate fossil fuel use on their own operations, understanding that this will look different for everyone, but encouraging farmers to start thinking about the topic and being mindful of the effects current practices and fossil fuel use are having on the environment.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of David’s book, you can visit www.fossilfuelfreefarming.com or www.rourkefarms.com, or David welcomes listeners to contact him by phone if that works better and he will get you a copy.  His phone number is 1-204-534-7531.  David’s book is also available in an audio version.

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

Since joining MBFI in 2016, Leah has been responsible for data collection and record keeping for project and farm purposes. She oversees day-to-day research activities, maintains technology, and is developing skills in project design and reporting. Leah  worked with veterinary consultation to develop MBFI’s animal care program to standardize herd health  protocols for the farm. 

Dr. Everett More graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 1972, and practiced at Virden Animal Hospital for a little over 48 years, retiring in December, 2020. The majority of his practice was devoted to beef cattle, with equine practice also being a significant part of his work. He has, for many years, operated a small purebred Simmental herd, marketing yearling bulls as well as bred heifers.  Dr. More has both a professional, as well as a personal interest in nutrition for both beef cattle and horses. He emphasizes feed testing and ration formulation as key building blocks to livestock health and production. Everett has volunteered in numerous livestock and professional organizations, and was inducted into Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2017.

Today we are wrapping up our podcast series on winter feeding and rations with a discussion on body condition scoring and monitoring cattle weights.  

In this episode, Leah Rodvang shares information on how often MBFI weighs their cattle, the process to do so and why taking weights is so important at MBFI.  Leah also walks us through using a hands on method to determine body condition scores and the benefits this offers over just a visual assessment. Leah also shares some great tips for making weigh days run smoothly and efficiently. 

In the second half of this episode, Dr. Everett More shares some of his perspectives on body condition in cattle from the point of view of both a veterinarian and a cattle producer.  He discusses the benefits of taking time to monitor body condition and the common issues that are seen when body condition falls outside of the optimum target area in different classes of cattle.  Everett also discusses the long term and short term benefits of a breeding herd that is maintaining ideal body condition.

We wrap up the conversation by discussing key points producers need to think about and pay attention to during the harsher winter months.

If you are interested in taking a closer look at the process for Body Condition Scoring or the scale used, please visit: 

https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/beef8822/$file/condition-scoring.pdf?OpenElement 

Other resources that may be helpful include:

https://www.beefresearch.ca/tools/body-condition/#tool

https://www.nfacc.ca/body-condition-scoring-dairy-cow

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In this episode, we are talking about the Bale Placement and Binding Project that was led by MBFI staff in 2019.  For this project, bales for winter bale grazing were strategically placed in two different orientations, and used two different bindings.  The objective of the project was to determine which approach had better usage by cows and how much remaining residue was present from each in the spring. The cost difference between the binding types and labour were also calculated.  

Mary-Jane also shares the general benefits of bale grazing, some challenges that can arise with this type of system, and why this information is important to share with producers from an environmental, economical and time management standpoint.

To view the entire project report, with sections on each topic, please visit: https://www.mbfi.ca/nutrition-feed-efficiency

To contact Mary-Jane and find out more about this project, or any of the other projects or events at MBFI, please call her at 431-255-0011 or email at information@mbfi.ca

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Kim Moffat has been a counselor for over 30 years. For the last 22 years, Kim has specialized in the area of Agricultural Mental Health. She has provided counseling and support to farm families for 20 years at the Manitoba Farm, Rural and Northern Support Services. In 2020 that service was relocated into Winnipeg.

Kim grew up on a small mixed farm in Western Manitoba. She moved away to receive her education in Psychiatric Nursing, and then upon marrying her husband Brent, returned to his family farm in the Strathclair area. Raising cattle was their passion but the financial strain caused by the BSE crisis, saw them make the difficult decision to leave the farm.

Aware of the gap in service for  farmers to access help, Kim partnered up with colleague and mental health advocate Gerry Friesen, and eventually founded the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program.

Since then, Kim has been facilitating the University of Guelph mental health workshops targeting farmers and those working in the ag industry. She has also recently started her own private counseling business prioritizing farm and rural people.

Through her own lived experiences as well as learning and listening to farmers, Kim continues to advocate and push for accessible and informed support for Manitoba farmers and their families whenever she can.

To start this episode, Kim gives us a brief overview of what Mental Health is and why Mental Health Awareness is so important, especially in agriculture, as well as discussing some statistics from University of Guelph Research surrounding the state of Mental Health in Ag. 

We chat about several services that are available to farmers and farm families in Manitoba, including the Manitoba Farmers Wellness Program.  This program originated to fill a gap in services for producers, and has been a project that Kim has been heavily involved in.  She, along with some colleagues run the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program, which offers counseling services to Manitoba farmers and their families at no cost.  These sessions are completely confidential and can be accessed via phone, in person or over Zoom.  To find out more about this program, please visit: https://manitobafarmerwellness.ca

There are several other services listed on the Manitoba Farmers Wellness Program website that are categorized by location within the province.  You can access this list to find out more about the programs available in your area at: https://manitobafarmerwellness.ca/crisis-services

During our conversation, there are several other links provided that can lead you to more information or support services.  Please take a moment to visit these sites.

Guelph 2016 Study; Farmers Need, Want Mental Health Help: Survey

https://news.uoguelph.ca/2016/06/farmers-need-want-mental-health-help-survey/

Guelph 2022 Study; Farmer Mental Health Worsens During Pandemic

https://news.uoguelph.ca/2022/06/farmer-mental-health-in-canada-worsened-during-pandemic-u-of-g-research-finds/

Kim Moffat’s Private Counseling Website: 

https://www.kmoffat.com

Manitoba Farm, Rural and Northern Support Services Website:

https://supportline.ca

Toll Free Phone Number: 1-866-367-3276

Community Program & Services Search Manitoba

https://mb.211.ca

Phone Number: 211

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

During this episode, we focus on cost of production.  Ben shares information on the many cost of production calculators he has built over the years, which are available for producers to access on Manitoba Ag’s website.  The link is included below.

These calculators allow producers to modify their forms of grazing, and choose different calculators based on the class of animal they will have over the winter.  From there, producers are able to calculate their feed costs, and overall cost of production for different herd sizes. 

Ben stresses that it is vital to take the time to input your operation’s numbers so you can get an accurate projection on the costs in order to make the best decisions for your farm.

Ben shares some insight on different winter feeding methods farmers are using in Manitoba, as well as ways to be innovative while still meeting the nutritional requirements of your cattle. 

Ben invites producers to contact him if they have any questions about the calculators, or if there is anything to add to the current calculators.  His goal is to produce resources that work for farmers, when farmers need them.  To contact Ben, you can email him at Benjamin.Hamm@gov.mb.ca or call him at 1-204-392-9350.

There are several different cost of production calculators available online at: 

https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/farm-management/production-economics/cost-of-production.html

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Shawn worked in Ukraine with the Canadian International Development Agency as both a Forage and a Marketing specialist. He graduated from the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agriculture with his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

Shawn is married with two daughters, and his personal interests involve sports, hunting and helping with the family cattle farm along Lake Manitoba. 

In this episode, Shawn and I talk in detail about the Extended Grazing project that spanned 6 years at MBFI. During the episode, we discuss how the project was set up and implemented. This project included stockpile, swath, standing corn, and bale grazing.

We also talk about considerations that need to be taken into account as far as the health of the cattle or preparing cattle to move to different types of grazing, problems that environment and weather conditions can cause when it comes to different fall or winter grazing techniques and the many environmental benefits that extended grazing can provide. 

Shawn shares what was noticed in terms of the difference in residue between each of the grazing applications.

This is an excerpt from the research paper regarding this project, “Extended grazing through swath, corn or bale grazing returns most of the consumed nutrients directly back to the landscape where cows are fed. Manure removal and feed dispersion costs are lower and manure and feed residues contain valuable nutrients that become available to the forage on fields that may not otherwise be fertilized. This improves crop fertility and quality and can extend the grazing season.” 

We talk about the financial benefits extended grazing provides to producers and the overall savings in cost of production.

There are some upcoming webinars and events available through Manitoba Agriculture that we wanted to include in the show notes for today’s episode:

Manitoba Agriculture’s StockTalk Webinar Series information is available at the link below:

https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/online-resources/stock-talk.html

Beef and Forage Days:

https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/beef/pubs/beef-week-jan-2023.pdf

To view the project report, with sections on each topic, please visit: 

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59431152f7e0ab3f0144bfe9/t/5f6189406cae573293b1e07f/1600227705473/2018+-19+-+D17+%28INT11%29+Extended+Grazing+annual+report.pdf

If you would like more information on Extended Grazing, please contact Shawn at 204-239-3353 or email Shawn.Cabak@gov.mb.ca.

We would like to extend a sincere thank you to all project supporters who have made this research project possible, including DLF Pickseed, Northstar Seed,  Secan,  Zeghers Seed, Pioneer Seeds,  Pride Seeds, Legend Seeds, Brett Young Seeds, Horizon Seeds, Maizex Seeds, and Canamaize.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with honours from the University of Manitoba, majoring in Animal Science. Growing up on the farm and being a 4-H beef member for 9 years, it is no surprise she still enjoys helping out on their 4th generation cow-calf operation today, with the 5th generation right beside her.

During this episode, Elizabeth and I discuss the assistance that Livestock Specialists in Manitoba can offer to producers who are making decisions on their winter feeding programs.  This includes help with balancing rations, understanding feed tests or determining what types of winter feeding might work best for your operation. 

We also touch on some of the most common mistakes or oversights that Elizabeth sees when producers are planning for their winter rations.  Elizabeth urges all producers to plan early and conservatively for their winter feeding needs, in order to ensure you are not scrambling to find feed in the winter months when it may be less available or higher cost. 

Elizabeth shares information on topics including the importance of feed testing, differences in rations for different classes of cattle and differences in nutritional needs of cattle who calve in the winter versus spring months.  We also touch on some innovative feeding methods being used by Manitoba producers and some cost-effective strategies to increase the performance of your winter ration.

The link to the cost of production information which shows feed costs at 37% of the total costs in a 300 head operation is below.  The budget for 150 head has it pegged at 45% of the total costs.

COP Beef Cow-Calf.xls (gov.mb.ca) 

Link to the Feed Plan Online Calculator:

MASC Online Calculators

If you are wanting to find out more about winter feeding strategies, or to get some assistance in planning your winter rations, you can reach out to any of the Livestock Feed Specialists through the website below, or call 1-800-769-6224.

https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/crop-management/forages/contacts.html

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Cameron and Lisa Hodgins of Hodgins Farm are 3rd generation farmers on their family farm near Lenore, Manitoba. Here they are raising their four young children; Carrie, Chase, Cole and Conner and farm closely with Cameron’s parents, Ed and Debra. Hodgins Farm has a cow/calf and yearling operation along with raising grass fed beef, pastured pork, chicken and turkey, free range hens and honey bees and direct marketing their products to consumers. The Hodgins are guided by their values and beliefs in the principles of regenerative and holistic agriculture and enjoy discussing their farming practices with consumers and other producers as well as contributing to their local community. They believe that farming within a healthy, resilient ecosystem will result in healthy soils, plants, and animals for our future generations. 

In this episode, we have the opportunity to chat about what it means to both Cameron and Lisa to be raising their children in the farming lifestyle, and in particular, on a farm that uses regenerative practices and is very conscious about their impact on the environment. 

Lisa shares what her typical roles are on the farm and how she balances these with raising their children.  We discuss some of the challenges she has faced raising their children on the farm and she shares some valuable advice for other farm moms who may be facing some challenges balancing the farm and family roles. 

Cameron shares more about their cattle operations and how he manages these herds to meet the needs of the cattle, while also meeting the needs of the land and ecosystem.  He shares information on the Woodworth Grazing Club and his role as a mentor with the Farm Resilience Mentorship Advanced Grazing Project. 

If you are interested in finding out more about Hodgins Farm, their grass fed and pasture raised animals, honey, or other products, please visit them at the links below.

Website www.hodginsfarm.com 

Facebook Hodgins Farm | Facebook 

Instagram Hodgins Farm (@hodginsfarm) • Instagram photos and videos 

Cameron’s Email Address: cameronhodgins2@hotmail.com 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or visit the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

Dr. Susan Markus has over 30 years of extensive experience in beef cattle production and sheep nutrition being currently involved in a large cow/calf, backgrounding and feedlot operation with her husband and 4 children in east central Alberta (Castor, AB) Canada.  In addition, she has been a leader in the Paintearth 4H Beef Club and regularly organizes field trips and educational activities for her club and district. Having grown up on a large mixed farm (cow/calf and grain) in northern Manitoba and regularly driving tractors to perform tasks prior to the development of no-till practices, Susan developed a keen interest in cows that set the path for her future education.  

She holds a PhD in Animal Behaviour from the University of Alberta, a Masters in Ruminant Nutrition from the University of Manitoba and a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan.  Susan started her career with Manitoba Agriculture as an agrologist in the southwestern town of Boissevain.  Dr. Markus has been with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry for 25 years, initially as a beef and forage specialist in Coronation, AB, and since 2006, as a Livestock Research Scientist in the Livestock Research and Extension Branch.  Susan is also an adjunct professor at the University of Alberta and regularly mentors students in various class projects and research.   She started with Lakeland College as a Livestock Research Scientist in their applied research program Feb 2021.

Her background in extension and adult education allows her to bring the science of animal research and new technologies into the classrooms for students and onto the ranch for livestock producers.  While Susan’s research involvement is varied from production, genomics, feed efficiency and nutrition to economics, she maintains a key interest in supporting practical ideas from the livestock industry. 

Dr. Markus is currently working on a project called, “Precision Cattle Ranching for Improved Reproductive Efficiencies”. The project uses three different groups of replacement heifers, located in Manitoba (at MBFI), Alberta and BC. In this episode, she discusses how this project came to be and what objectives she and her team are looking to achieve. She shares her thoughts on managing breeding herds and developing replacements in beef cattle, and how this relates to growth traits, carcass traits and fertility.

A number of different technologies are being used in the study, each was selected for a specific purpose that offers technology that is related to the selection of replacement heifers.  Technology included in this study includes boluses, chute exit scores, confirmation assessments, carcass traits and carcass ultrasound, growth traits, reproductive trait ultrasounds, and cameras to detect heat.

She summarizes what Precision Ranching means, and how targeting the right animals in the right program can be useful for beef cattle producers.  This study brings forward many tools that can be useful in decision making for your program and assist you in increasing profitability.  Dr. Markus also shares information on how producers can use some of the technology in their herd, the cost associated with some of these and the hope for the availability of this technology in the future.

Before we wrap up, Susan shares information about the new Agriculture Technology Degree at Lakeland College.

If listeners want to find out more about the project, you can contact Lakeland College and ask to speak with Dr. Markus.

Lakeland College Website: https://www.lakelandcollege.ca

Stay tuned for a follow up on this project in the future!  Further information and results will be available from MBFI once this research is concluded and data is analyzed.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca

We are back chatting this week with Mary-Jane Orr, General Manager for Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives Inc.  Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate with producers, researchers, education providers, extension specialists, conservation groups, and all stakeholders in field-testing management practices and growing understanding of improved production in Manitoba. Mary-Jane holds a PhD from Purdue University in soil microbial ecology in agricultural systems, is a Professional Agrologist, and Certified Crop Advisor. Her experience in ecology and field agronomy gives her a unique perspective on the challenges facing agriculture today. 

In this episode, we are talking about the Strategic Beef Cattle Herd Development Project that is underway at MBFI.  This case study is in its 4th year.

The episode starts with an overview of the Strategic Beef Herd Development Project, its origin and the objectives that MBFI is hoping to achieve. We look at hybrid vigor and why this can add profitability to the herd.We also discuss many different decision making tools, such as culling strategies and breeding stock selection criteria, as well as their importance and impact on herd sustainability. 

Mary-Jane shares information on the different technologies that are being trialed as part of this project, which includes genomic testing, smart boluses, carcass ultrasounding, eSense ear tags and GPS collars.  Each of these play an important role in gathering information on each animal in the herd and allows MBFI to make herd management decisions for future goals.   

This is a long-term study  with a lot of different aspects and information.  The hope through sharing information about this project is that producers may find elements that are useful for them in their operation, and will ultimately improve the  farm’s profitability and sustainability. 

To view the entire project report, with sections on each topic, please visit: https://www.mbfi.ca/nutrition-feed-efficiency and look for the Strategic Beef Herd Development Project listing .

To contact Mary-Jane and find out more about this project, or any of the other projects or events at MBFI, please call her at 431-255-0011 or email at information@mbfi.ca

There are many great links and resources referenced in this episode.  We encourage you to take a few minutes to view these, if you are interested in learning more.

John Basarab "Genomic retained heterosis effects on fertility and lifetime productivity in beef heifers" https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10.1139/cjas-2017-0192 

John Basarab Background & Information https://livestockgentec.ualberta.ca/2021/06/25/john-basarab-new-head-of-beef-operations-at-gentec/

Recent article in Western Producer on Basarab, “Beef sector faces genomic roadblocks” https://www.producer.com/livestock/beef-sector-faces-genomic-roadblocks/

Alberta Beef Producers Article on Hybrid Vigour, “Rein-vigor-ate your herd” https://abpdaily.com/business-tools/reinvigorate-your-herd/

Graham Plastow, UofA Bio https://apps.ualberta.ca/directory/person/plastow

Canadian Cattlemen Article on Genomic Tools with Graham Plastow, “Genomic tools for crossbred cattle in the works” https://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/features/genomic-tools-for-crossbred-cattle-in-the-works/

Neogen Igenity Profiles 

https://www.neogen.com/solutions/igenity-profiles/

UltraBeef Ultrasound Services - Visit them on Facebook at Ultrabeef Ultrasound Services or online at www.ultrabeef.ca

There are many references in this episode to resources found on the Beef Cattle Research Council website.  To view these, please visit https://www.beefresearch.ca 

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada, and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA). 

We encourage you to follow MBFI on social media, or check out the website for more information on project findings and results, upcoming events and more!

Instagram: @MBBeefandForage

Facebook: @MBBeefandForage

Twitter: @MBBeefandForage

Website: www.mbfi.ca 

Email address: information@mbfi.ca 

Mary-Jane’s Phone Number: 431-255-0011

In this Bonus Episode, we meet MBFI’s four amazing summer students. These up and coming ag professionals have been busy at the farm doing everything from cattle health checks and daily moves, to yard work, seeding, haying and everything in between!  Each of them has a slightly different career path and future plan, but their love of the outdoors and the animals they work with is a common theme.  Join me as I introduce the 2022 Summer Students!

Lauren McKee

Lauren grew up on a family farm Northeast of Brandon where her family has a mixed beef and grain operation along with raising Suffolk Draft Horses.  Growing up, she was heavily involved with all aspects of the farm and continues to help when possible.  Lauren spent ten years in the 4-H program in equine and beef clubs. Much of her free time is spent training the Suffolk draft foals or driving her miniature horses. This fall, Lauren is going into the third year of her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science at the University of Saskatchewan.  In the future, Lauren plans to be involved in the agricultural sector to support and benefit the growth of livestock in the rural area. 

Maeghan McDonald

This fall Maeghan is entering the final term of her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at Brandon University. Maeghan grew up in a rural area near the small town of Brookdale, Manitoba on her family's acreage. She has always had a deep appreciation for the environment and the outdoors, which is what pushed her to study Environmental Science.  While Maeghan did not grow up on a farm, she was always surrounded by farmsteads and people in the agriculture industry, and as such has always been interested in this field. Maeghan is currently working her third summer as a co-op student through Brandon university and her second summer as an employee at MBFI. While working at MBFI Maeghan has been privileged to learn a ton of new skills and knowledge relevant to the beef cattle industry. It has been a pleasure to learn about rangeland management, beef production, and sustainable farming. As Maeghan continues to grow as a professional in the environmental sector she hopes to continue to expand her repertoire of skills and knowledge so she can make positive impacts throughout her career.

Josie Pedersen

This fall Josie will be a 3rd year Animal Science student at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.  She grew up on her family’s commercial cattle operation North of Neepawa and was a member of the Neepawa 4-H beef club until graduating high school. During high school Josie was able to take part in different youth agriculture events across Canada and worked on the family farm for a summer and also at the Neepawa vet clinic. This is Josie’s 2nd summer at MBFI and she really enjoys being in the fields, beef cattle production and rangeland management. Going forward Josie hopes to maintain an active role in the production of cattle and sustainable farming that is practiced at MBFI. 

Oksana Iwanchysko

This fall Oksana will be entering her first year of vet school after completing 2 years of an Animal Bioscience Degree at the University of Saskatchewan. She lives on an acreage North of Dauphin, where she was an active member of the community and has been a 4-H member for 13 years. This is Oksana’s first summer with MBFI and she has enjoyed all aspects of the position and will continue to implement the management practices used at MBFI.

If you are interested in being a summer student at MBFI for future years, or know a student who might be interested, please watch for the annual advertisement for available positions.  As an MBFI Summer Student, you are sure to gain hands-on experience in both the cattle and crop industries.  

MBFI would like to send a special thank you to Canada Summer Jobs for their assistance with funding to hire these fantastic students.

The research programs and daily operations at MBFI would not be possible without the funding from the Province of Manitoba, Government of Canada and Canadian Agricultural Partnership, as well as the partnership with Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA).