Manuals and meetings and clubs and classrooms are among the several tools used by the Manitoba Forage Council (MFC) to deliver a message showing the production and environmental benefits of improved forage management, says the executive director of the province-wide, producer-run organization.

The new forage and grassland reference manual, ration balancing seminars, grazing clubs and the Manitoba Grazing School, all funded by producer memberships as well as provincial and federal sources, are geared to help producers improve grass management and overall profitability, says Roberta Currah, at the MFC office in Winnipeg.

“And we can’t forget about on-going interest in on-farm demonstration projects as well,” she says. “Projects include everything from swath and bale grazing, to portable windbreaks, to rotational grazing systems, and even a look at how goats can be used to extend the grazing season. Not every technique will benefit every producer, but grass and forage managers are interested in seeing their options.”

Approximately $160,000 over the past two years from the beef sector of the federal Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program for Canadian Agriculture (GHGMP) has been an important boost to MFC activities. Another $71,000 is being allocated for 2005-6. The money has been invested in dozens of projects that increase awareness and knowledge of improved forage production practices, and how those practices impact greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration associated with the beef cattle industry. Funding of these GHGMP projects is administered through the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.

“Doing a better job of forage management not only improves farm and ranch profitability, but is also good for the environment,” says Currah. “Although greenhouse gas emissions are a natural component of the biological systems producers work with, they do represent energy and nutrient losses. Understanding how to minimize these losses makes good environmental and economic sense.”

Productive forages and pastures, and healthy soils, for example, help capture the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and store it as carbon in the soil. Improved feed efficiency helps reduce the amount of methane produced by livestock. And even swathing feed in the summer so cattle can graze in the winter, reduces the amount of tractor and feed truck operating time, which helps reduce emissions produced from burning fossil fuels, while significantly reducing feed costs for producers.”

Some of the major projects supported by GHGMP funding include about $5,000 toward completion of the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Reference Manual. The manual, that includes a collection of technical fact sheets, will be useful to those involved in the forage and livestock industry in Western Canada.

“The reference information can be used by producers to assist in grazing management, planning, investigation alternatives for livestock watering facilities, fencing options, and using a combination of tame and native forage production and management,” says Currah.

Along with GHGMP, other major sponsors of the project included the Greencover Canada Technical Assistance Program and the provincial Covering New Ground program. For more information on the manual contact the MFC office at (204) 889-5699.

Financial support has also helped rejuvenate and expand a network of producer grazing clubs across the province. From five initial established in 2001, numbers jumped to 20 clubs in 2003 with GHG involvement, and reached 27 clubs in 2004 with Greencover Technical Assistance.

“Each of the original 20 clubs received $1,000 from the greenhouse gas mitigation program initially and then $350 in each of the last two years to cover operating expenses and activities,” says Currah. The other seven new clubs have received the reference library. “The seed money is important to help producers get the clubs operating.”

The MFC has now hired four grazing club co-ordinators to provide club support in planning activities. Each club has access to a portable forage management library, many hold regular meetings particularly through the non-growing season, they organize on-farm demonstrations, field days, and there is producer-to-producer support in improving forage management.

“The clubs work closely with the forage council and have become an important tool in introducing information about improved forage management practices at the local level,” says Currah.

The council, has made use of GHGMP funding to help stage the popular Manitoba Grazing School each December which attracts more than 500 producers to two-days of seminars and workshops. The program also supported the long-running Manitoba Beef and Forage Days in mid-January, which drew some 1,500 producers to a series of one-day seminars in seven locations across the province. And GHGMP funding is also helping present the Manitoba Forage Symposium March 23 and 24 in Winnipeg. This symposium will be of interest to all forage producers including those producing forages for export. More details on the symposium can be found on the MFC website at: www.mbforagecouncil.mb.ca

Dozens of on-farm demonstration projects showing improved livestock management and forage production practices have been set up across the province organized jointly by producers, provincial government agriculture extension specialists and conservation districts.

On going projects include, for example, use of portable shelters in conjunction with bale and swath grazing in the Turtle Mountain Conservation District; rotational grazing systems organized through the Reston and Area Grazing Club; benefit of legumes for grazing through the Cartwright Grazing Club; demonstration of fencing and pasture watering systems in the Eastern/Interlake Region; and use of a heavy drill to direct seed forage seed to help rejuvenate established pasture and hayland. The drill was used by 22 producers over about 2,000 acres.

“All demonstration projects are cost-shared by the producers and the GHGMP on a regional basis,” says Currah.

In all parts of the province there has been a strong emphasis on communicating the benefits of improved forage and pasture management to producers. Meetings, summer tours, training workshops, pasture walks, and livestock nutrition talks organized through various players have been used to make producers aware of improved and new production practices.

“It’s important that producers become aware of these useful and practical techniques that can be used on their own farms,” says Currah. “It’s great value to many to see what projects look like out in the field, to be able to talk to specialists, and also just be able to talk to other producers about their problems and ideas and what works or doesn’t work for them.

“Without the co-operation and support of the GHGMP we wouldn’t have had nearly the success of getting out the message about improved forage management to producers,” she adds. “With those program funds we were able to leverage other funds and be able to connect with many more producers.”

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