That’s just one of the unique topics featured during the annual Manitoba Grazing School, running November 30 to December 1. The school will package several important messages in an entertaining format, as producers and industry specialists meet at the Keystone Centre to discuss a wide range of forage production and management topics.

“It’s been a challenging year, so we want to make the school as light and fun as possible,” says Marc Boulanger, with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI), based in Souris. “The program is geared to help producers learn new grass farming techniques, have a chance to rub shoulders with other producers and researchers; and have some fun at the same time.”

More than 15 speakers, including livestock and forage specialists, researchers and producers from Western Canada and Northern U.S. states will cover a wide range of topics around the theme of Tough Choices for Tough Times.

Ben Thorlakson, of Airdrie, Alta. a beef producer and chairman of the Canadian Beef Export Federation, and Duane McCartney, a beef cow/calf management and grazing systems specialist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lacombe will set the stage with their upbeat messages. Thorlakson will review the potential for Canadian beef exports, while McCartney will help prepare participants for the Grassland Revolution.

Other plenary sessions during the school include Ben Bartlett a Michigan extension agent, veterinarian and livestock producer talking about how to balance grass growth and animal performance, while Dennis Laycraft, executive vice president of the Canadian Cattleman’s Association will provide an outlook for the Canadian beef industry as it regains it footing in a post-BSE era.

The main part of the Tuesday and Wednesday “school” program will feature 12 break out sessions that get down to valuable brass tacks techniques and strategies to improve forage production that ultimately improve the productivity and profitability of beef production.

Glenn Friesen, provincial forage specialist with MAFRI in Carman captures the tone of the sessions in his talk “Viagra for Your Pastures – Renovation and Rejuvenation of your Natural Resources." He will describe techniques to put new life into tired pastures.

Other sessions include: Don Green, a producer and consultant from Fisher Branch, Manitoba looking at extended grazing and low-cost wintering systems; Sandy Russell, a Saskatchewan Agriculture specialist reviewing Grazier’s Arithmetic, the economics of grazing systems; Melinda German, MAFRI cow/calf specialist based in Winnipeg discussing Freedom 75 – Retiring Your Cows Later in Life; and Gene Goven, a producer from Turtle Lake, North Dakota providing insights into management practices he uses for a more profitable ranch.

Manitoba Agriculture forage technician Larry Fischer from Gladstone will explain how he makes a profit on grass calves; Hugh Blair, a producer from Woodside, Manitoba will describe his successful grazing system; while Neil Dennis, a producer from Wawota, Saskatchewan will describe techniques he uses to improve the economics of livestock and forage production.

Research topics covered during the breakout sessions include, Dr. Tim McAllister with AAFC’s Lethbridge Research Centre discussing bloat control techniques on range, Dr. Martin Entz of the University of Manitoba, looking at the impact of grazing management on soil quality, and Drs. Karin Wittenberg and Kim Ominski both with the University of Manitoba’s Animal Science Department describing the important link between proper livestock and pasture management and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Cost of the school is $125 per person and pre-registration is required. For more information on the school or to register contact your nearest agriculture representative office, or the Manitoba Forage Council, 346 Belvidere Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3J 2H3; Phone (204) 889-5699, Fax (204) 897-4086 or email mfc@mbforagecouncil.mb.ca

-30-

For more information, contact:

Marc Boulanger
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Phone: (204) 483-2153 office; (204) 483-0458 cell
Email: maboulange@gov.mb.ca

Pat Walker, beef project coordinator
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program for Canadian Agriculture
Calgary, AB
Phone: (403) 601-8991