The Manitoba Forage Council is actively involved in the management of over fifty extension, research and marketing activities. By working with the following partners, the Council is engaged in the promotion and development of the Manitoba forage industry. Tasks associated with each project include: soliciting applications, distributing funds, monitoring activities, collecting and preparing reports, hiring employees, payroll, and the communication of project results via seminars, conferences, publications and this website.

MFC Partners:

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Agri-Food Research and Development Inititative
• Covering New Ground
• Dairy Farmers of Manitoba
• Ducks Unlmited Canada
• Equpment Manufacturers
• Forage Processors
• Forage Seed Industry
• Greencover Canada
• Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program
• Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
• Manitoba Cattle Producers Association
• Manitoba Forage Seed Association
• Manitoba Rural Adaptation Council
• Manitoba Sheep Association
• Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Association
• Producers
• University of Manitoba

Types of Projects:

Marketing Manitoba Forage Industry Products

• Annual booth participation at the World Dairy Expo & Superbowl in Madison, Wisconsin. (Encourage and support producer entries into the Superbowl Competition);
• Annual booth participation at MidWest Horse Fair, Madison, Wisconsin;
• Market explorations with Mexico;
• Delivered a presentation on the Manitoba Forage Industry to the Canadian International Grains Institute’s international clientele and;
• Hay Certification Program and Listing Service.

Research and Extension Projects

• Pasture benchmarking (combining yield and quality data with weather information to predict yields and thereby predict proper pasture stocking rates);
• Forage variety testing – evaluating growth and yield rates of new and existing forage cultivars;
• Production of beef for the health food market – looking at different feeding systems that preserve the quality of forage fed beef;
• Grazing Club Coordinator – educating producers on grazing and stock management;
• The Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program championed by Canadian Cattlemen’s Association – educating producers about green house gas reduction via grazing clubs, demonstration activities, district seminars, tours or provincial seminars;
• Native Pasture Improvement Program – conserve grasslands by managing aspen encroachment;
• Best management practices to improve environmental sustainability and productivity of grassland systems using hog manure;
• The Manitoba sheep initiative;
• Integrated pest management strategies to increase the success of Leafy spurge management in pastures and wild lands in the prairie region of Canada.

Transferring Technology to Producers

• Manitoba Forage Reference Manual;
• Manitoba Grazing Clubs – 30 Clubs established in the province;
• Manitoba Greenhouse Gas Initiatives – demonstrations, seminars, tours, conferences;
• Fact sheets;
• Annual Manitoba Forage Symposium including a fund-raising auction;
• Annual Manitoba Grazing School including a fund-raising auction;
• Beef and Forage Week;
• Development, publication and distribution of quarterly newsletters and;
• Development and maintenance of this website.

Membership Duties

• Development and maintenance of a membership database.