Alfalfa is one of Manitoba’s most recognized forage crops and is well known for its palatability and nutrition. It is a prized component in dairy cattle rations and is an important feed for beef cattle, horses, sheep and goats. Alfalfa can be used as silage or converted to pellets, cubes or meal.

The federal and provincial government, and its numerous industry partners, have worked diligently to improve our forage varieties and marketability. The “Green Gold Research Program” has helped producers maximize their hay nutrient value by determining the optimum time to cut and bale their alfalfa.

These efforts have met with success. Manitoba producers have triumphed in competitions at the World’s Dairy Forage Superbowl, a premiere annual event held in Madison, Wisconsin, and as a result Manitoba’s reputation for producing world class quality alfalfa is growing.

The alfalfa processing industry is also gaining momentum. There are two ways in which alfalfa is processed – the first involves processing the alfalfa into pellets or meal. Exports of this type have included shipments to Germany, Taiwan and the United States. The second type of processing – the single and double compaction of hay into bales for export to international clients is the larger of the two alfalfa processing industries. Exports of high-quality compacted alfalfa and alfalfa-mix bales have been delivered to the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Manitoba’s compaction industry goes to lengths to ensure their product arrives in top form. Bales are double compressed and then packed into sealed shipping containers to ensure the moisture content and product quality is maintained.

This dedication to the production and delivery of high quality products has elevated the status of the Manitoba forage and hay industry and the promotion of these products at World Dairy Expo and the MidWest Horse Fair continues to do so.

Read the Fact Sheet on Marketing Cash Hay produced by MAFRI.

Marketing Forages and Hay:

The Manitoba Forage Council would like to assist you with the marketing and/or purchasing of forages on the following web pages:

For buyers

For producers & sellers

Auction Marts & Listing