The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association will kick off its seventh regenerative agriculture conference next month with the theme “Open Minds, Open Opportunities.”
The event takes place Nov. 12-13 at the Victoria Inn in Brandon.
Why it matters: Regenerative agriculture, often pitched as a win-win for cost efficiency and sustainability, has gained attention from farmers and policy makers in the last decade.
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Association executive director Duncan Morrison said the theme was selected by producer boards.
“They had a discussion of what our theme was going to be, and it really means a lot to them. The purpose of the conference is to hopefully have people come in, hear something that triggers them, and act on an opportunity.”
There is a full speaking schedule for the event, along with a trade show and other features. Speakers include farmers, provincial government staff and industry experts.
John and Deanne Chuiko from CJ Ranching in northwestern Saskatchewan will share experiences from their holistically managed ranch, emphasizing financial, environmental and social practices. That includes use of GPS tracking collars for cattle.
“They’re really trying some really cool stuff,” Morrison said.
Tim Poole from the wildlife branch of Manitoba Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources will discuss results of the 2024 MFGA bird survey on nine regenerative ag farms. Results of this year’s survey were positive, Morrison said.
“Every farm surveyed had some form of a natural area nearby, whether that be a wetland or grassland, showing a clear correlation between these natural areas and bird populations.”
The MFGA is already planning next year’s survey, with discussions about potential partnerships with Canadian Important Bird Areas and Birds Canada.
Keynote presenter David Irvine will speak on the natural evolution of families living on the land. The talk will focus on family dynamics and successful farm transition, including strategies to foster trust and communication within farming families to set up generational transfers. The same session will feature a producer panel.
“Each year, we try to bring in a couple of new things that we haven’t done before. We’ve partnered with Holistic Management Canada to co-ordinate this session,” said Morrison.
Other topics include demographic shifts in farming, with particular emphasis on family farm transition and financial decision making. Attendees will hear from a panel of producers about the nuances of managing farm finances in today’s economy.
“It’ll resonate with a lot of the attendees, and I think it’s just going to be a wonderful session, through and through,” Morrison said.
Another keynote speaker, Will Harris of White Oak Pastures, will deliver a virtual talk entitled A Bold Return to Giving a Damn, which will focus on his transition to his current farm practices.
“We’ve been after Will Harris for probably two, maybe three years to come attend, and the reason we do that is because he’s really established himself as an advocate for the way that many of our people are farming,” Morrison said.
Harris will discuss holistic health of soil, livestock and farm finances.
Morrison noted the historical context of the talk. Regenerative agriculture isn’t new, and practices like rotational grazing are based on the natural movement of bison. Others tie to traditional agricultural practices.
Day two of the conference will feature North Dakota’s Paul Overby, who will present on regenerative crop rotations, and Stuart Chutter from Saskatchewan, who will speak on building resilience in agriculture.
The association has also added programming for children. The Holistic Management Canada Kids Program, designed for children ages four to 12, will occupy kids with land and nature-based activities while parents attend the wider conference.
Registration is open on the MFGA’s website.
