Grazing mentors offer expert advice, path to on-farm funding

Grazing mentors offer expert advice, path to on-farm funding

Mentorship program takes aim at rotational grazing knowledge gap

A new mentor program may prompt more farmers to add rotational grazing to their management plans. The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) has provided the Manitoba Association of Watersheds with access to roughly 15 grazing experts. Those experts are spread across the province and will be made available for one-on-one mentorships through the program.

The 2022 CYL semi-finalists at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference. James Kinley (middle row, far left) and Stefan Bouw (top row, second from right).

Cattle mentorship program invests in next generation

Young producers see it as a way to shorten the learning curve

Two Manitobans are among the 16 finalists for the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL) Mentorship Program, a national youth initiative of the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA). Every year, the mentorship program selects a group of young leaders interested in any area of the beef supply chain and matches them with a mentor in their area of interest.


FaRM program cover crop group facilitators Karen Klassen and Scott Beaton during a tour of Klassen’s farm on July 11.

Cover crop learning program seeks to provide community

Manitoba Association of Watersheds rolls out federal funds for cover crops

A new cover crop mentorship program will provide the location-specific support that books and Google can’t, says one farmer. “It was just another avenue to get in more knowledge and to be able to work with peers to see what’s worked and not worked for them for our specific geography,” said Kim Wilton, who farms

Plett named Cattlemen’s Young Leaders finalist

Laura Plett was one of two Manitobans named to 16 finalist spots through the 2020 Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL) Mentorship Program

Laura Plett’s story and farm plan was enough to land her one of 16 finalist spots in the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders (CYL) Mentorship Program, offered through the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), this year. The finalists, all between 18 and 35 years of age, were selected after a virtual roundtable event Aug. 10. A panel of


(Jenifoto/iStock/Getty Images)

Feds pondering more self-reliance in Canada’s food

'Even if we are already in a good position, we can always do better,' Bibeau says

Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau is looking for ways to make Canada’s food supply more autonomous. In an interview Thursday, Bibeau pointed to her minority Liberal government’s pledge in the throne speech to further support the food value chain. That could mean a review of food infrastructure across the country, according to Bibeau. Specifics aren’t yet

Clinic attendees get into the fine details of combines during a July 13 clinic in Neepawa.

Women take the wheel at combine clinic

Ag Women Manitoba wants to beat back the 
preconceptions over female farm equipment operators

Tiffany Dancho and Pam Bailey don’t think machinery should just be for men. Two of the lead voices behind Ag Women Manitoba, Dancho and Bailey set off for Neepawa and the group’s inaugural combine clinic July 13 in the hopes of getting women more comfortable in the cab. “I’ve been in equipment for 10-plus years,


Manitobans participating in CYL

Manitobans participating in CYL

One transplanted Manitoban and one current resident are part of the latest cohort in the program

There are two Manitobans participating as mentees in the latest edition of the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program. The program, which started in 2010, pairs young producers between the ages of 18 and 35 with industry leaders for a year-long mentorship geared to their individual interests. Participants also have a $2,000 budget for attending conferences and

DFM’s Phil Veldhuis says a mentorship program will make mentorship more accessible than informal arrangements.

Mentorship program sought: DFM

Direct Farm Manitoba will explore developing a program to transfer knowledge in 2018

Direct Farm Manitoba will look at developing a mentoring program for its membership this year. The need for a formal program that links new and existing farmers was raised when members met before Christmas to discuss priorities needs and direction for the organization in 2018. They’ve asked the DFM board to place organizing a formal



Farm Business Management Council Launches Mentorship Program

Anational mentorship program linking Canadian farm families with young entrants is expanding to add the Canadian 4-H Council and three other partners. As well, prospective participants will no longer be required to be enrolled in an agricultural course, a previous criteria for participation. They can now be anyone new to farming, or someone wanting to