We’re much more than hay & grass!

Producers know the benefit of quality hay and grass but do you? Properly managed hay and grassland translate into safe, high quality meat and dairy products! We’re a very important first part of the food chain and without it – well, our livestock and our consumers would not be happy campers.

Our producers have long recognized the benefits of pasture rotations (moving animals frequently between pastures) and many have implemented this practice. This process protects and improves the grassland (as the plants are given plenty of time to rest and regrow) and facilitates manure distribution, reducing the possibility of manure runoff into adjacent streams and water ways.
Improved soil health, water and air quality are also the result of well maintained grassland. Alfalfa, a key component of pasture land is a nitrogen fixing plant, providing nutrients in a natural way. Wildlife also benefits from well managed land – creating a welcoming environment and protection from the elements for a range of animals.

As most goods and services provided by grasslands are not paid for directly, they are easily overlooked, but the socio-economic value of grasslands in Manitoba is estimated to be $936 million annually, with a range of $702 million to $2,518 million per year, according to a report in the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment. Read the full article here.

WHAT’S NEW!

SIGN UP for the 2013 Green Gold Program NOW!  - Maximize your hay quality by harvesting your alfalfa stand at the optimum time! E-mail John McGregor, Green Gold Program Coordinator now, to receive FREE tested results twice weekly from numerous regions across the province and know the best window to cut your hay. Through this year’s sponsorship, MFC has been able to expand the regional testing to include Arborg, Beausejour, Somerset, Virden, Teulon (to be confirmed), and the South-East area of the province. Learn more about the Green Gold Program.

HOW TO VIDEO: Evaluate Alfalfa Stands For Winterkill - Learn how to scout and assess early re-growth of alfalfa and mixed-species stands in this video from RealAgriculture.com. Glenn Friesen, provincial forage specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, gives us the step by step process to assess winterkill levels and production potential of the stand. Also in this video, get tips for supporting growth this year, even for poorer stands.

Provincial Hay and Silage Day - June 11, 2013 in Neepawa, MB – Workshops and In-field Demonstrations. Topics include: How to Harvest High Quality Hay, Fertility for Alfalfa for Optimum Production, The Economics of Hay and Silage Storage, and Putting Up High Quality Silage. Click here for more information or to register.