South West Manitoba Grazing Clubs

Welcome to the South West Manitoba Grazing Club Page

Grazing Clubs are an easy, casual way to gain expertise in all aspects of grazing and forage management. By attending meetings and visiting experienced graziers, one has the opportunity to see what works for others and choose what strategy will work for you. Check out a club near you to learn about about intensive grazing management, managing water sites, new fencing options, holistic management and more.

Read below to see what some southwestern clubs have been doing over the past year.

Check out our Upcoming Events page to see if there’s a tour or event you’re interested in attending.

If you are interested in learning more or joining a Club, please refer to the following table to locate a Club near you.

South West Manitoba Grazing Club Contacts

Southwest Clubs	Grazing Club Name	Grazing Club Coordinator	MAFRI Contacts
Alexander	Grand Valley/ Mid Assiniboine	.	Jane Thornton (204) 483-3094 or 729-1387 jane.thornton@gov.mb.ca
Miniota	Miniota and Area Beef Producers (Upper Assiniboine River Conservation District)	Michael Thiele (204) 759-3309 mthiele@mts.net	John Patterson (204) 764-3010 john.patterson@gov.mb.ca, Ryan Canart (204) 567-3554 ryan.canart@gov.mb.ca
Minnedosa	Minnedosa Beef and Grazing Club	Michael Thiele (204) 759-3309 mthiele@mts.net	Carma Levandoski (204) 867-6572 carma.levandoski@gov.mb.ca
Minto/Boissevain Turtle Mtn	Minto/Boissevain Club	.	Rhonda Coupland (204) 534-2010 rhonda.coupland@gov.mb.ca
Reston/Pipestone	West Souris Beef Club	Michael Thiele (204) 759-3309 mthiele@mts.net	Melissa Springer (204) 522-0791 melissa.springer@gov.mb.ca
Shoal Lake	Shoal Lake Club	Michael Thiele (204) 759-3309 mthiele@mts.net	Elmer Kaskiw (204) 759-4053 elmer.kaskiw@gov.mb.ca
Kenton/Lenore	Woodsworth Club	Michael Thiele (204) 759-3309 mthiele@mts.net	Murray Frank (204) 573-7412 murray.frank@gov.mb.ca
McAuley	Border Club.	Michael Thiele (204) 759-3309 mthiele@mts.net	.
Carberry	Greener Pastures	.	Rejean Picard (204) 825-8054 rejean.picard@gov.mb.ca

Past Events

North Dakota Tour of Bismarck Area Ranches

June 24-26, 2007

Attended by Central & South West Grazing Clubs

32 ranchers and 3 Ducks Unlimited personnel were on the tour; five from the Saskatchewan Grazing Club and half from the North West and South Central Manitoba Clubs; (3 from Greener Pastures, 2 from Argyle, 1 from Boissevain, 1 from Minnedosa, 4 from Grand Valley and the rest from South Central Manitoba Clubs).

Ranchers Gabe Brown and Ken Miller, and USDA agronomist Jay Shurer gave a seminar describing their holistic management experience and the methods they use to attain their objectives of increased organic soil content, increased rate of water infiltration and reduced costs of production. In both ranchers’ cases, this has been achieved by growing forage and cover crops in the grain and silage rotation, using a variety of legumes, and by rotational grazing.

Gabe Brown explained that since he converted to these systems, his yields have increased while the inputs of artificial fertilizer and herbicides have decreased 75% and 50%, meanwhile his grain and beef production has increased by almost double. He uses many rotations and prospers from all. For instance, Gabe will plant triticale and hairy vetch together, silage the triticale, then graze the remainder in late summer and again next year. Alternatively, he may plant a cover crop into the vetch aftermath in July or August, then graze it in late fall and the following year. The cover crop is described as a “cocktail mix” of various plants capable of penetrating the soil hard pan, loosening the soil and building organic content. These include radish, turnip, sweet clover, alfalfa, vetches, and peas, often including oats and barley. His favourite sequence of crops in new land is: alfalfa, corn and hairy vetch, peas, hairy vetch with triticale, sweet and red clovers, then the cocktail mix such as millet / cow peas / radish / canola / turnip. He inter-seeds poor stands with trefoil, sanfoin, millet and Cicer Milkvetch. Gabe is happy so far with a trial with Falcata alfalfa, a yellow flowered type.

Jay Shurer described how several of the ranchers use “cocktail” mixes to penetrate the hard pan and allow better root penetration and water infiltration. It also increases the organic content. Increasing soil water improves forage and grain production and lowers costs, even without, or with much less, artificial fertilizer. Jay showed two soil profiles: hard pan and with cover crops. The cover crop soil was much better. He claims that almost all soils that have been farmed for decades have a hard pan problem.

Ken Miller farms full time while being employed as a County Conservation District crop specialist. He farms in much the same manner as Gabe but has an irrigated pasture used to supplement rain fall. Ken grows corn with legumes, usually Cicer Milkvetch, and Triticale with Hairy Vetch, then grazes well through winter. He often uses the “Cocktail” cover crops as well. He showed where they are winning the fight with leafy spurge on native pasture using two types of Europian beetles.

The group drove to Gene Goven’s place north of Turtle Lake to observe his all-native pasture. Gene listed his management objectives: increase organic soil content, and moisture infiltration, increase biodiversity and extend the growing season. He showed how he rotates to distant paddocks to leave manure dwelling flies behind, leaves plenty of grass for the next rotation, keeps time on paddocks short, and lengthens the rest period (wants 60 – 80 days rest). Gene set up infiltration rings in pasture soil, added the equivalent of one inch of rainfall, and demonstrated how quickly and effectively the improved soils took in the water. He pointed out how the small sloughs on his pasture had little or no water in them while neighbouring pastures had some to plenty; his will fill in later while the neighbours’ go dry because of the superior infiltration capability of his soils.

The group toured Myron Lick’s place to observe a ranch converted from an entire grain operation to a certified beef operation. His main objective, beyond soil improvement, is to increase the Omega-3 content in his beef. He uses no chemicals, has almost no disease problems, and breeds for shorter, guttier animals through Angus lineage. He swath grazes and will bail graze this next winter. Myron calculates that if a cow provides 50 lb. of excrement per day; valued at $.20/day, he is gaining $21.53/ac. He uses grain/legume crops, cocktail cover crops, rotational and extended fall grazing in similar manner to the others in that group. He also grazes chickens in movable cages on his front lawn and can’t meet the buyers’ demands.The fertilizer input from the chickens is tremendous.

Winter triticale and hairy vetch

Hairy vetch fixes nitrogen that future crops can utilize.

Gabe Brown

Gabe is using mixtures of legumes, cereals and other crops such as radish and turnip to increase diversity, water infiltration and soil health.

Jay Shurer

Jay Shurer (United States Department of Agriculture – Agrologist) – Jay discussing the value of different root types to penetrate deep into the soil and increase water infiltration and reduce compaction and hard pan.

Gene Goven

Gene Goven discussing water infiltration and soil microorganism activity in his native pasture.