The BC Forage Council and the North Okanagan Livestock Association are hosting a free Grazing Management Workshop on March 1st from 5:30 – 9:30 pm at The Prestige Hotel in Vernon, BC.
Join us to dig into advanced grazing principles, including topics such as forage supply analysis and carrying capacity of the land, animal nutrition and pasture staging.
To register for this free workshop please click this link to fill out the registration form or email info@bcforagecouncil.com to register or if you have any questions.
We hope you’ll be able to join us!
Online Grazing Club
Time: Wednesdays from 6 – 8pm PT
Dates: January 11th – February 15th
Join us for six free informative sessions on Advanced Grazing Systems!
The goal of the online Grazing Club is to provide additional resources to producers who want to enhance their grazing systems. The club will complement the national AGS online program, as we focus on the BC context, have hands-on activities, answer questions, & build a network of support. Access resources to develop your own grazing management plan and use it to apply for OFCAF cost-share funding.
Be sure to follow up on Facebook for any updates!
Forage Extension in the Central Interior
BCFC Annual General Meeting
Join BCFC at our Annual General Meeting on Friday, Dec 9 from 1p.m. – 4:30p.m. where members discuss business matters, ask all their questions and learn about current and future programs and projects. Everyone is welcome to attend this FREE event.
The AGM will be hosted at the TRU Williams Lake Campus (register here to attend in person), and will have a virtual option available (register here to attend virtually).
Grazing Workshop – Williams Lake
Following our AGM, we are hosting our Grazing Management Workshop on Dec 10 and 11, from 10a.m. – 4:30p.m., at the Ramada Convention Centre in Williams Lake.
The workshop features speakers with real Cariboo experience, joining us to dig into advanced grazing principles, including topics such as forage supply analysis and carrying capacity of the land, animal nutrition and fencing systems. Plus, an opportunity to get one-on-one support towards developing a Grazing Management Plan with one of our Grazing Mentors (details below)!
At the workshop, we will provide information on new grazing programming from Canadian Forage and Grassland Association that we’re delivering provincially — including how to access cost-share funding to help you implement your Grazing Management Plan through the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF).
Workshop registration fees covers lunch, snacks and beverages over the two days: $20 for a single ticket, or $35 for two people (same operation).
Sign up for One-on-One with a Grazing Mentor!
Are you interested in the opportunity to sign up for one-on-one time with a Grazing Mentor to discuss your project idea(s) & work on finalizing an application for funding?!
You must sign up in advance to secure a spot, and connect with your mentor before the workshop (detailed above) to provide baseline information.
Important: a grazing plan costs $1,750 to complete, and the OFCAF will reimburse $1,500 — and you’ll leave the session with your application for a Grazing Plan submitted!
Spots for the afternoon Application Workshop are limited. To join the waiting list for this aspect of the workshop, you can register below.
Forage Quality Workshop
Forage quality is a simple and inexpensive tool to help with winter feeding strategies and ensuring your livestock have the nutrition they need to make marketable gain! Join us in Central and Northern BC for a workshop to understand more about Forage Quality and its importance to your operation.
During this workshop our forage expert, Mike Witt of Witt Precision Ag., will walk us through the essentials of understand forage quality with presentations on:
•Introduction into Forage Quality
•How to read and interpret your Forage Quality Analysis
We will also hear from B.C. Forage Council Manager, Serena Black, about the exciting results of the BCFC 2021 Forage Quality Contest and a preliminary look at other relevant research taking place in the region.
The workshop will be offered at two locations in-person:
- Friday, Nov 26th in Williams Lake (1p.m. – 4:30p.m.)
- Saturday, Nov 27th in Kersley (1p.m. – 4:30p.m.)
Participants will be required to show proof of vaccination and wear a face mask throughout the event. Register here.
We will also be LIVE STREAMING the workshop on Friday, Nov. 26th, to allow those who are unable to attend live still access the presentation and ask their questions. You can register for the virtual event now!
Location and details will be sent to participants a few days before the event. A recording of the live stream will be made available within a few weeks of the events.
2021 Forage Quality Contest
The BCFC hosted the 2021 Forage Quality Contest, supporting producers in the Central and Northern Interior of BC to have their forage samples tested.
Stay tuned for the RESULTS that will be shared during the Forage Quality Workshop.
Multifunctional Pasture Rejuvenation in the Cariboo
This research Field Day took place at the Hallis Lake Community Pasture in Quesnel to provide an introduction into the project and research for the Cariboo Agriculture Research Alliance’s Multi-functional Pasture Rejuvenation in the Cariboo project, led by Thompson Rivers University Researchers.
TRU’s Fraser Lab provided background on the current research, assessing management methods to address woody encroachment in pastures and pasture rejuvenation practices, including grazing pressure, mechanical brushing and forage seeding, alone and in combination which included a LiDAR Drone Demonstration from Dr. John Church. Attendee’s also heard about the experiences of the research farm partners and information about the Hallis Lake Community Pasture.
Stay tuned for more Research Field Days over the 3 year project to learn more about research results.
Equipment Demonstration: Seeding Fall Cereal
BCFC hosted a Demonstration Field Day on September 12th, 2021, to learn more and see some new equipment in action. Fall Rye was seeded at a research site at the IFS Ness Lake Tree Nursery in Prince George using a 2021 Land Pride 1006NT No-Till Seed Drill provided by Huber Farm Equipment. Stay tuned for upcoming events to follow at this site or for more information about the project please contact us!
Forage Management Knowledge Transfer Event Series (2020/2021)
Six webinars focused on providing producers in the central and northern interior of BC with relevant, applied information to enhance their knowledge of current sustainable forage and soil management practices to improve overall production. Members can access video recordings here.
Pasture Rejuvenation Webinar Series: Demonstrating Innovative Pasture Rejuvenation Practices in Central and Northern Interior of B.C.
The BC Forage Council hosted three webinars providing insight into the project and relevant information about Innovative Pasture Rejuvenation. More information about the project can be found here, and the recording of the third webinar by Dr. Bart Lardner is coming soon.
Producer Panel on Pasture Rejuvenation for Kootenay-Boundary Region
Panel discussion with six Kootenay & Boundary producers to learn what innovative practices they have been trialing over the last two years to revitalize pasture, incorporate legumes and increase soil carbon. More information about the project can be found here.
Forage Management Knowledge Transfer Events (2019/2020)
February 7-11, 2020 across the northern and central interior of BC
The BC Forage Council is partnering with the regional and local Cattlemen’s Associations coordinate and deliver a forage management knowledge transfer outreach event series across the central and northern interior of BC. The outreach events will transfer knowledge to regional producers of current sustainable forage and soil management practices to improve overall production and access to markets.
Schedule:
- Friday, February 7th – Smithers – 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Old Church
- FREE – to register for catering, e-mail bcfc@bcforagecouncil.com
- Saturday, February 8th – Burns Lake
- Saturday, February 8th – Vanderhoof – 5:30p.m. to 9p.m. at Scott’s Grille & Pizzeria
- FREE – to register for catering, e-mail Janice Tapp at ttapp@bcgroup.net
- Sunday, February 9th – Prince George – 10a.m. to 3 p.m. at PG Elks Community Hall
- $20/person – to register, contact Kayla Shallard at kshallard@carrierlumber.ca
- Monday, February 10th – Quesnel – 5:30p.m. to 9p.m. at the Kersley Hall
- FREE – to register, contact quesnelcattlemensassociation@gmail.com
- Tuesday, February 11th – Williams Lake – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at TRU Williams Lake (Room 1321)
- $35/person – to register, contact cariboocattlemens@gmail.com
Click on the links below for the Agenda associated to each event.
*These files will be uploaded as soon as they are confirmed.
Canadian Forage Seed Conference: Improving the Cropping System Resiliency
When & Where: February 25th and 26th 2020 @ Edmonton, AB, Fantasyland Hotel located in the West Edmonton Mall.
Forage seed growers, researchers, extension staff and agribusinesses will congregate for the first Canadian Forage Seed Conference since 2006! The goal of this conference is to unite the industry throughout Canada and increase awareness and interest in forage seed production. With the current challenges in Canadian grain markets, we have a great opportunity to increase awareness of the benefits of incorporating forage seed crops into any cropping system. Perennial forage seed crops can offer these growers market diversity and dispersal of timing in terms of workload. For the faithful forage seed grower, it will be an opportunity to hear about new technologies in the industry and where research is headed. For more information Click Here or visit peaceforageseed.ca
BC Interior Soils Conference
January 16th & 17, 2020. Thompson Rivers University Williams Lake Campus
Building Soil Health. Learn on the ground techniques and particular tools relevant to BC producers. Featuring soil expert Dr. Kris Nichols.
BC Forage Council On-Farm Research Workshop
Williams Lake, Pioneer Complex (351 Hodgson Rd ) Thursday, December 19th 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The BC Forage Council is looking for producers that are interested in learning how to conduct their own on-farm research. This FREE one-day workshop will walk you through the Guide to On-Farm Demonstration Research with one-on-one support so that you can develop your own research project! No previous research experience necessary—the Guide is designed to make it easy for anyone to organize a trial and get meaningful results.
Due to the hands-on nature of the workshop, space is limited. To register contact Michelle Miller at bcfc@bcforagecouncil.com or call 250-564-4115 loc260 Lunch will be provided.
MFGA AGM & Regenerative Ag Days
When & Where: November 19-20, 2019 @ Brandon, MB
Our Regen Ag Days committee has put together a very exciting program and would like to extend an invitation to register for this event!
Nov 19 evening: AGM & Producer Panel
MFGA hosts our AGM followed by a small panel of experts talking regenerative ag, research and innovation.
Nov 20 full day: Workshop & Tradeshow
Learn more about healthy soil, water management, livestock and grain producer prosperity and other important topucs by leading industry experts!
For more info: denice@mfga.net or go here: https://www.mfga.net/regen-ag-days#regen-ag-days-sponsorship Register early as it’s expected to be a jam-packed event!
Canadian Forage and Grassland Association 2019 Conference
For more information or to register visit https://canadianfga.wixsite.com/conference2019
First Annual On-Farm Research Forum with TRU Applied Sustainable Ranching
When & Where: Tuesday, October 29, 2019, 6:00-9:00pm @ Laughing Loon Pub, Williams Lake
TRU Ranching students and local producers will be showcasing their on-farm demonstration research projects for 2019. Everyone is welcome, come on out and enjoy great food, drink, and an evening of fun and networking and see what the students are up to.
Pasture Rejuvenation with Nicole Masters: 2-day Workshop
When & Where: September 26th-27th @ Greenwood, B.C.
Join Nicole Masters of Integrity Soils, New Zealand, for a two-day intensive workshop on soil health and regenerative agriculture.Topics include soil management, enhancing soil biology to increase productivity, water management, grazing and compost systems. Workshop is relevant to anyone who works with soil and land management! For more info: https://www.kbfa.ca/events
BC Forage Council Pasture Walk
When & Where: Wednesday September 18, 2019 @ Australian Ranch
The BC Forage Council is excited to invite you to a Pasture Walk on Wednesday, September 18th, 2019, at the Australian Ranch (6666 Yorston Rd, which is 34km south of Quesnel – look for Cariboo Corn Maze, Haunted Maze and House!). Australian Ranch is one of four research sites for our “Demonstration of Innovative Pasture Rejuvenation Practices in Central and Northern Interior of BC,” a project that is part of the Farm Adaptation Innovator Program, and is also funded in part by the BC Forage Council, the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association, and the Northern Development Initiative Trust.
The research plot at the Australian Ranch compared two types of no-till seed drills (a Disc Drill compared to a Tine Drill), with two different crop mixes, under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions. Farm-partners Bob and Holley Yorston will be on site to provide an overview of their objective with their trial and impressions from year one, and will also provide an in-formal our of other experiments they have on the ranch this year, including grazing turnips in a relay blend, and July inter-cropping of turnips into a harvested alfalfa stand.
The Pasture Walk will run from 5:30p.m. to 7:30p.m. (feel free to arrive anytime after 5p.m., to ensure that you don’t miss the walk!). Registration is FREE, just send us an email (bcfc@bcforagecouncil.com) to let us know you are coming. Home-made desserts will be a wonderful bonus to the event!
Train the Trainers, Raising the Next Generation Field Day
When: August 29th, 2019 11:30am – 4:00pm Where: D&S Zirnhelt Ranch, Beaver Valley
Last fall, four producers (the “Trainers”) and TRU students (the “Next Generation”) took a one-day module to learn how to use the On Farm Demonstration Research Guide, led by Dr. Catherine Tarasoff. They each designed and implemented a demonstration research project summer 2019.
The Field Day was a FREE event to showcase one of the research plots installed this year. It was a great opportunity to see a research plot in person, ask the producer questions, and see some preliminary results. There were speakers talking about Seed Selection in forage establishment, and a tour of a recent Silvopasture experiment on the property.
BC Cattlemen’s Association AGM and Convention
When: May 23-25th
Where: Williams Lake BC.
More info: https://www.cattlemen.bc.ca/agmsite.htm
Annual Cover Crops Field Day
When: April 17th, 1-3p.m.
Where: Agassiz Research and Development Centre (6947 Highway 7, Aggasiz BC)
More info: contact Gary Telford at gary.telford@canada.ca, 604-796-6101
Cover Crops (Beef Cattle Research Council)
When: March 26th, 2019
Where: Online!
What: Join Jillian Bainard, PhD, Research Scientist at Agriculture Agri-Food Canada in Swift Current, SK, to discuss cover crops. Cover crops can have many benefits including improving soil health and prolonging the grazing season. To learn more, and to register, visit: http://www.beefresearch.ca/resources/webinars.cfm
Grazing Management Webinar (Beef Cattle Research Council)
When: February 12th, 2019
Where: Online!
What: During this webinar you will hear from grazing experts on different grazing management techniques that can help your pastures to become more productive and profitable. Speakers TBA. To learn more, and to register, visit: http://www.beefresearch.ca/resources/webinars.cfm
Young Agrarians: Williams Lake Mixer
When: February 9th to 10th, 2019
Where: Thompson Rivers University, Williams Lake Campus
What: The first YA event in the Cariboo, this year’s Williams Lake Mixer will include two full days of workshops and sessions that will sharpen your farm and business skills, and build connections with other new farmers. There will be two streams of content that will kick start new farmers, and that will deepen the knowledge and success of those with a few seasons in their pocket. There will be a potluck Saturday night, and share your stories at the Farmers Slideshow! Cost is a sliding scale $50-100. Please pay what you can, but no body will be turned away due to lack of funds—volunteer work trades are available. More information, including schedule outline, at: http://youngagrarians.org/williamslakemixer2019/
Top 10 Farm Financial Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
When: January 26th 2019 (9a.m.-3p.m.)
Where: Quesnel & District Seniors’ Centre, Quesnel, BC
What: The goals of this workshop are to 1) share experience and overview about what solid farm financial management looks like, 2) using interactive audience participation and professional farm accounting expertise, they will discuss some common pitfalls, strategies to stay on track, and existing resources available to help you and your agriculture business thrive, 3) leave participants with a better understanding of their individual farm finances and/or next step for improvement (each participant leaves with top 3 action items for implementation!) and 4) raise awareness of the BC Ministry of Agriculture Business Risk Management Programs peer support and importance of maintaining regional industry associations.
RSVP to Marisa.Nightingale@gov.bc.ca by January 16th.
Sustainable & Profitable Ranching with Steve Kenyon (Kootenay and Boundary Farm Advisors)
When: January 9th and 10th, 2019
Where: Cranbrook and Greenwood, BC, respectively
What: Steve Kenyon is well respected in the agriculture community for his business management and innovative ideas and is also a regular contributor to Canadian Cattlemen Magazine. Steve runs a custom grazing business in Alberta under the name of Greener Pastures Ranching, where they run just over 1200 head of livestock on 3000 acres of leased land. Steve uses a combination of intensive cell grazing, dormant season grazing, swath grazing, crop residue grazing and bale grazing to pasture cattle year round. Steve’s presentation will cover soil building, water management, grazing plans, bale grazing and economic viability. For more information this FREE event, visit https://www.kbfa.ca/events.
November 14-15th, 2018 – CFGA is hosting its 9th Annual Conference, “Foundation Forage: Built From the Ground Up,” in Calgary, Alberta.
November 27-28th, 2018 – Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association is thrilled to be holding our first-ever Regenerative Agriculture Conference in Brandon, using the theme “Adapting to Today’s Food and Farm World“.
August 25th, 2018 – BCFC 2018 Field Day – at Roddie Creek Ranch, Quesnel, BC
August 26th, 2018 – BCFC Annual General Meeting – Quesnel, BC
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