2023

Forage Extension in the Central Interior | Jan 13 – 17: Smithers, Burns Lake, Vanderhoof, Prince George, Quesnel and Williams Lake BC

Online Grazing Club | Jan 11 – Feb 15

Vernon Advanced Grazing Systems Workshop | Mar 1: Vernon BC

Vancouver Island Advanced Grazing Systems Workshops | Mar 8 – 9: Courtenay and Cowichan Valley BC

Advanced Grazing Systems Workshops | Mar 17 – 20: Grand Forks, Creston, Cranbrook and Invermere BC

Bulkley Valley-Nechako Advanced Grazing Systems Workshop | Mar 18: Telkwa BC

BC’s Living Lab Cattle and Forage Project Panel | Mar 21: Kamloops BC

Field Day – Tatalrose Ranch Demonstration Site | Aug 30: Grassy Plains BC

2023 CFGA Conference | Nov 28 – Dec 1: Harrison Hot Springs BC

Forage Extension in the Central Interior

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!

Vernon Advanced Grazing Systems Workshop

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.

Vancouver Island Advanced Grazing Systems Workshops

In partnership with the Vancouver Island Cattlemen’s Association, learn more about how to implement rotational livestock grazing systems on your operation, resources to put principles into practice, and updates and future opportunities with the On-Farm Climate Action Fund for Grazing (OFCAF). 

  • Date: March 8, 2023
  • Time: 9am – 3pm
  • Location: Courtenay
    • AM: Crown Isle Resort, Copper Room (399 Clubhouse Dr, Courtenay)
    • PM Field Tour: Heart of the Valley Farms
  • FREE*
  • Date: March 9, 2023
  • Time: 9am – 2:30pm
  • Location: Cowichan Valley
    • AM: Cowichan Exhibition, Stratford Room (7380 Trans-Canada Hwy, Duncan)
    • PM Field Tour: Promise Valley Farm
  • FREE*

These workshops will include morning presentations and an afternoon field tour. Content includes: 

  • Presentations from BC Forage Council Grazing Mentors on the principles of Advanced Grazing Systems and forage assessment
  • Grazing Management Plans and how to access mentorship to make one
  • Tangible in-field example from local producer on how to introduce these concepts into an existing operation

These knowledge transfer workshops are a collaboration between the Vancouver Island Cattlemen’s Association and the BC Forage Council. They are supported by the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association, the national delivery organization for the rotational grazing stream of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s On-Farm Climate Action Fund.

Advanced Grazing Systems Workshops

Learn more about how to implement rotational livestock grazing systems on your operation, resources to put principles into practice, and updates and future opportunities with the On-Farm Climate Action Fund for Grazing (OFCAF). 

  • Date: March 17, 2023
  • Time: 12:30pm – 3:30 pm*
  • Location: Grand Forks (Selkirk College)
  • FREE
  • Date: March 18, 2023
  • Time: 12:30pm – 3:30 pm*
  • Location: Creston (Jimmy’s Pub)
  • FREE
  • Date: March 19, 2023
  • Time: 12:30pm – 3:30pm*
  • Location: Cranbrook (Kootenay Livestock Association Office)
  • FREE
  • Date: March 20, 2023
  • Time: 12:30pm – 3:30pm*
  • Location: Invermere (Lion’s Club)
  • FREE

These workshops will include:

  • Presentations from BC Forage Council Grazing Mentors on the principles of Advanced Grazing Systems, livestock nutrition, and managing forages for dual purposes (hay and grazing)
  • Grazing Management Plans and how to access mentorship to make one
  • Tangible examples from local producers on how to introduce these concepts into an existing operation

These knowledge transfer workshops are a collaboration between the Kootenay Boundary Farm Advisors and the BC Forage Council. They are supported by the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association, the national delivery organization for the rotational grazing stream of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s On-Farm Climate Action Fund.

Bulkley Valley-Nechako Advanced Grazing Systems Workshop

The BC Forage Council and the Skeena Regional Cattlemen’s Association are hosting a free Advanced Grazing Systems Workshop on March 18th at the Round Lake Hall in Telkwa, BC where a free lunch will be provided.

Join us to dig into winter grazing, silvopasture and electric fencing and we will also have a Producer Panel.

BC’s Living Lab Cattle and Forage Project Panel

Come join us on March 21st 1:00 – 2:30 pm in Kamloops at the Thompson Rivers University in the House of Learning (HOL 190) for BC’s Living Labs Cattle and Forage Project Panel to learn about this provincial and national program that is focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening the climate resiliency of our food systems.

The panel with consist of Mike Witt, Dr. Lauch Fraser, Werner Stump and our moderator Amanda Miller.

Field Day – Tatalrose Ranch Demonstration Site

Save the date for this FREE on-farm demonstration field day. Join us as we head to the Lakes District to explore some Advanced Grazing System practices being trialed at Tatalrose Ranch. This informal event will focus on a seeding trial looking at relay annual crops to increase grazing opportunities (demonstrating LandPride no-till seed drill), discuss how to measure soil health traits in the field, and look at various electric fencing and livestock watering technologies that can support enhanced grazing management systems.

2023 CFGA Conference

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA)’s 14th annual conference is going to be in person once again and you’re invited! 

The CFGA annual conference is THE not-to-be-missed annual event for the forage industry to meet and drive development in this critical agricultural sector. This year, we’re heading to beautiful Harrison Hot Springs, B.C. Nov. 28th through to Dec. 1st. 

With the theme Forage Resilience in a Changing Landscape – Manage risk. Overcome Challenges. Discover opportunities, this year’s event will celebrate the important environmental and economic role forages and grasslands play across the country while delivering the practical, grassroots-based agronomic knowledge the CFGA is known for.

Conference Highlights 

The CFGA is excited to once again have Dr. Frank Mitloehner from UC Davis open the conference. This year, he will present his keynote address on Wednesday, Nov. 29 when he provides the global picture on how methane from ruminants cycles through carbon in the soil. 

Other speakers include: 

  • Dan Undersander from the University of Wisconsin speaking about sustainability metrics for forage systems 
  • Josh Callen from the Hoyt Report providing a global forage export market update 
  • Bart Lardner from the University of Saskatchewan speaking on advancing pasture management to store carbon and reduce methane emissions 

Other events and activities taking place at the CFGA 14th Annual Conference are: 

  • Technical workshops on grassland inventories and knowledge tech transfer extension 
  • Welcome reception 
  • Panel discussions 
  • Living Labs showcase and solutions pathway 
  • CFGA Leadership Award reception 
  • Tour to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Agassiz Research and Development Centre and local farms 
  • Tradeshow 
  • Online learning opportunities