FIRST & FORage MOST February 2013 |
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Canadian Forage & Grassland Association
Association Canadienne pour les Plantes Fourragères
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CFGA Silver Partners
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CONFERENCE SPONSORS PLATINUM
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the AgriMarketing Program
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CONFERENCE SPONSORS
SILVER
BIOMASS 
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Become a CFGA Sponsor Platinum - $10,000 Gold - $5,000 Silver - $2,500 |
Become a Member Overseas Exporters $1500 U.S. Exporters $250 Patrons/Friends $250 |
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Wayne's Fodder
CFGA AGM and Conference
120 enthusiastic forage and grassland supporters participated in our AGM and Conference in mid December. The written and verbal evaluations were extremely positive rating the tour, speakers and the overall conference very highly.
Many commented on the opportunity to network with others involved in the industry. On behalf of CFGA I want to thank all the sponsors who contributed to making the event a success. As well, a big "hats off" to the Program Committee, Speakers and everyone who contributed and a special thank-you to the Ontario Forage Council for hosting us - Great work Ray and Patricia.
Finally to Corie Arbuckle, thank-you for your tireless efforts towards another great AGM and Conference. Alberta 2013 - Here We Come!!
Role of CFGA in relation to Forage and
Grasslands and the Environment
A recent meeting during the CFGA AGM and Conference focused on the role the CFGA should play with regard to forage and grasslands and the environment. Representatives of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA) and the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) presented their respective Environment and Sustainability Strategies. There was agreement that the CFGA role should be to work in partnership with other organizations such as CCA and DFC to cover areas that are not covered in the other strategies particularly related to forage and grasslands. The CFGA will be pulling together a CFGA Environment Committee which will be responsible for setting out Terms of Reference and priority activities leading to a CFGA Forage and Grasslands Environment Strategy.
Wayne Digby, CFGA Executive Director
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Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN) hosts 2013 CFGAConference & AGM Dec 9, 10, 11th, 2013 in Alberta AFIN is enthusiastically working on the plans to host our next CFGA conference. 'Details are still being sorted out but we want members to get this date on their calendar,' says Lyndon Mansell, President of AFIN. It's a great opportunity to showcase our province!' Stay tuned for further details on the conference and pre conference tour. Join us on Facebook Back to top |
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Un rendez-vous pan-canadien pour l'Association Canadienne pour les Plantes Fourragères
C'est en effet plus de 120 participants qui se sont réunis à Toronto pour la conférence annuelle de l'Association Canadienne pour les Plantes Fourragères (ACPF). La conférence organisée simultanément à l'assemblée générale annuelle de l'ACPF a permis de regrouper des participants de toutes les provinces. Des provinces maritimes à la Colombie-Britannique, le Canada fourrager y était au complet.
Les plantes fourragères en Ontario
Le Conseil des Plantes Fourragères de l'Ontario, l'hôte de la conférence, a organisé le 10 décembre une tournée de deux fermes laitières et de deux fermes qui produisent, transforment et commercialisent des fourrages. Que ce soit la tournée d'une étable, traversée à même l'autobus, ou la visite des installations de découpage de grosses balles carrées, cette tournée fût très appréciée des participants, dont plusieurs du Québec.
En matinée du 11 décembre. Joel Bagg du Ministère de l'Agriculture, de l'Alimentation et des Affaires rurales de l'Ontario nous a dressé un portrait de la production fourragère en Ontario. Pour eux aussi, la sécheresse a rendu l'année 2012 difficile. Les problèmes d'insectes, charençon et cicadelle en particulier, dans la luzerne sont toutefois beaucoup plus importants en Ontario qu'au Québec. Comme quoi, quand on se compare, on se console.
Voir plus
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What we've Been up to!
CFGA Targets Forage and Grasslands Research Strategy
"Be it resolved that the CFGA partner with those who rely on forage resources, (due to their recognized value with respect to agriculture, the environment and society), to increase the research capacity and funding directed towards public forage breeding and utilization research."
The CFGA is following up on this key resolution moved at our AGM in December. We will be pulling together an overarching CFGA Forage Research & Development Advocacy Strategy which will include working closely with partner organizations to obtain existing information and set out strategic priorities. Key to this initiative will be setting out a strategy and action plans for not only laying out what Research needs to occur but also developing plans for advocating for research. This will include advocating to protect and building upon existing human and capital resources that we have dedicated to forage and grassland research, as well as developing succession plans so that we have young forage researchers in place to take over from retiring scientists.
A Committee of Janice Bruynooghe, Reynold Bergen, Doug Wray, Duane McCartney, Jack Kyle and Wayne Digby have met and are moving this initiative forward.
According to the CFGA Research and Extension Committee Chair Jack Kyle, other important factors in research development and advocacy include:
1. Need to continue to emphasize the value of forages and the economics of growing forages for livestock feed, domestic and export markets and their environmental benefits (growing forages must be beneficial or producers will switch crops).
2. Need to identify previous research information from past projects at AAFC research locations and make them available to producers/industry in a useable/practical format.
3. Forage research has been primarily carried out by the public domain. Canadian seed companies do a limited amount of research so publicly funded research is the main arena - especially for grasses and "minor" legumes.
4. Variety performance recommendation data has been linked to registration trials. With the impending changes to variety registration (where yield data may not be required), it is desirable for Canada to have performance data and collaboration with neighbouring provinces to avoid duplication.
CFGA Updating Export Marketing Strategy
As the CFGA moves ahead in providing market development support to CFGA Forage Exporting members it is important to identify existing priority markets and assess emerging market opportunities.
The assessment of current economic conditions and future prospects, current and emerging markets, trends, market access issues and the identification of partners/stakeholders and competitors are all important factors in updating the Export Marketing Strategy.
Allan Tyrchniewicz of Tyrchniewicz Consulting will be assisting CFGA with this process and will be in touch with a number of CFGA Exporting members to gather their opinions. In addition to assisting CFGA with market development, this updated Strategy is key to applying for AgriMarketing Program support.
CFGA Hoping to Address Transportation Issues through Crops Logistics Working Group
Transportation costs and logistics of transportation are major issues for the Canadian forage industry particularly relating to the movement of forage products both domestically and to export markets. The CFGA has been invited to be a member of a renewed Crop Logistics Working Group (CLWG). This CLWG will be looking at ways of finding efficiencies and decreasing costs. They will be focusing on "improving logistical performance for all members of the agricultural supply chain with a focus on innovation, capacity and stakeholder collaboration."
CFGA US Fact Finding Mission
At the end of February a van load of CFGA Forage Exporting Members will be travelling to the US to meet with US consumers of Canadian forage products. The main purpose of this Fact Finding Mission is to better understand the short and long term needs of forage importers (beef, dairy, equine) in the US with particular emphasis on markets in South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Meetings will be with feed companies, dairies, hay companies, grinders and others involved in the procurement of hay products. The members hope to learn about the previous drought situation in Texas and other States and the short and long term effects on demand for Canadian forage products as well as the type of forages they will require. They also hope to gather information on the logistics of moving Canadian forage products into these areas of the US and develop recommendations to increase transportation efficiencies. This Fact Finding Mission was initiated by the Manitoba Forage Marketers.
Translation into French
We are still hoping to be able to bring this e-newsletter to you in French. We thank Germain LeFebvre, Quebec Forage Council, and Helene Poirier for their assistance with the articles in this newsletter.
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Quebec Forage Council Profile
by: Germain Lefebvre,
President
The Quebec Forage Council (QFC) was formed in 1987. Today, the Council has a membership of 350 individuals and 30 corporate members.
The mission of the QFC is to promote, develop and represent the Québec forage sector.
The Council has numerous activities and events including:
In 2012, the board of directors initiated a complete revision of the QFC structure and organisation. In 2013, the Board will be composed of 9 elected members (previously 15) representing different sectors (producers, public, private and service organisations). Different committees (communications, activities, hay market, etc.) insure the follow up.
The QFC, now an essential stake holder in the Québec forage sector, has recently completed their strategic plan for the Québec forage crop sector in which 3 major issues were identified for action.
- Increase and improve the usage of forages in cattle production
- Support the use and maximize the growth potential of forages
- Structure and promote the Québec forage sector
The committment of the partners and the increase of their financial contribution is the foundation for achieving the objectives identified in the strategic plan. One of the first objectives is to create a website which will be online very soon.
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Un aperçu du Conseil québécois
des plantes fourragères
Le Conseil Québécois des Plantes Fourragères (CQPF) a été fondé en 1987 et compte environ 350 membres individuels et 30 membres corporatifs.
- Parmi les nombreuses activités et réalisations, on peut noter:
- Organisation d'une journée à foin annuelle
- Publication de l'Info-Fourrage (3 fois par année), distribution de 1400 copies. Disponible sur Agri-Réseau.
- http://www.agrireseau.qc.ca/plantes-fourrageres/navigation.aspx?sid=979&pid=0&r= )
- Publication d'environ 30 articles par année dans l'hebdomadaire la Terre de Chez Nous
- Administration du réseau d'essais des plantes fourragères du Québec
- La réalisation de plusieurs projets ad hoc.
Le conseil d'administration a entrepris une révision complète de sa structure et de son organisation. En 2013, le conseil d'administration comprendra 9 administrateurs élus, comparativement à 15 auparavant, provenant des (secteur publique, privé, producteurs, et organisations de services). Différents comités (communications, activités, commerce, etc...) sont formés et assurent le suivi des projets.
La mission du CQPF est de promouvoir, développer et représenter le secteur des plantes fourragères.
Le CQPF, un maillon essentiel du secteur, a réalisé la récente planification stratégique du secteur des plantes fourragères du Québec. Les 3 axes d'action qui y sont identifiés sont:
- Accroître et améliorer l'utilisation des fourrages dans la régie des troupeaux.
- Supporter les initiatives et les usages présentant des potentiels de croissance.
- Organiser et promouvoir le secteur québécois des plantes fourragères.
L'engagement des partenaires et une contribution financière accrue de leur part permet de concrétiser des projets identifiés à la planification. Un des premiers projets est la création d'un site web auquel vous aurez bientôt accès.
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Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association becomes Member of CFGA
The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) recently approved membership in the CFGA. At a recent Board meeting the OSCIA approved taking a $1500 membership in CFGA and have appointed Chad Anderson as their representative on the Board. Joan McKinlay, Chair of OSCIA, was very impressed with the recent CFGA AGM and Conference and believes both the CFGA and OSCIA will both benefit by OSCIA becoming more involved as a member.
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Join the CFGA Forage Exporters Workshop
March 12, 2013
Calgary, Alberta
Date: March 12, 2013
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Participants:
- CFGA exporting members and non members
- Potential new overseas exporters
- Chinese Consulate Representative
- CFIA and AAFC representatives
Workshop topics: 
- China fact finding mission findings
- China timothy protocol and alfalfa protocol
- Proposed market development initiatives - 2013 - 2018
- Role of CFGA in supporting forage exporters
- CFGA membership
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Other agenda topics to be identified
To Register please contact:
- Marc Lavoie marc@macay.net Ph: (780) 624-2850
- Registration deadline: March 5, 2013
- Registration fee: $50 (not including lunch) (payable to Canadian Forage and Grassland Association at the Workshop)
- Conference call facilities have been arranged. Please let us know if you wish to participate via Conference Call.
Note: Funding Support provided by AgriMarketing Program, AAFC
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In 2012, the Canadian Forage & Grassland Association, together with AAFC commissioned a study to determine the value of our forage and grassland industry. Douglas Yungblut of Yungblut and Associates presented this Executive Summary in the report.
The Canadian forage industry suffers from a lack of recognition for its contribution to the economy because it is diverse and difficult to measure. Everyone is familiar with scenes of livestock grazing or fields dotted with bales of hay, but these are not viewed from an economic viewpoint the way a field of corn, wheat or canola would be. This leads to a lack of support for this industry in both the public and private sectors.
Over the past five years each of the major forage producing provinces have examined the nature and scope of their forage industries. This led to the determination of industry values ranging from
$650 M in Ontario to $ 1.5 B in Alberta in direct economic contribution. Their studies were, however, done at different times using different study methodologies. There has never been a comprehensive review of the economic value of the Canadian forage industry.
The current study used acreage data from the 2011 census and economic values from 2011 whenever possible. A variety of sources were consulted to estimate dollar values of various aspects of the industry.
In terms of acreage, cultivated forages for pasture, feed and seed production accounted for 33.8 million acres or 39% of the land in Canada devoted to crop production. In comparison the next largest crop, wheat, accounted for 20.4 million acres or 23% of crop land. In addition, over 36 million acres of land were devoted to native or unimproved pastures.
The economic value of the industry was $5.09 billion, making it the third largest crop after wheat and canola. The forage industry is the foundation of the dairy and beef industries, which together contribute $11 billion in direct value to Canadian farmers and generate over $50 billion in economic activity.
These are the direct measurable benefits of the forage industry. Provincial studies in Alberta and Saskatchewan estimated the value of indirect benefits such as environmental enhancements and found that these could be worth as much again as the direct benefits.
There are exciting emerging opportunities for the forage industry. Interest in their use as renewable fuels and feedstock for biomaterials is in its infancy. There is also growing demand in areas such as China and the Middle East for high quality forages to feed growing livestock industries or to replace domestic production.
To obtain a copy of the National Forage & Grassland Assessment, contact the CFGA Office at
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