Beef and Forage Roundup

Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate with producers, researchers, education providers, extension specialists, conservation groups, and all stakeholders in fie...

Alex Koiter is an associate professor in the Department of Geography & Environment at Brandon University. His research program focuses on investigating the interactions between land and water management practices and geomorphology on soil and water quality. His research group investigates a wide range of agricultural issues including soil erosion, downstream sedimentation, nutrient dynamics, g...

Carson Callum is the General Manager with Manitoba Beef Producers.  Carson joined MBP in 2019, and comes with an extension background in agriculture.  He has a Master’s of Science in Agriculture, specifically related to beef cattle. Carson has worked in many areas of the ag sector, and the beef industry is near and dear to him.  He grew up on a small beef farm south of Miami Manitob...

Dwayne recognizes that efficient use of on-farm produced feedstuffs impacts farm profitability. In his role as livestock and feed extension specialist, Dwayne provides information and recommendations to match feedstuffs to livestock feeding programs with a focus on maximizing livestock productivity and well-being. Dwayne has 20 years of experience advising clients in various aspects of livestock m...

Join us as we introduce MBFI's 2024 Summer Students! Briel Lemoing is from a grain farm near Basswood, Manitoba.  She is entering her second year of a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Animal Science at the University of Saskatchewan.  She plans on pursuing a career in cattle genetics and hopes to eventually return to her home farm and working cattle into their operation...

Dr. Greg Penner is a Professor in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science and holds a Centennial Enhancement Chair in Ruminant Nutritional Physiology at the University of Saskatchewan. He was hired in 2009 after obtaining his bachelor’s degree  and M.Sc. degree  at the University of Saskatchewan, and his PhD from the University of Alberta.  Dr. Penner’s research focuses on fora...

Today we are talking with Dr. Mary-Jane Orr about MBFI’s Sod Seeding Trial and the Forage Living Library.   Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, evaluating on-farm innovation, and extension for sustainability of farmers, the public, and the environment. She deeply values the opportunity to collaborate wit...

At Deer Meadow Farmacy, Sean and Kristi-Lyn Buckley prioritize the health and wellness of their entire ecological system- knowing the well-being of nature is parallel to that of human health. With this correlation at the forefront of their minds, they strive to maximize diversity above and below the soil to create a resilient, holistic ecosystem which produces flavourful, nutrient-dense food that...

Donalee Jones has been producing documentary & commercial television projects for over 20 years, but her real passion is agriculture. She grew up on a mixed grain and cattle farm near Baldur, Manitoba and from a young age she was drawn to the rural lifestyle. In 2008, she and her partner began implementing a succession plan which allowed them to take over management of his 4th generation famil...

Amie Peck leads the Public and Stakeholder Engagement (PSE) team at the Canadian Cattle Association which works to increase public trust in the Canadian beef industry by supporting industry synergies, forming strategic partnerships and connecting positively with consumers and the public. This includes addressing industry issues by coordinating key messages and specific responses together with prov...

Dr. Scott Wright is the director of the USask Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE).  Scott Wright is the Director of the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) at the University of Saskatchewan.  Scott started his Saskatchewan career in 1983 as a Graduate Student at the U of S Termuende Farm on pasture rejuvenation and fertilization.  He has been a plant breede...

Tyler and Dorelle along with their kids Evan and Mae own and operate Tyton Farm Ltd, a 600 head cow/calf/backgrounding operation south of Birtle, MB.  The farm operates about 6000 acres in prairie pothole country, which consists of mostly tame pasture, hay, and some annual crops. Tyler has spent most of his off-farm career in the field of livestock price risk management after he received a de...

Jeff Legaarden is a Business Development Specialist with MASC and a livestock coordinator. Jeff has been working for MASC for over 15 years and has worked with the Livestock Price Insurance program since its beginning 10 years ago. As well as working for MASC, Jeff has his own cattle operation, which he manages along with his wife and 3 sons. Today’s episode is jam packed with information about th...

Malcolm MacLean has spent his life in the cattle industry working for grazing co-ops, large ranches and feedlots. He currently lives in the Porcupine Hills near Pincher Creek, Alberta with his family. He’s now focused on teaching stockmanship and spreading awareness on low stress cattle handling. He has an online cattle handling school that prepares people for his live hands-on schools. Along with...

Today we are talking with Dr. Mary-Jane Orr about the Grazing: Impact of Utilization project, which looks at two different grazing strategies, 50% utilization and 80% utilization in rotational grazing. This project started in 2022 at MBFI and is still in progress.   Mary-Jane leads a dedicated team at MBFI to advance Manitoba’s beef & forage industry through engaging stakeholders, ev...

Dr. Yvonne Lawley is an associate professor in the Plant Science Department at the University of Manitoba. Her area of research is agronomy and cropping systems. Dr. Lawley’s research has focused on several crops including soybeans, corn, and wheat and a range of management practices from residue management, strip tillage, to cover crops. Her research involves both small plot and on-farm field sca...

Cam Ross comes from a cow-calf operation North of Minnedosa, MB where he still farms with his family today.  Cam has a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Manitoba and started with Ducks Unlimited as a summer student in 2017 (He worked a summer with MBFI in 2016 as well!) and then moved into a full-time position in 2020 where he now manages all of DUC’s properties across So...

James Frey works with Manitoba Agriculture as an Applied Diversification Specialist, based in Roblin.  He collaborates with Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation to conduct small-plot research trials for a broad range of field and forage crops.  Previously, he worked in Northeast Asia with on-farm development projects.  James is always looking for ways to strengthen farm resilien...

Joe Gardiner grew up in the community of Clearwater Manitoba and he feels very fortunate that he and his wife Melanie, call Clearwater home today.  Together with his parents, brother Sheldon and his partner Derek, they run a mixed grain and cattle farm located just off #3 highway in southern Manitoba.   In 2016 Joe had a decision to make.  He was not enjoying the stress and hea...

The Tkachyk farm is a third-generation farm that was established in 1907. Together with his wife, Randy enjoys the farming lifestyle.  He had the opportunity to add custom grazing beginning in the early 2000s, with adjacent lands being available to rent and purchase. Being the only operator on the farm, and no extra help, he made the decision to take the hay ground and fence off into paddocks...

Pam de Rocquigny is the chief executive officer of Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA), a not-for-profit, farmer-led organization. MCA represents over 7,700 farmer-members and strives to continuously improve the competitiveness and profitability of all crops represented by the organization. Pam is responsible for providing vision and leadership in implementing MCA’s strategic direction under the guidance...

Dr. John Campbell graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph in 1985. After several years of rural veterinary practice, he returned to Guelph to complete a Doctor of Veterinary Science degree in Ruminant Health Management. He has worked as a clinical faculty member on the Ruminant Field Service Practice at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatche...

Dana strives to support inspired thinking and action in agriculture and rural communities. By thinking broadly and deeply about the systems upon which our society depends, Dana sees us better positioning the industry and our communities for the future. Dana’s work with Holistic Management Canada and with the Human Venture Institute has been foundational in developing her passion for supporting peo...

Brenda Ralston is a firm believer that applied research is critically needed today more than ever and that the Colleges are an excellent fit to carry this out in collaboration with Private Industry, Producer Groups, Universities, Government and most importantly the Producers themselves. Her guiding principle for applied research is ultimately if the outcome doesn’t provide a product or practice th...

Dr. Deanne Wilkinson grew up near Oakville on a mixed grain and cow/calf farm and currently lives north of Ste. Rose du Lac and farms with her husband and 3 kids. Together, they calve out approximately 80 purebred Gelbvieh and Balancer (registered Angus x Gelbvieh) cows and 20 commercial cows and run Gelbvieh, Balancer and Angus bulls.  They have gradually pushed their calving back to early M...