Overview
Tuesday, March 13 - Mount Forest Community Centre
The purpose of the Profitable Pastures conference is to bring fresh ideas and new research results to Ontario grazing managers across ruminant livestock sectors. The event is a joint effort between the Ontario Forage Council and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Between the main location in Mount Forest and five remote locations, 119 people attended.
Topics presented this year were as follows:
- “The Irish Grazing Experience” by James Byrne, OMAFRA Beef Cattle Specialist
- “Grazing Management Techniques” by Mike Swidersky, Pasture Manager at Grey-Dufferin Community Pasture
- “A Systems Approach to Grazing” by Clayton Robins, 2013 Nuffield Scholar
- 2018 Mapleseed Beef Pasture Award winner Tim Lehrbass, about his farm in Lambton County
- “Energy-dense Forages: A Canadian Opportunity” by Clayton Robins, 2013 Nuffield Scholar
- 2017 Mapleseed Sheep Pasture Award winner Markus Wand, about his farm in Parry Sound District
Key learnings from this event were the importance of managing nutrient cycles in pastures, and that profitability is linked to creating pasture systems that generate large amounts of sugar (energy).
Acknowledgements
OMAFRA Communications Branch for broadcasting the event.
Organizers and hosts of remote locations in Earlton, Iroquois Falls, Thessalon, Thunder Bay, and Fort Frances.
Sponsorship from Beef Farmers of Ontario, Bruce County Beef Farmers, Wentworth Cattlemen’s Association, CanGrow Crop Solutions, Farm Credit Canada, and ProRich Seeds.
Event Contacts:
Christine O’Reilly, OMAFRA Forage and Grazing Specialist christine.oreilly@ontario.ca
Patricia Ellingwood, Ontario Forage Council Executive Assistant
support@ontarioforagecouncil.com