The second annual Beef and Forage Conference took place this week in Portage la Prairie, with the first having been in Brandon. Shawn Cabak, a livestock and forage specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, is one of the organizers. He says they had a great lineup of speakers from across the Prairies, as well as some American speakers.
"Topics included climate-smart livestock, climate change, and greenhouse gases in livestock production. We discussed animal health issues like Johne's disease, family succession planning, business risk management, predation, and genomic strategies for improving cattle."
Several booths were present, with good attendance from agribusiness, giving producers a chance to discuss the latest technology.
"Producers could also interact with each other, visit with their neighbors, and engage with the agribusiness booths. They could ask questions to the speakers, making it a valuable day for beef and forage producers to learn about industry developments that benefit their farms."
Family Succession in a Low-Stress Transition
Patti Durand, a strategic action planner, presented on handling family succession in a low-stress manner.
"I always find strategic planning tends to sit static in a binder on a shelf, but I'm more action-oriented. I've met with over 350 farm families in the past five years, looking for helpful patterns. Today, I talked about day-to-day habits, farm planning meetings, and involving non-farming children and advisors. Key tips include recognizing the complexity of working with family and being aware of triggers. It's about pausing, giving grace, and assuming good intentions."
On planning meetings, Durand advises caution with families who often assume they are aiming for the same goals. Without a conversation to establish a future vision, she says they can run into issues.
"The practice of meeting to discuss each person’s needs and hopes needs to be revisited regularly. Sometimes third-party facilitation can help if discussions aren’t going well. It’s also essential to understand that the family's current advisor or accountant may not be the best fit for succession planning or agricultural tax law. Families should review their advisors' expertise to decide if they need specialized support."
Durand says one gentleman raised a question, suggesting that asset transfer was relatively easy, which she agreed with.
"I agree that it can be simpler, but he was concerned about transferring management, particularly financial management. This is complex, especially when a parent and child feel more like authorities than partners. I shared insights and mentioned my new book, The Future Leader: The Successor's Guide to Family Business Leadership, coming out in January, available at www.thefutureleader.ca."
Producers Gleaning Great Information
Raymond Bittner, a producer from the Interlake region, also attended. He appreciates keeping up with new technology.
"I like this conference because it introduces new technologies we haven't seen much of before. I particularly enjoyed Dr. Mitloehner’s talk on greenhouse gases, showing how livestock can be part of the climate solution. It was a good conference, and more people should come next year."
Climate-Smart Livestock
Frank Mitloehner, a professor and air quality specialist, presented on the impact livestock has on climate, particularly methane's role as a greenhouse gas in animal agriculture.
"I discussed that methane’s short-lived climate impact but it's in the air briefly. So, managing it can positively impact climate. Reducing methane lowers warming, and farmers can achieve this. Farmers often feel skeptical about livestock and climate discussions, but they should understand their role in climate solutions."
He adds that producers are rethinking methane and the role of livestock in climate action.
"We’re rethinking how agriculture can position itself as a guardian of soil, air, water, and climate."
Mitloehner adds that the Central Plains region is beautiful, and he was glad to attend.
"I feel honored to be here in Manitoba, and I hope to return."
