The primary goal of the recently incorporated Canadian Forage & Grassland Association (CFGA) is to serve as a “national voice” for people in the industry, says Wayne Digby.
“We have worked long and hard to create an entity that will represent our forage and grassland industry at home and abroad,” says Digby, executive director of CFGA and the Manitoba Forage Council.
He says CFGA will provide a coordinated approach to addressing some of the industry’s challenges and opportunities. The first project has been the commissioning of a long-term marketing strategy for Canadian forages, which will serve as a guide for developing export markets.
The association will also: support forage and grassland research trials; promote the use of forages in crop rotations and fragile soils; and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, philosophies and research findings.
Ed Shaw, owner of International Quality Forage in Calgary, Alberta, is CFGA chairman, and Ray Robertson, manager of the Ontario Forage Council, is vice chairman. The board of directors will have representatives from all regions of the country.