Events not to miss

Whether you are a crop or livestock producer there are important events coming up over the next three weeks, you should plan to attend.

SACA – MEDICINE HAT, AB

The Southern Alberta Conservation Association is holding a two day conference Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2010 at the Medicine Hat Exhibition Centre in Medicine Hat.

It gets underway Nov. 30 with registration at 8 a.m. and after opening comments the first keynote speaker is Preston Manning, who will talk about how farmers can use some everyday tools to bring about change in policy and programs that affect agriculture.

There are a number of other speakers the first day who will talk about some bigger picture items related to agriculture, as well as hands-on production and management topics. There are several speakers talking about production topics December 1.

For more information visit their website at www.farmingsmarter.com  or phone 403-381-5118.

WCGC – VERMILION, AB

And livestock producers will want to be in Vermilion Dec.1 and 2 for the Western Canadian Grazing Conference at the Vermilion Regional Centre and Lakeland College.

The conference will feature a number of speakers with hands-on information about pasture and grazing management. Topics will include multi-species grazing, new technology, stockpiled grazing, climate, soil, livestock nutrition and mob grazing to name a few.

For more information or to register phone 780-416-6046 or visit their website at www.areca.ab.ca.

GRAZING SCHOOL – BRANDON, MB

Several excellent speakers are lined up to make presentations Dec. 7 and 8 at the 12^th annual Manitoba Grazing School in Brandon. Being held at the Victoria Inn in Brandon, speakers include Jim Gerrish, a well known U.S. grazing expert, Kevin Sedivec a professor at North Dakota State University, Doug Wray, a long time beef producer from Alberta, Brenda Schoepp of BEEFLINK on marketing, and several other speakers during breakout sessions.

For more information or to register contact Pam Iwanchysko with Manitoba Agriculture at 204-648-3965 or the Manitoba Forage Council at 204-254-4192 or visit their website at www.mbforagecouncil.mb.ca

AB BARLEY GROWERS – BANFF

The Alberta Barley Commission will hold their annual meeting Dec. 10, 2010 at the Banff Park Lodge in Banff, AB.

The day kicks off with the barley commission business meeting, followed at 10:30 by a number of speakers on topics ranging from marketing to industry issues.

For more information or to register contact the Alberta Barley Commission office in Calgary at 403-291-9111.

Lee Hart is a field editor for Grainews in Calgary, Contact him at 403-592-1964 or by email at lee@fbcpublishing.com