ITEMS CURRENTLY COVERED HERE
1. Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN): "A New Industry Voice in Alberta"
2. AFIN's first Annual General Meeting - March 15, 2011
3. Alberta Forage Manual Now Available
1. Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN):"A New Industry Voice in Alberta"
The official formation of the Alberta Forage Industry Network as a registered Alberta Society was announced on December 2, 2010. The official announcement was made at the Western Canada Grazing Conference, Vermilion, by Lyndon Mansell, a member of the initial Board of Directors of AFIN, and a forage producer from Innisfree.
"Alberta has over 30 million acres of forages including native and seeded forages, making forage the largest "crop" grown in Alberta," says Mansell. "However, until now, there has not been a united voice to represent the Alberta forage industry."
AFIN is now embarking on a membership drive. Those involved in any aspect of the Alberta forage industry are encouraged to become members, have a say, and play a part in the future direction and development of this industry. Farmers, farm corporations, agricultural related businesses, government departments and agencies and non-government agencies who are interested in furthering the objectives of AFIN are eligible for membership. Current membership fees range from $50 to $250, depending upon class of membership.
"The financial support provided by membership will allow AFIN to address Alberta forage industry objectives and priorities," adds Mansell.
Key objectives of the new organization include:
- To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among producers and other stakeholders
in the forage industry
- To champion research, education and extension for the management and use of forages
- To foster unified communication between the forage industry, government and the public
- To represent the Alberta Forage Industry nationally and internationally.
In conjunction with his announcement Mansell, announced that the first Annual Meeting of AFIN as a society will be held at the Lacombe Research Center on March 15, 2011. Featured guest speakers are being confirmed for this meeting, and Director Elections will be held.
For more information about AFIN, membership; and the upcoming annual meeting, visit AFIN's website at: www.albertaforages.ca
or contact:
Doug Wray, Chair
Alberta Forage Industry Network
Ph: 403-935-4642 Cell: 403-850-7643
Grant Lastiwka, Treasurer
Alberta Forage Industry Network
Ph: 403-556-4248 Cell: 403-350-6394
Backgrounder: The Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN)
AFIN is new entity that can work for you through your membership voice!
AFIN, a unified voice for Alberta's Forage Industry.
AFIN Accomplishments To Date:
1) AFIN bylaws and policies were created and a policy/bylaw/objects manual drawn up. We are proud to say
the province of Alberta has granted the Alberta Forage Industry Network society status. We are officially
set to take memberships and are recognized as representing Alberta forage industry stakeholders.
2) Continued development of the AFIN website www.albertaforages.ca so it can function as our
communications "hub".
3) Provided input to the team assessing protocols for Forage Carbon Offsets in western Canada.
Unfortunately, after these discussions land used for grazing was left out for now in work for carbon
protocol offsets.
4) AFIN Directors played a major role in the development of the national Canadian Forage and Grassland
Association (CFGA). AFIN was active in launching the CFGA, helping it receive society status, and also
obtain some organization and project funding.
5) AFIN's chairman, Doug Wray sits on the CFGA board representing the Forage-Livestock sector. Through
this position Doug is now the national forage representative to the federal government's Beef Value Chain
Round Table.
Further Comment:
As we worked on AFIN this last couple of years it became very evident that a broader perspective was needed if AFIN could have highly effective impact on our Alberta forage situation. Priorities for forage issues and opportunities related to industry, research, and extension are very similar with our forage peers all across the provinces.
That is why we took the step to be very active in taking Alberta Forages into a larger and stronger Canadian Forage Network. Working together in forages we feel we are better able to accomplish something meaningful and effective. Ed Shaw from International Quality Forages Ltd. out of Didsbury, Alberta is chair of the new Canadian Forage and Grassland Association Society (CFGA). CFGA is active and already received financial support for a forage export mission to the middle-east. Determining the value of the Canadian Forage industry is another project just now being put forward for funding. This will get AFIN the answers we need for the valuing of the Alberta Forage Industry.
The current Directors of AFIN are strategically located across the province and can be contacted locally for further information and member input to AFIN. They include:
Doug Wray, Chairman
Irricana, AB
dlwray@hotmail.com
Tel: 403.935.4642
Cell : 403-850-7643
Laura Bluck, Vice Chairman
Olds, AB.
lbluck@oldscollege.ca
Tel: 403.556.8206 (office)
Tel: 403.556.3529 (home)
Lyndon Mansell
Innisfree, AB
basicman@telus.net
780-592-2262
Don McLennan
Medicine Hat, AB
Don.Mclennan@agr.gc.ca
403-526-2429
Grant Lastiwka, P. Ag., Treasurer
Olds, AB
Grant.lastiwka@gov.ab.ca
Tel: 403.556.4248
Carla Amonson
Evansburg, AB
Westcentralforage@gmail.com
Tel: 780.727.4447
Dale Engstrom, P. Ag., Secretary
Spruce Grove, AB
engstro@shaw.ca
Tel: 780.962.0042
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. AFIN's First Annual General Meeting
All members of AFIN are invited to participate in the Annual General Meeting that will be held as follows:
AFIN AGM
9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Tuesday, March 15 ,2011
Lacombe Research Center
Lacombe, Alberta
Come and enjoy featured guest speakers, discussions with your fellow industry partners, and participate in the election of AFIN's first official board of directors. Help the voice of forages in Alberta be heard!
3. Alberta Forage Manual Now Available
The newly revised Alberta Forage Manual is now available from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. The updated information and the numerous colour photos and illustrations identifying different crop species, diseases and insects as well as photos explaining forage activities will provide comprehensive information on a range of forage topics for producers. The fully illustrated manual covers a wide range of the forage industry and has over tripled in size from the previously available manual.
Read more here.
Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN):"A New Industry Voice in Alberta"
