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Soil health & forage productivity in Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives Operation
Project Details
Project Lead: Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives
Collaborators: Mae Elsinger (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Years: 2022 - present
Project Status: Ongoing
Funding & In-Kind Support: Canadian Agricultural Partnership
Location: Brookdale Farm, Johnson Farm, First Street Pasture
Scope: Case Study
Keywords: Soil Health, Annual Forages, Intercropping, Perennial Forages, Grazing Management, Weed Management
Approach
Several sites were chosen to examine soil and plant health indicators, covering different soil types and different land uses. Long-term monitoring of these sites will provide benchmark data for the farm in relation to soil type and land use.
Key Findings
Soil Health:
Sites at Brookdale Farm have higher organic matter compared to the Johnson Farm and First Street Pasture sites.
Pastures with perennial forage generally have higher organic matter than annual fields.
Perennial pastures that had been managed as a continuous pasture from 2015-2021 had lower quality soil than perennial pastures that were managed under a rotational planned grazing for the same period.
Plant Health:
Total biomass is higher for both perennial and annual sites at the Brookdale Farm when compared to the Johnson Farm and First Street Pasture
Higher legume content in pastures at the Brookdale Farm contributes to higher crude protein in these forages.
Leafy spurge is more abundant in the southern pastures of First Street Pasture.
The first round of sampling occurred in 2022. Long-term trends due to management will require further years for sampling.
Full Reports:
Industry Resources:
Grazing Management - BCRC
Range and Pasture Health Workbook - Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association
Rangeland Health Assessment for Grassland, Forest, & Tame Pasture - Alberta Environment & Parks
Related Projects at MBFI:
This topic was published January 30, 2023 and revised April 4, 2023.