The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is excited to announce that Lactanet’s Jean-Philippe Laroche will present the opening keynote at its 16th annual conference taking place in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Nov. 18 to 21. 
 
Jean-Philippe, a dairy production expert specializing in nutrition and forage, joined Lactanet’s innovation and development team in 2020. Raised on a dairy farm, he developed an early interest in cows and their diets, with a particular passion for forage valorization by ruminants. He earned his agronomy degree from Laval University in 2018, followed by a Master’s in animal sciences, during which he received several distinctions. A member of l’Ordre des agronomes du Québec, Jean-Philippe is known for his strong communication skills and deep commitment to farm sustainability—qualities that make his work with producers especially impactful. His career includes a range of applied research projects focused on dairy cattle nutrition and forage production. 
 
Jean-Phillipe’s keynote, Everything that can be measured can be improved!, will focus on the importance of data. Without data to guide our decisions, it can be difficult to improve. Even today, the forage sector uses relatively few performance indicators, which limits progress compared to other agricultural production. For forage crops to maintain their place of choice on our farms, we need to measure ourselves more and, above all, leverage this data to identify opportunities for improvement. 
 
The CFGA looks forward to hearing Jean-Phillipe’s keynote on Wednesday, Nov. 19. 
 
Other highlights 
The theme for this year’s conference, which is being held in partnership with the New Brunswick Soil and Crop Improvement Association (NBSCIA), is Greener Horizons: Technological Innovations in Forage and Grassland Management. The program includes pre-conference workshops, a welcome reception, two days of expert-led sessions and panel discussions and an industry trade show. Attendees can also look forward to the Leadership Award dinner, the Building Bridges social and a post-conference farm tour. 
 
Earn CEU credits  
Conference attendees are eligible to earn Certified Education Units (CEUs), making this event not only informative but also a valuable opportunity for professional development. Whether you’re a producer, agronomist or extension specialist, participating in the conference sessions can contribute toward your continuing education requirements while deepening your expertise in forage and grassland innovation.  
 
Register Now!   
Time is running out to register as the conference is just two weeks away! Register today on the CFGA website. Check out the draft agenda and watch the CFGA conference website for more details! Follow the CFGA Facebook, Instagram and X accounts for updates on speakers, schedules and special events as they become available.