FREDERICTON (July 22, 2024) – The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) has launched early bird registration for its 15th annual conference. Organized in partnership with the Ontario Forage Council, this year’s conference will take place in Guelph, Ontario, Dec. 3 to 7. 
 
With the theme Roots to Success: The Foundation of Resilient Agriculture, this not-to-be-missed three-day event celebrates the important environmental and economic role forages and grasslands play in Ontario, across the country and around the globe. Once again delivering the practical, grassroots-based agronomic knowledge the CFGA is known for, the CFGA Conference is the gateway to Canada’s 70-million acres of forage and grassland production, the researchers who study it and the men and women who manage and protect it.  
 
The 2024 program includes a pre-conference workshop, an in-person trade show and real-time networking opportunities and multiple educational sessions, followed by the popular post-conference tour, which is being held in conjunction with OFC’s Forage Focus. New this year will be a Young Farmers Forum to discuss the challenges and opportunities for this demographic, as well as an evening social for those involved in the export of forage products. 
 
The 15th annual conference includes two days of sessions focused on the themes of grassland, pasture, tame forages and markets including sessions on policy, programming and optimizing production. Keynote speakers throughout the event are Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Martin Chatigny, Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association’s Angela Straathof, the University of Guelph’s Dr. Ralph Martin and Farmers’ Bridge founder Maggie Van Camp with New Zealand dairy farmers Marc and Nia Jones. 
 
Nominations are also open for the CFGA 2024 Leadership Award. The CFGA Leadership Award recognizes individuals, groups or organizations that exemplify or enhance the goals of the CFGA and whose leadership in the forage and grassland sector has impact of national and/or international significance. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 30. Nomination forms are available on the website.
 
Visit the CFGA conference website for more information, to view a draft agenda, to register or to access the CFGA Leadership Award nomination forms.