NCLE Events

As part of our mandate, the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment is committed to encouraging knowledge sharing amoung researchers, government, industry and other interest groups as well as with the general public. There are a number of venues and forums through which this can be accomplished.

NOTICE: To ensure your personal safety and the biosecurity of our livestock, we ask that all visitors to the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment at the Glenlea Research Station consult our Protocols for Visiting Glenlea Research Station prior to visiting.

NCLE events in 2011:

Special Session - Contemplating the role for animal agriculture in environmentally sustainable food production - April 26, 2011
NCLE hosted a special seminar “Environmentally sustainable food production: What is the role for animal agriculture?” During this session, key presenter Henry Janzen, a senior scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge, Alberta, encouraged the audience to seriously contemplate the long term sustainability of the millennia-old practice of raising animals for food. Both Janzen and the farmer/community leader response panel (Owen McAuley, Allan Preston and Gwen Donohoe) encouraged dialogue to communicate benefits and to better link all people in our ‘community’ to the land. The sustainability of animal agriculture comes down to strengthening connections; between livestock and land as an ecosystem; between farmers and consumers yearning for a closer connection to the land and the source of their food; between the broader populace and the facts on environmental benefits/stressors that are a necessary part of providing food for a growing global appetite from a finite resource base. We all have a role to play. This seminar now available online http://media.cc.umanitoba.ca:8080/ramgen/faculties/agriculture/livestock&enviro2011.rm (Requires RealPlayer - Free download available at http://www.real.com/realplayer)

NCLE events in 2010:

Texas Farm Bureau Young Farmers stop by NCLE on 2010 Canada tour - October 20, 2010
Following a productive visit in 2009, NCLE again hosted the TFB, this time a delegation of their young farmers, sharing knowledge and experiences. The TFB group continuef their day with a round table discussion with representatives of KAP young farmers.

Soil & Manure Management Field Clinic - July 23, 2010
With MAFRI as the lead, MAFRI, NCLE, Richardson International and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada joined forces to deliver this interactive 8 station in-the-field learning session on a variety of soil and manure management topics. With 78 participants, the first offering of this workshop was well attended. Building on this success, look for more opportunities for knowledge exchange from this group in the future. Many thanks to everyone involved! Learn more and view images from the day.

Agri-Food Research and Development Initiative (ARDI) - July 22, 2010
Researchers Laurie Connor, Don Flaten, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Kim Ominski, Kees Plaizier and Nazim Cicek updated ARDI council members on several ARDI-funded projects featuring beef cattle, swine, poultry and dairy research as well as manure treatment and field management research taking place.

Western Canadian Feed Innovation Network (WCFIN) - June 23, 2010
Laurie Connor, Head of Dept. Animal Science, Christine Rawluk, NCLE research development coordinator and Kim Ominski, beef-forage systems researcher, described their feed-related research projects and programs. The group was also keen to learn more of NCLE's operating structure as well as the Faculty's hands-on student education opportunities.

Regional Working Group on Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture- June 9, 2010
Representatives from federal and provincial agriculture departments from Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta visited the Glenlea Research Station. The tour focused on research geared towards finding solutions to the challenges facing the livestock industry, emphasizing the important role of partnerships in NCLE research and extension activities. Don Flaten, Laurie Connor, Christine Rawluk, Martin Entz, Kim Ominski, Luciano Gonzalez, Aaron Glenn and Farm Manager Mike Stuski hosted.

Farm Foundation - June 3, 2010
The Faculty hosted delegates attending the Farm Foundation Round Table in Winnipeg. Over 140 delegates visited the Glenlea Research Station and the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment to learn more about the research and facilities at this site. The American-based Farm Foundation serves as a "catalyst for sound public policy by providing objective information to foster deeper understanding of issues shaping the future for agriculture, food systems and rural regions."

NCLE events in 2009:

Manitoba Cattle Producers Association - October 6, 2009
On October 6, NCLE hosted members of the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association at the Glenlea Research Station. During the visit researchers described recent forage-beef research projects, emphasizing the value of multidisciplinary research and partnerships in benefiting the sustainability of Manitoba's cattle industry. NCLE/UM researchers Kim Ominski, Karin Wittenberg, Don Flaten, Laurie Connor, Denis Krause, Mario Tenuta, Gary Crow, Derek Brewin and Julieta Frank, ruminant technician Terri Garner, and NCLE Research Coordinator Christine Rawluk hosted.

Texas Farm Bureau - September 1, 2009
NLCE researchers hosted delegates of the Texas Farm Bureau as well as Maureen Dolphin, Trade Commissioner, Canadian Consulate General in Dallas and Karen Hodgson, AAFC-Marketing and Trade Officer at Glenlea, sharing research and Manitoba livestock production information. The TFB included NCLE as part of their trans-Canada visit the first week of September. NCLE researchers Don Flaten, Laurie Connor, Kim Ominski, Kees Plaizier and Nazim Cicek and NCLE Coordinator Christine Rawluk hosted.

Manitoba Pork Council - July 23, 2009
Members of the Manitoba Pork Council saw first-hand how the University of Manitoba is working to address some of the challenging issues facing pig producers in Manitoba and how Manitoba Pork’s commitment to support research and outreach at the University of Manitoba shapes the activities taking place at the Glenlea Research Station’s National Centre for Livestock and the Environment and the Glenlea Farm Education Centre. NCLE researchers Don Flaten, Laurie Connor, Martin Nyachoti and Karin Wittenberg were tour hosts. Manitoba Pork generously provided lunch for the tour group and the entire Glenlea Farm staff.

University of Manitoba President Dr. David Barnard - May 22, 2009
University of Manitoba president Dr. David Barnard learned first-hand the scope of NCLE research and outreach/extension activities taking place at the Glenlea Research Station from NCLE researchers Laurie Connor, Nazim Cicek, Don Flaten (NCLE Chair) and Brian Amiro, Faculty Dean Michael Trevan and Karin Wittenberg, Associate Dean Research and NCLE Vice-Chair. NCLE/GFEC supporters Karl Kynoch and Andrew Dickson of Manitoba Pork and alumnus Bruce Campbell emphasized the value of research, education and of university partnerships with industry and government.

NCLE events in 2008:

Brazilian Government Delegation visit with NCLE Researchers and Tour NCLE - November 25th
A 13-member delegation from Brazil, including the Secretary of Economic Development and International Affairs, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Ag-business, along with senior representatives from Manitoba Trade and Investment spent the day with members of NCLE and the Department of Animal Science. NCLE researchers Dr. Ermias Kebreab, Sustainable Agriculture Systems Modeling, and Dr. Mario Tenuta, Soil Ecology, shared some of their recent work in greenhouse gas mitigation in livestock production systems as well as in productivity and environmental sustainability of integrated livestock production systems. Dr. Gary Crow, Dept. of Animal Science, presented an overview of beef cattle genetics in Manitoba. Following lunch, Christine Rawluk, NCLE Research Development Coordinator, highlighted ongoing NCLE research during a tour of NCLE at the Glenlea Research Station.

NCLE Fall Open House - September 25th
University of Manitoba Glenlea Research Station
This successful tour, attended by over 120 guests, featured guided tours of the farm and fields where NCLE researchers highlighted some of their diverse work with swine, poultry, dairy and beef cattle, manure and crop rotation management to further the sustainability of integrated crop and livestock production systems.

Dairy Farmers of Manitoba Tour of NCLE - Sept. 17th
Glenlea Research Station
Representatives from NCLE, Glenlea Research Station and the UM Department of Animal Science hosted board members of the DFM. The tour featured new NCLE facilities and equipment, made possible in part by a generous donation by the DFM. Hosts Dr. Kees Plaizier, Dairy Research Director, Dr. Kim Ominski, Beef/Forage Production, Dr. Laurie Connor, Animal Science Dept. Head, Dr. Don Flaten, NCLE Chair, and Christine Rawluk, NCLE RDC shared examples of the types of research projects already underway and which may be developed in the future that are applicable to Manitoba Dairy Farmers.

PC Caucus Tour of NCLE - September 10th
Glenlea Research Station
This tour highlighted projects of the NCLE Research Team underway that will aid in furthering the sustainability of livestock production systems in Manitoba. Members of the opposition party toured the farm and field research sites.

Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board Tour of NCLE - July 24th
Glenlea Research Station
This tour highlighted the NCLE operating structure, research model, research facilities at the Glenlea Research Station as well as current and recently completed NCLE projects.