1. Vern Baron Lacombe Research Station Lacombe, AB
Role Of The Canadian Forage And Grassland Association In Advancing The Forage And Grassland Sector
Vern Baron
Lacombe Research Station
Lacombe, AB

2. Strategic Road Map
Start Here

3. Have A Good Look At Yourself

4. Scales Are The Moving Target
We are here.
We talk like we are here.
Kyoto is here.
Plot Field Farm Landscape Region
Ecological scales connecting research to policy.
Pasture
National
Feed yard
Feed lot
Animal Field Farm Landscape
The landscape is made up of farm units; the farm has field units.

5. Scales Are The Moving Target
Research, Extension Gov’t and Industry experts
We are here.
We talk like we are here.
CFGA
Your Farm
Kyoto is here.
Plot Field Farm Landscape Region
Ecological scales connecting research to policy.
Pasture
Local Farm organization
National
Community
Feed yard
Feed lot
Animal Field Farm Landscape
The landscape is made up of farm units; the farm has field units.

6. A Good National Organization Has To:
Work with commercial entities which may not be their own.
Value the component parts
Work with government and government resources to it’s advantage (public good).
Share information, even financial information

7. Trends in Farm Organizations: Consolidation
Too many meetings --- Time constraints
Lack of resources (volunteers) and cash
Larger voice
Grain Farmers of Ontario is an amalgamation of corn, soybean and wheat farmers. The process took 10 years.
The grass roots wanted more from the cost of a membership.

8. Examples of Good Farm Organizations: (in common strong leadership)
Manitoba Farm Business Groups
– Prairie Provinces Farm Account Book
- Development of leadership skills
- Shared financial information and farm business analyses (why? – Good for business!)
Ontario Corn Producers Association (leadership, knowledge-based and innovative)
– Now amalgamated into Grain Farmers of Ontario
Canola Council of Canada – (started small, valued and mixed government and industry expertise and resources)

9. Focus
The hardest thing about a forage organization is to focus on forage, work on forage and improve forage.

10. Prioritization: A Problem for Forages in a “Winner - Loser” Environment

11. Roles Of A National Organization
Advocate
Educator
Leader
Voice
Consensus Builder
Broker
Futurist
Representative
Image Builder

12. Urgency vs. Importance Decision-Maker for Your Role
Advocate
Broker
Voice
Consensus Builder
Urgency
Leader
Futurist
Image
Builder
Educator
Importance

13. When you come to a stop:

15. Summary
Define, understand and respect the roles along the local to national scale for CFGA and important stakeholders
Are there good models or examples to follow?
Focus on forage: How do you handle prioritization in CFGA and for forages within stakeholder organizations?
What is the role of CFGA? – Advocate, broker, consensus builder and futurist?

16. Road Map to Success
Start Here