Central Plains-area 4-H clubs are reorganizing

Posted By Shawn Cabak, Farm Report

Posted 16 days ago

Join a club near you.

In 4-H clubs the focus is on fun, friends and learning cool new skills. 4-H is an international youth and volunteer organization that helps develop well-rounded, responsible and independent youth from eight to 21 years old. Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives offers a framework for the 4-H program and works in partnership with 4-H volunteers to deliver the program.

The 4-H motto is "Learn to Do by Doing". This motto is demonstrated in all 4-H activities from project work to meeting management, and to public speaking and having fun.

Learning is 3D. To help members get the most out of their learning, each project meeting has the following parts: Dream It - Plan for Success, Do It - Hands on Learning, and Dig It! - What did you learn?

Eight new project series include Leadership, Body Works, Technology, Beef, Machines, Foods, Crafts, and Fibres and Fabrics. Remaining "classics" for 2009-10 are: Exploring 4-H, Dairy, Small Animals, Growing Things, Equine, Create-A-Project, Money and More, Babysitting and Outdoor Living.

Clubs in the Portage area include: Austin Blazing Saddles, Elm River (Oakville), Gainsborough Combined, MacGregor Mix and Match, Oakville Beef, Portage Canter, Portage Beef and Portage Variety. If you are interested in learning more about 4-H or possibly joining one of the local clubs, contact the Portage la Priarie MAFRI office at 239-3352.

New beef budgets now available

The beef costs-of-production guides are designed to provide you with planning information and a format for calculating costs of production for your beef enterprises. Adjustments will be necessary when applying these figures to your own enterprise. Guides are available for cow-calf, backgrounding and finishing operations. Copies are available at your local MAFRI office or online at www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/financial/farm/software.html

The budget estimates are based on a number of assumptions which are clearly defined in the supporting pages. Productivity and performance assumptions are based on data supplied by specialists as well as data collected from producers. Input costs are based on recommended practices and/or information obtained from producers. In good management procedures, it is assumed that a balanced ration is being fed, livestock are on a herd health program and handling facilities are included. Based on a 150-cow herd, MAFRI's break-even point to cover operating costs in a cow/calf operation is 91 cents/lb. Adding operating, fixed and labour costs jumps the break-even to $1.46/lb at 575 lbs and a 95 per cent calf crop.

First biodiesel mandate in Canada

Manitoba has taken another step forward as a leader in support of the biofuels industry by becoming the first jurisdiction in the country to implement a biodiesel mandate. As a result of the two per cent biodiesel blend with diesel, it is expected greenhouse-gas emissions will be reduced by 56,000 tonnes or the equivalent of removing more than 11,000 cars from the road annually.

Biodiesel is a safe, non-toxic, renewable and clean-burning fuel made from a variety of sources such as oilseed, animal fats from rendering facilities, and used restaurant oils and grease. It is biodegradable in water, produces fewer emissions and has a more pleasant odour than petroleum diesel. The province will provide greater support for local biodiesel production by replacing the current fuel tax exemption with a 14-cent-per-litre, five-year production grant for biodiesel produced in Manitoba. The grant keeps Manitoba competitive with incentives offered in other North American jurisdictions. Biodiesel is already being used in Manitoba by some vehicle fleets, such as Manitoba Hydro, the Winnipeg School Division and Canada Safeway using this biofuel to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions. It is expected biodiesel will be widely available to consumers by summer 2010.

This builds on a previously announced regulation in 2008 requiring the licensing of biodiesel manufacturers and the adoption of fuel quality standards which ensures the integrity of the province's fuel supply.

For more information, contact the Portage MAFRI office at 239-3353.