A brand new web portal designed to connect Manitoba grain garmers and livestock producers launched on Thursday, January 27th.
The new site is a joint initiative by the Manitoba Organic Alliance (MOA) and Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association.
MOA Executive Director, Karen Klassen, says the Manitoba Grain Exchange website is aimed to virtually connect farmers who have available grazing pasture or cover crop fields with livestock owners/ranchers who are seeking grazing land through an interactive map.
Klassen says the process to get started is very simple. The homepage contains a Google Map, and from there, users can start the process by creating an account.
"It's really simple, just a couple of questions to get you started, and then you find your farm on there and then make a little pin saying if you have animals or cover crops, or whatever you have... then put a bit of information about your farm on and it creates a little pin on the map, and then other people can find you."
Through the Manitoba Grain Exchange, Klassen says they're hoping people will be able to find people nearby, even people people they might not have expected.
Lawrence Knockaert, MFGA chair said after the recent summers we have just experienced with dry conditions in Manitoba, the connections through this website stand to become even more important as possible feed sources for livestock in times of drought.
The web portal was launched at the Innovative Strategies for Organic and Regenerative Livestock Production Online Mini-Conference hosted by the prairie organic associations from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Support for this project has been provided by the Conservation Trust, a Manitoba Climate and Green Plan Initiative delivered by the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation.
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