Grass-fed Beef Workshop

Jim Lintott, the Chair of the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association came to Smithers for April 4th & 5th to give a workshop on grass-fed beef.  Jim has a double science degree with the emphasis on environmental science.  He worked in agriculture research doing pollination studies at the University of Manitoba at Atomic Energy of Canada and did a one year stint in Kenya developing commercial beekeeping.  Jim started farming while in university.  That led to the creation of Northstar Seeds, a company owned by a group of producers that specializes in the production, marketing and distribution of cool season grasses, legumes, corn and lawn seed. 

This was a multi-faceted workshop with a format that included structured presentation as well as open participation of the producers.

Part One: How We Do It - a presentation of Jim's farm production protocols for grass-fed beef, from seed production to a steak on your plate and everything in between, with a look at what  BV producers are doing to get to the same point: an AAA steak.

Part Two: Presentation and hands on cost analysis of 100% grass-fed beef operation.

Part Three: Review of some of the guidelines from experts like Gerald Fry and Allan Nation.  What we have learned from the long-time experts, and some things that don't seem to matter.

Part Four: An update on the research and development that is happening in the grass-fed beef industry.  More information is available from the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association website: http://mfga.net/resources/grass-fed-beef/

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