Daryl and all,
The Saskatchewan provincial Food Secure conference was originally
targeted for May but we've moved it back to fall (probably Oct
2nd-3rd) to allow more lead time for planning and promotion. It looks
like SIAT Palliser campus in Moose Jaw will be willing to partner
with us.
We want to develop a strong range of workshop options to broaden the
network of participation especially among producers and urban food
activists from around the province.
don
.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Daryl Hepting" <dhh@cs.uregina.ca>
To: "Local Food Directory Project" <lofo@cs.uregina.ca>
Cc: "Nettie Wiebe" <nettie.wiebe@usask.ca>; "'Don Mitchell'"
<donmitchell@sasktel.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 11:58 PM
Subject: [lofo List] Re: dates for a food event
> Hi;
>
> Sure. I had in mind that Food Secure Saskatchewan was meeting in
> May. The October dates sound fine, too, though I may not be around.
>
>> Lets be as synergistic as possible.
>
> I agree wholeheartedly.
>
> Best regards,
> Daryl
> --
> On 7-Mar-09, at 9:04 PM, Cathy Holtslander wrote:
>
>> Linking with the FSS conference sounds like a top-knotch idea, as
>> it brings an existing network of food people together, and may
>> well have some $$ resources in place already. I think it would
>> be a better fit than Agribition, which tends to draw a crowd
>> that really likes giant tractors.
>> Cathy
>>
>> Quoting Don Mitchell <donmitchell@sasktel.net>:
>>> Hi to all,,
>>>
>>> I'm interested in this thread of discussion. I should let you
>>> know that we
>>> (Food Secure Saskatchewan) are planning a provincial conference
>>> on Food Security in which a workshop on grass-fed beef or red
>>> meat production could
>>> be a highlight. Out tentative dates are October 2nd and 3rd. We
>>> are looking
>>> at a wide range of workshop themes promiting the local food
>>> systems. The
>>> event, at this point, loks like it will be located in Moose Jaw.
>>> (Alternately it may be in Regina but this will be decided before
>>> the end of
>>> March.)
>>>
>>> If we can include a workshop on sustainable red meat productin
>>> we would be
>>> very interested.
>>> Don Mitchell
>>> for Food Secure Saskatchewan
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Jason Freeman" <jason@farmerdirect.coop>
>>> To: "Nettie Wiebe" <nettie.wiebe@usask.ca>; "Local Food
>>> Directory Project"
>>> <lofo@cs.uregina.ca>
>>> Cc: "Local Food Directory Project" <lofo@cs.uregina.ca>
>>> Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 6:54 PM
>>> Subject: RE: [lofo List] Dubious 'Scientific' Study Grass Fed
>>> versus Grain
>>> Fed Livestock
>>>
>>>
>>> > In my thinking the goal would be to connect members of the
>>> public with
>>> > the farmers...so direct sales for the farmers and consumer
>>> education
>>> > would be the major goals of the event. >
>>> > If the end of October works for everybody by that time local
>>> sustainable
>>> > food should be red-hot, judging by all the media concerning
>>> local food
>>> > and the state of the world economy. So, perhaps we could see
>>> 500 or more
>>> > people who are serious about purchasing local and sustainable
>>> meat come
>>> > to this event. >
>>> > People are in to it, they want to meet the farmers. >
>>> > -----Original Message-----
>>> > From: Nettie Wiebe [mailto:nettie.wiebe@usask.ca]
>>> > Sent: March 6, 2009 11:52 AM
>>> > To: Local Food Directory Project; Jason Freeman
>>> > Cc: Local Food Directory Project
>>> > Subject: Re: [lofo List] Dubious 'Scientific' Study Grass Fed
>>> versus
>>> > Grain Fed Livestock
>>> >
>>> > Thanks for your input, Jason. As a small cow-calf organic beef
>>> > operation, we would be interested in the kind of workshop you
>>> > are proposing - at least if it is organized during a season
>>> when we can take
>>> > time away from the farm. > Nettie Wiebe
>>> >
>>> > Quoting Jason Freeman <jason@farmerdirect.coop>:
>>> >
>>> >> Hi Darryl,
>>> >>
>>> >> I'm a little concerned with the thread regarding the supposed
>>> >> GHG benefits of grain versus grass fed livestock. >>
>>> >> The article did not go into enough detail regarding how the
>>> > 'scientists'
>>> >> derived the volume of methane produced between Grass and
>>> >> grain fed cattle. It appeared they simply derived volume
>>> based on a calorie per
>>> >> calorie basis. >>
>>> >> A study last year pointed out that lamb raised in New Zealand
>>> >> but consumed in the UK represented less GHG than lamb raised
>>> and consumed
>>> >> in the UK. The main reason was that the New Zealand lamb was
>>> raised
>>> >> and finished on grass and the UK on grain. >>
>>> >> Mammals, including ourselves, tend not to emit that much
>>> methane when
>>> >> we eat a diet consistent with our physiology...meaning we
>>> >> fart and burp less. Cows are no different. It is extremely
>>> >> dubious to claim that cows designed to eat grass actually
>>> >> contribute to GHG versus grain fed cattle especially in feed
>>> lots where you have all sorts of
>>> >> health problems such as acidosis. >>
>>> >> The proper management of manure and pasture actually
>>> >> increases the farms soil organic matter and therefore one
>>> should see a net reduction
>>> >
>>> >> of GHG from a properly managed grass fed operation. I would
>>> absolutely
>>> >
>>> >> agree that multi-species livestock management is the way to
>>> >> go but this needs the development of a local food system to
>>> >> make it financially sustainable. >> Of course over grazing
>>> damages pastures but the whole point is to
>>> >> manage your farm properly. >>
>>> >> I believe grain fed can also reduce GHG by increasing soil
>>> >> organic matter if the feeding is done on an organic farm from
>>> grain grown on
>>> >> the farm with proper manure and pasture management. This is my
>>> >> experience at farmer direct which needs to be further
>>> quantified. A
>>> >> hybrid of grass/grain may end up being the most efficient way
>>> for an
>>> >> organic family farm, on the prairies, to utilize all of their
>>> >> resources to achieve economic sustainability given various
>>> market and
>>> >> weather fluctuations. For example, if you have a mixed
>>> >> operation, growing grain and raising grass-fed cattle, but
>>> >> your crop ends up being feed quality and the feed market
>>> price is unprofitable...what do
>>> >
>>> >> you do, because you are a grass operation you can't feed the
>>> grain to
>>> > your cattle. >> So you other option is to hold over the grain
>>> until the feed markets
>>> >> increase which then puts you in a speculative position. >>
>>> >> Maybe its time for a one day symposium regarding a local
>>> organic meat
>>> >> system up at the University. There is a lot of really exciting
>>> >> activity going on in Saskatchewan with people like Mark, Clear
>>> Creek,
>>> >> Keith Neu and a number of other groups who are raising organic
>>> >> livestock for sale in local/Sask markets. The farmers could
>>> >> share their visions on what constitutes healthy and
>>> sustainable livestock
>>> >> production and sale and where they want to head in the
>>> >> future. The goal would be to attract as many members of the
>>> public as possible so
>>> >> we can make the links to build this market. >>
>>> >> Just some thoughts. >> Best Regards,
>>> >> Jason
>>> >> ----
>>> >> The Local Food Directory Project Mailing List
>>> >> lofo@cs.uregina.ca
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > ----
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>>> > lofo@cs.uregina.ca
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
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>>> > 7:20 AM
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>>> >
>>>
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>>> lofo@cs.uregina.ca
>>>
>>
>>
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