CFGA extends early bird registration for 2026 conference 

The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) has extended its early bird registration for its 2026 annual conference to Tuesday, Sept. 8, giving producers, researchers, industry partners and conservation leaders a little extra time to secure their spot.

Taking place Nov. 9 to 12 in Calgary, Alberta, and delivered in partnership with the Agriculture Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA), the 17th annual CFGA conference brings Canada’s forage and grassland community together for four days of learning, collaboration and sectorwide engagement.

With the theme Canadian Forage Systems: Designing for Durability, this year’s conference offers a dynamic program focused on resilience and longterm system design, from soil biology and grazing leadership to market trends, agtechnology and global perspectives.

What to expect

The newly released draft agenda offers a preview of the ideas, innovations and conversations coming to Calgary. Here’s what participants can expect across the fourday program.

Monday, Nov. 9, kicks the event off with a fullday preconference tour showcasing Alberta’s forage and grassland systems. Registered attendees will enjoy breakfast, lunch and shuttle transportation as they explore local operations and management approaches. The day wraps with a lively Welcome Reception, giving participants a chance to reconnect and meet new faces before sessions begin.

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, the theme Durable Systems sets the tone with a deep dive into the foundations of resilient agriculture. The trade show, exhibits and academic poster showcase run throughout the day, offering handson learning and networking.

Day one of sessions features a strong lineup exploring the foundations of durable agricultural systems, beginning with a keynote on the human, organizational and operational elements that make resilient agriculture possible. Heather Watson of Farm Management Canada will outline the three factors that drive longterm farm success. She will be followed by a First Nations stewardship session highlighting partnershipbased approaches to prairie and rangeland resilience. Brenna Grant of CanFax will share insights from the cowcalf cost of production network, alongside updates from the forage seed industry and The Hoyt Report’s global market outlook.

The day also includes a Canadian Land Systems Management panel with representatives from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario, and closes with a keynote examining how policy, market signals and institutional structures can strengthen perennial systems and support producer decisionmaking. The evening concludes with the CFGA Leadership Award Dinner, featuring Tess Ryder’s reflections from the Global Gathering of Pastoralist Women during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

Wednesday, Nov. 11, begins with the CFGA’s operational update and ARECA’s provincial highlights before shifting into the them for the day: Durable Environment.

Morning sessions explore the environmental foundations of durable forage systems, beginning with a keynote from Isaac Heida on how soil biota drive productivity and longterm resilience. Forage specialist Ken Wall will share strategies for increasing output on marginal acres, followed by Nature United’s insights into conversion modelling and what it means for the future of Canada’s grasslands. The morning wraps with research updates from national partners, offering a snapshot of emerging science and innovation across the sector.

The afternoon program is divided into two themed streams. Durable Futures features an agritechnology panel showcasing emerging tools that are reshaping forage and grassland systems, followed by a Canadian economic outlook from BMO’s Aaron Goertzen. Durable People shifts the focus to leadership and lived experience across the Prairies, with insights from grazing clubs, a session on social science and producer decisionmaking led by Brook McWherter, and global perspectives on resilience drawn from Mongolian grasslands.

The day closes with a keynote from Dan Putnam (UC Davis) on the future of forages, followed by an evening social event for registered guests.

The final day, Thursday, Nov. 12, offers two indepth workshops: Advancing Canada’s Grasslands Together (hybrid) and Technology Tinder (inperson). Both sessions run the full day. More details coming soon.

Celebrate IYRP

The CFGA is excited to incorporate International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) celebrations throughout its 2026 National Conference, aligning the event’s focus on durability with a global movement dedicated to healthy, resilient rangelands. Many sessions, from Indigenous stewardship and soilbiotadriven resilience to grazing leadership, global grassland perspectives and producer decisionmaking, directly reflect the values at the heart of IYRP. By weaving these themes into the program’s stories, panels and producerdriven innovation, the conference connects Canada’s forage and grassland community to international momentum, celebrating the people, practices and landscapes that sustain rangelands worldwide. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore what’s happening across Canada while joining a global celebration of stewardship, collaboration and longterm resilience.

Register now! 

Take advantage of early bird registration and register today on the CFGA website. Early bird registration has been extended and now ends on Sept. 8. 

More info

Watch the CFGA conference website for more details! Follow the CFGA Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn accounts for updates on speakers, schedules and special events as they become available.