Manitoba Regenerative Dairy Program

Manitoba
Regenerative Dairy
Program



A first-of-its-kind farmer-centred program helping Manitoba dairy farmers build economic, social, and environmental resilience


Photo: Sean Smith, Clanman Jerseys, Clanwilliam, Manitoba.

About the Program

The Manitoba Regenerative Dairy Program is a farmer-centred initiative supporting dairy farmers across the province in applying regenerative principles that improve farm profitability, soil health, and long-term resilience.

Rooted in collaboration, this program recognizes that a regenerative food system starts with farmers.

Co-led by Regeneration Canada and the Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association (MFGA), the program brings together dairy farmers, researchers, and industry partners through regional Hubs that foster peer-to-peer exchange, knowledge-sharing, as well as individual guidance and collective support.

Initially, five core dairy farmers are collaborating through the first Hub, launched in October 2025, to measure on-farm outcomes, refine practices, and identify scalable, context-specific solutions that improve both environmental resilience and business performance. A second Hub, welcoming another five farmers, is planned for early 2026.

These Hubs form the foundation of a growing learning network that will expand through collaboration and knowledge transfer across Manitoba’s dairy sector.

 

 

“The Manitoba Regenerative Dairy Program empowers dairy farmers to take the lead in shaping practical, regenerative solutions that work for their farms and their future.”

 – Kristelle Harper, Manitoba Local Manager, Regeneration Canada

 

Program Objectives:

The Manitoba Regenerative Dairy Program aims to:

  • Support dairy producers at every stage of their regenerative journey through farmer-centred Hubs

  • Facilitate the adoption and scaling of regenerative practices suited to Manitoba’s diverse farm contexts, climate, and soils

  • Measure and share credible outcomes related to soil health, biodiversity, water, and farm economics

  • Develop farm-level economic models demonstrating how regenerative practices contribute to profitability and long-term resilience in dairy production systems

  • Foster knowledge exchange and collaboration among farmers, researchers, and partners to accelerate sector-wide learning

  • Highlight leadership among Manitoba dairy farmers leading the shift to more regenerative and resilient production systems.

Why it Matters

Across Canada, farmers and ranchers are applying regenerative principles to improve soil health, biodiversity, and water cycles — strengthening resilience on their farms and within their communities.

In Manitoba, dairy farmers are already leading the transition to regenerative agriculture, adopting and scaling practices on their operations.

The Manitoba Regenerative Dairy Program connects farmers, supports outcome measurement, and shares data and insights to accelerate regenerative innovation across the province’s dairy sector—ensuring farms remain both economically viable and environmentally resilient for generations to come.

 

Program Timeline & Opportunities

The program launched in October 2025 and will run for four years.

  • The first Dairy Hub welcomed its initial cohort of participating farms in October 2025.

  • A second Hub is planned to launch in early 2026.

  • Ongoing: Field days, workshops, and webinars will be held throughout the program for all interested farmers to connect, learn, and share across Manitoba’s dairy sector.


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Partners in Collaboration

The Manitoba Regenerative Dairy Program was built on a shared belief that lasting change requires collaboration, not duplication, and that every partner has a distinct role in supporting farmers.

At its core is the longstanding partnership between Regeneration Canada (RC) and the Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association (MFGA), who co-lead the program, bridging national vision and local leadership to advance regenerative practices and farmer-centred learning across Manitoba.

 

Regeneration Canada (RC): Convenes national and local partners to align expertise, connect producers, and translate insights into action.

 

Manitoba Forage & Grassland Association (MFGA): Serves as the local anchor, working directly with producers to ensure the program reflects Manitoba realities from the ground up.

 

Key collaborators:

  • Canadian Organic Growers (COG): Leads curriculum development, transforming on-farm data and experience into actionable learning tools.

  • Smart Prosperity Institute (SPI): Leads economic modeling, linking regenerative practices to measurable benefits.

  • TheoryMesh (TM): Provides a digital platform that integrates data and results across the program.


Together, these partners form a learning ecosystem where each organization contributes complementary expertise, ensuring the work supports farmers directly and meaningfully, while strengthening the collaborative relationships that make regeneration possible.

 

Get Involved

For more information on the Manitoba Regenerative Dairy Program:

Contact Kristelle Harper, Manitoba Local Manager, at kristelle@regenerationcanada.org

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