Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives (MBFI) has named Mary-Jane Orr as its new general manager.
Orr will oversee all aspects of the three MBFI research and demonstration sites near Brandon at Brookdale Farm, First Street Pasture, and Johnson Farm, as well as the new MBFI Learning Centre.
The field sites and MBFI Learning Center are key resources to support agricultural producers and the general public to learn with and from producers, researchers, and experts on the subjects of forage and livestock production and innovation in Manitoba and Western Canada, the organization says.
Orr grew up on a mixed farm near Carberry, Manitoba, and has worked with David Rourke to initiate development of an on-farm research and learning hub, targeting regenerative practices for annual crop production with livestock integration.
Orr received a Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Agronomy (Soil Microbiology), from Purdue University, and a Bachelor of Science, in botany from Brandon University. Orr also worked as a postdoctoral associate at Purdue University on sustainable bioenergy and conservation cropping systems before returning to Manitoba
MBFI is a partnership between Manitoba Agriculture, Manitoba Beef Producers, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association.
