• AgDays 2025: January 21, 22 and 23 - 9am to 5pm Daily
News Releases

Manitoba Ag Days is honored to support Ryan Boyd in his Nuffield Scholorship Studies.

March 5, 2019

Manitoba Producer in Final Preps for Global Livestock Study:

Ryan Boyd ready to criss-cross world for Nuffield Scholarship on Grazing Ruminants
Brandon, Man (March 5, 2019) – Ryan Boyd is about to set out on the educational experience of a
lifetime later this week when he starts the first leg of his two-year Nuffield Scholarship study.
Along with wife Sarah and parents Jim and Joanne, Boyd runs a 3,500 acre mixed farm just north of
Forrest, Manitoba. Boyd’s globe-trotting learning journey starts Friday in Iowa, finishing up eight weeks
later in New Zealand with stops in Washington D.C., Florida, Mexico, Brazil and The Netherlands in
between as he studies Grazing Ruminants: A resilient solution to long term agriculture profitability,
productivity and climate change.
“I am a firm believer that as farmers we need to remain at the cutting edge of new techniques and
technology in the world of rapid change that we live in,” says Boyd, a well-known advocate for
Regenerative Agriculture and a MFGA board member. “We have always embraced change with open
arms on our farm and this study will allow the professional development that will be required to lead
our farm and Canadian agriculture into an exciting future. Every environment has its unique challenges,
but this will be an opportunity to learn what others are doing worldwide and bring new perspective and
new ideas home to the prairies.
The only Canadian among the group of seven scholars travelling together on the Brazil Global Focus
Program organized by Nuffield International, Boyd will be exposed to a broad spectrum of agriculture
industry before delving into the specifics of his chosen topic, Grazing Ruminants and their many benefits
to the agroecosystem including better nutrient cycling, promoting soil microbial life, enhancing the soils
ability to sequester and store carbon and use water more effectively. All of these benefits can directly
and indirectly improve farm profitability and create societal value as the natural resources that the farm
relies on become enhanced.
Boyd admits leaving the farm for first leg’s two months will be tough. He and Sarah have two young
children and as every producer knows, the farm works every day, especially with cattle. Boyd points to
the incredible support of his family and the help of others in his pursuit of becoming a Nuffield Scholar.
On that front, Boyd says, support for his study has been incredibly humbling, especially with the
program’s onus on the individual scholar to foot half the bill.
“My Nuffield Scholarship is sponsored by the Western Grains Research Foundation and that is
tremendous,” says Boyd. “The support I have received to help offset the costs of my journey from
family, friends and groups interested in my research has been overwhelming. MFGA, Manitoba Beef
Producers, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Manitoba Ag Days, Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation,
Northstar Seeds, The Green Spot, Shur-gro Farm Services, Wheat City Seeds, SGB Agronomics and
several other family members and friends have generously stepped up to support and a few more
potential sponsors have expressed interest I simply can’t thank everyone enough.”
One way Boyd plans to help family, friends and supporters (a full listing of Boyd’s corporate supporters
is below) keep tabs on him is to be active on social media when and where WiFi coverage allows and
time presents. Boyd will blog regularly at www.southglantonfarms.com and will post Tweets and
Instagram photos at @glantonboyd. MFGA will monitor Boyd’s travels and blogs, helping to share his
experiences across MFGA’s communications channels including MFGA Facebook, Twitter and soon-tobe-
launched revamped website.
-30-
For More Information: Ryan Boyd, cell: (204) 724 7019, email: rboydy@yahoo.ca
Ryan Boyd 2019 Nuffield Scholarship Corporate Sponsors
Western Grains Research Foundation
Manitoba Forage and Grasslands Association
Manitoba Beef Producers
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Manitoba Ag Days
Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation
Shur-Gro Farm Services
The Green Spot
Northstar Seeds
Wheat City Seeds
SGB Agronomics – Steve Beaumont

Browse all News Releases

That’s a Wrap on Ag Days 2024!

January 18, 2024

That’s a Wrap on Ag Days 2024! Manitoba Ag Days was a hub of activity! Visitors, exhibitors and speakers had a fantastic week learning, doing business and promoting the [...]

Manitoba Ag Days 2024 opens tomorrow!

January 15, 2024

Manitoba Ag Days 2024 opens tomorrow! In less than 24 hours the doors will open and the 47th Manitoba Ag Days will be underway! The final touches are being put into [...]

Ag Days is one month away!

December 15, 2023

We are one month away from the 47th Annual Manitoba Ag Days Show. We are all set to transform the Keystone Centre in Brandon, Manitoba into Canada’s Largest [...]