The 2015 planting season is moving right into spraying season, as this week’s update from Wheat Pete includes discussion about early weed control in dry conditions, critical weed-free periods for corn and soybeans, and manganese deficient wheat. Whether it’s lamb’s quarters, pigweed, ragweed or foxtail, “you name it, it’s out there coming gangbusters,” says Peter Johnson. And… Read More
The sun is shining, the grass has turned green and the temptation to turn cattle out to pasture is strong at this time of year. Spring grazing is often the weakest link in the grazing system on cow-calf operations, says Jane Thornton, pasture and rangeland specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, noting decisions made in spring can have… Read More
Did you know it’s Soil Conservation Week? Here we are just one day after Earth Day, and in that spirit Peter Johnson kicks off this week’s crop update with a challenge for farmers. When’s the last time you sat at the kitchen table and talked about your farm’s biggest asset, the soil? Johnson says if… Read More
The Canadian Forage & Grassland Association (CFGA) has named Cedric MacLeod, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, as the group’s executive director, effective June, 2015. “(Cedric) brings a strong background in forages, and experience working in organizations to successfully advance their goals and agendas. We look forward to his leadership as we promote the forage and grassland industry and… Read More
By Christina Franc Canada exports 600,000 tonnes of forage each year, with an estimated value of $150 million. This market is continuing to grow, particularly in the United Arab Emirates. Selling hay to the UAE opens a world of possibilities, and a world of possible problems, says Alan Gardner of Haydar Group of Companies. None… Read More
Bayer CropScience (Bayer) and DuPont Crop Protection (DuPont) have signed of an agreement for Bayer to purchase certain DuPont Crop Protection land management assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. Through the acquisition, Bayer gains access to DuPont’s forestry, range and pasture products and expands its environmental science business unit to… Read More
Got cows but keep running out of pasture? Or maybe you’d like to decrease your feed bill but can’t afford more land (who can these days?). Jack Kyle, grazing specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, has four great options to help you extend the grazing season. As Kyle explains in… Read More
Editor’s note: This week, September 22-28, 2014, is national organic week. This post is dedicated to all 3 organic producers that read this site. Thank you for following along! “My dad let me do things my way, so I’m doing the same for them,” laughs Josef Hagen, when asked what pushed his dairy farm near… Read More
The possible arrival of the first widespread killing frost in Western Canada this week has implications for livestock producers looking to maximize feed quality for their animals. Freezing temperatures can cause nitrates to accumulate in cereal species grown for greenfeed, which can be toxic to cattle (more info here on the SaskAg website.) However, management… Read More
Knowing what species to establish, when to plant them and what nutrients they require is certainly crucial for establishing a good pasture stand, but there’s one thing that’s perhaps a little less obvious but equally important: what, exactly, do the numbers on your forage seed mixture mean? According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s regulations, forage… Read More
Good forage makes money, but poor forage is money lost. Tom Kilcer, of Advanced Ag Systems in Kinderhook, NY, has spent years researching forage production, forage quality, and livestock performance. Here’s what he’s learned. Contrary to common assumptions, forage does not dry by the same mechanisms from start to finish. They are, in fact, three… Read More
By Cheyenne Stapley This post first appeared on Stapley’s blog Little Prairie Baby. Visit the blog here. Editor’s note: According to the ESRD, there are currently 980 feral horses on the Southern East Slopes alone; it is suspected this number is actually low. Currently in Alberta there are capture permits out to cull some of… Read More
Should you stick with silage specific hybrids or include a few (or more) dual purpose lines for good measure? Both strategies can work, says Aaron Stevanus, market agronomist for PRIDE Seeds, it simply depends on your management system. Leafy, highly digestible silage-specific lines are a great choice, especially near the barn on highly fertile ground,… Read More
Ah, Artemesia absinthium. If you’ve ever had the misfortune of being acquainted with absinth wormwood, you’ll likely never forget it. Many describe the plant by its appearance and odor, both likened to pasture sage. Absinth’s odor is strong, however, and in my experience, the pollen profoundly irritates the respiratory system. In fact, you can quite… Read More
It’s time to get down, get your hands dirty and take stock of, well, what you feed your stock. As discussed in the last Beef Research School, rangelands serve several purposes beyond just growing grass, and their health is a measure of five key components — species mix, nutrient cycling, site stability, water management and… Read More