The very dry conditions in Ontario this summer have left many livestock producers very short on forage. The Hay East initiative (www.HayEast2012.com) is still looking for donations from the west and now has widened the request to include Ontario farmers with a little extra to spare. Jim Hair (@OFA1) posted this tweet this morning: #HayEast… Read More
What if there was a way you could get at least 25% more grass out of your pastures with minimal investment? There is — the secret is adding electric fencing and moving your cows more. Jack Kyle, grazier specialist with OMAFRA, says that restricting the cows to smaller pastures and then moving them every day… Read More
Western Canadian farmers struggling to feed livestock in the very dry 2002 growing season were helped out by their eastern counterparts when an ad hoc program dubbed “Hay West” sent thousands and thousands of tonnes of hay to those in need. This year, western Canadian farmers are returning the favour with Hay East 2012. Livestock… Read More
It seems farming equipment gets bigger and bigger every year, but instead of only striving for bigger, Canada-based Jaylor developed its line of mini TMR mixers to suit any sized operation. From a self-contained mini unit, to a tractor-mounted version or even a pick-up truck ready mixer, Jaylor’s line of mini mixers has a size… Read More
We’ve talked a lot about the effect of the extreme hot and dry weather on Ontario corn and soybean producers, but forage crops have taken a huge hit as well. That damage has been softened a bit lately by the effects of much needed rains, but it also leaves producers in a spot where they… Read More
The US drought is capturing the attention of many people. One of the groups that is majorly impacted by the drought but has been lost in this meteorological drama is the beef industry. The US drought is playing a major role in the decision making of some beef producers and feedyards heading into the fall… Read More
Canada’s Farm Progress Show was a great opportunity to connect with farmers throughout Saskatchewan, across the west and beyond. As we do at most farm shows we decided to hit the grounds and talk to some of those farmers and ask a number of different questions. This time around, we asked farmers about the state… Read More
Is there anything quite like being in a hurry, plugging up your haybine and spending hours unplugging it while your precious life blood is being drained by helicopter sized mosquitoes? They say necessity is the mother of invention, so I imagine a few nights like that could create a need for something like the haybine… Read More
This episode of Agri-Treks brings us back to the Casa Grande area of Arizona for a look at some of the biggest crops in that region. It’s an area that ventures on the extreme side when it comes to hot and dry temperatures, but as we mentioned last time, if those heat units can be… Read More
Germination tests are standard when it comes to any seed lot. A lot of seed for sale has to tested for germination so that the farmer or seed company can decide whether the seed lot will be suitable for sale. Farmers that are saving seed also need to make sure that their saved seed will… Read More
The global economic instability of the last year has no doubt rattled investors and left them looking for any kind of a stable place to invest. One of those places has been agriculture. The growing population and the need to feed them has raised the value of the agricultural industry as a whole. The bottom… Read More
With precision agriculture becoming more mainstream, its apparent that farmers are looking to every means possible to increase production and gain an edge. Micro-Nutrients may be one of those missing pieces of the puzzle when it comes to gaining that edge. Micro-Nutrient companies are on the rise in the U.S. and are starting to show… Read More
Wet weather and flood conditions have packed a punch this year in Manitoba. While the effect on cropland has been tremendous, the effect on cattle producers has been widespread as well. This is the time of year when producers move cattle to pasture, but this year, a great deal of pastureland is underwater or soaked… Read More
Minimizing the loss of silage is very important in any livestock operation whether you are running a dairy or a feedyard. Silage can be stored in a pit, silo or the bale wrapper. Proper storage is very important feeding requirements. What kind of silage storage you choose will somewhat depend on your farm location or… Read More
By Megan Oleksyn Peas, barley and corn, oh my! Here in Western Canada, there are many different forage crops that can be cost-effectively turned into silage for cattle. High River area rancher, Phil Rowland, comments that silage is €œthe easiest way to put up a consistent quality forage crop in Alberta€™s variable climate conditions.€ And… Read More