Providing an optimal feed ration for each stage of cattle production takes planning, as forage and grain varies in quality and composition from year to year and from bin to bin. Feed testing is the integral first step to developing a balanced and complete ration. Optimal rations maximize feeding efficiency, which can help cattle producers… Read More
Category: Features
The 2012 growing season was a positive one for soybean growers in all parts of the Prairies. It was also very hot and dry in many areas at harvest. As such, the crop came off dry to very dry. Soybeans are prone to cracking under these conditions, and the cracks aren’t always visible. The issue… Read More
Price discovery is a key aspect of grain marketing. It can also be time consuming and take a lot of legwork. Once you do find a price you’re happy with there may still be a few hiccups before a transaction is completed, either because of cross-border services and paperwork or with grade disputes at the… Read More
Moving livestock safely, even short distances, requires the right type of trailer, skilled handlers and an informed plan for transport length and conditions. In order to ensure Canadian cattle are being handled with positive outcomes in mind, we need scientifically-informed guidelines for what appropriate travel durations and conditions are. Dr. Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein, an Agriculture and… Read More
Those who haven’t thought about or planned their business succession will have someone who has planned theirs take over their farm or business. It’s that simple. That’s according to Daryl Ritchie, chairman and CEO of MNP LLC, in this episode of the RealLeaders series. What’s more, Ritchie says that too often businesses and farms focus… Read More
Last week’s U.S. beef market opened with the same strong numbers leading up to American Thanksgiving. By the end of the week, numbers had, as expected, weakened somewhat, as supplies increase in the U.S. In Canada, the reverse is true for supplies — as the fall run ends, the basis is tightening. Canadian cattle producers… Read More
Welcome to what I hope will become part of your regular reading — The Bug Counter blog, here on RealAgriculture.com. As Insect Management Specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development my role is largely to count insects. Along with my technician, Shelley Barkley, and in-season help from summer students we have set out to create… Read More
Sometimes you just need more than germ and vigour seed testing. There are a variety of reasons why you may need a variety test, for example, or perhaps you need to know the parts per million of vomitoxin levels in fusarium damaged grain. Whatever the question or problem, there’s a seed test for it. In… Read More
There are only a few days left for farmers to weigh in on impending changes to the Canada Grain Act. If all you’ve heard about so far are changes to user fees, you’re not alone. Much of the media attention has centered on the costs of running the Canadian Grain Commission, because, for the most… Read More
The Canadian cattle industry has made continual gains in beef quality and safety and production efficiency, year over year, even in the face of significant challenges in the past decade. That’s due in no small part to the tenacious nature of Canada’s beef producers, but it’s also a result of significant gains made through extensive… Read More
Hot on the heels of announcing a brand new school, RealAgriculture.com is pleased to announce a new feature of the site — Ask FarmLink. The Ask FarmLink series will connect grain producers with the market analyst team of FarmLink Marketing Solutions, encouraging farmers to send in their toughest grain marketing questions. Whether it’s a question… Read More
After a year-over-year doubling of traffic to the site, RealAgriculture.com hired its first full-time editor this spring. Now, the site continues to expand in the form of a new school. Joining the line up RealAgriculture’s production-focused Schools is the new Beef Research School — a series of 30 videos produced in partnership with the Beef… Read More
An increase of fusarium incidence in Alberta, combined with a very hot summer, has left some farmers unsure of what’s wrong with some sample of wheat seed. In a very dry year, drought stress can shrivel kernels and cause them to look similar to fusarium damaged kernels. From a marketing perspective, knowing the difference and… Read More
The markets are volatile and could be described liked standing inside a hurricane at times. Only this time the hurricane was real. With Hurricane Sandy ripping through the east coast, the impacts on beef demand must be questioned. With the XL Foods hangover working its way out, feed yards and ranchers are trying to get… Read More
Well, it’s that time again. The time of year where we take our best shot at predicting what the next 4 months will look like. Call it a coping mechanism or whatever. If it helps us to persevere until the spring, bring it on. This time around we look to Drew Lerner of World Weather… Read More