Reading Time: < 1 minute In 2015, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry conducted a cost-of-production survey, known as the AgriProfit$ program. Currently, the program generates a variety of customized reports such as a financial budget summary, revenue and expenses statement, and economic analysis of individual enterprises such as cow-calf, drylot, grasser, forages, pastures, and crops. The benchmark survey results will be […] Read more
Financial survey of producers soon available
Know a leader in the forage and grassland sector?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Nominations for the Canadian Forage & Grassland Association Leadership Award are now open. This award recognizes individuals — as well as groups or organizations — who exemplify or enhance the goals of the association, and whose leadership in the forage and grassland sector has impact of national and/or international significance. The recipient will be invited to make a […] Read more
Saskatchewan adds new secretary for farm irrigation
A rookie MLA in the Saskatchewan Party caucus has been promoted to a legislative secretary post with responsibility for expansion of the province’s farm irrigation systems. Premier Brad Wall on Tuesday named Warren Kaeding, the MLA for Melville-Saltcoats since April, as legislative secretary to the minister of agriculture, for irrigation expansion. Kaeding was previously a […] Read more
U.S. Senate judiciary committee to hold hearing on ag chem deals
Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Senate judiciary committee will hold a hearing in late September to discuss the mergers of Dow Chemical and Dupont as well as ChemChina’s purchase of Syngenta, committee chair Charles Grassley said in a statement Tuesday. Grassley, a Republican from the farm state of Iowa, has already expressed concern that […] Read more
Fact sheet on balanced diets, cattle feeding available
Reading Time: < 1 minute The use of adequate, well-balanced diets can maximize profits — or minimize losses — in a feeding program. To help with this, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has revised its Nutrients for Cattle fact sheet. It outlines the nutrients basics for good cattle nutrition and how well Alberta feeds succeed in supplying these nutrients. Topics covered include digestive […] Read more
New non-bloating legume can power up your pastures
After years of development, a new and improved sainfoin variety is being field tested across the province
Reading Time: 2 minutes High-legume pastures can be profitable and productive, but many cattle producers are scared to use them because of the risk of bloat. That’s why Alberta Agriculture and Forestry along with the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta have teamed up to do sainfoin trials across the province. “Sainfoin is a non-bloating legume,” provincial beef […] Read more
Grazing cattle on legumes offers unique benefits
Reading Time: 2 minutes There is a risk of bloat from grazing high-legume pastures, but it can be done with planning and attention. “I’ve heard it said that there has been more money lost due to fear of bloat than has ever been lost due to bloat itself,” said Ian Murray, an Acme rancher and chair of the Agricultural […] Read more
After scorching heat, Earth likely to get respite in 2017
Oslo | Reuters — The Earth is likely to get relief in 2017 from record scorching temperatures that bolstered governments’ resolve last year in reaching a deal to combat climate change, scientists said Wednesday. July was the hottest single month since records began in the 19th century, driven by greenhouse gases and an El Nino […] Read more
Monsanto reported giving Bayer limited access to its books
Frankfurt | Reuters — U.S. seed company Monsanto has given German suitor Bayer limited access to its books after turning down a sweetened US$64 billion takeover offer last month, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters. The parties have not yet signed a non-disclosure agreement, which would allow Bayer to conduct due diligence, but […] Read more
Trump names six U.S. governors as ag advisors
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump named 64 agriculture policy advisors on Tuesday, including the governors of Iowa and five other farm states and a former federal agriculture secretary. The announcement came as Trump, a New York businessman seeking his first elected office, looks to improve his standing among voters, particularly those […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
