CNS Canada — Early-September rains will likely interrupt harvest progress in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, according to a U.S. meteorologist — but producers will still likely be able to avoid frost. Field work will operate around rains that are expected to fall between Sept. 6 and 9, said Drew Lerner, president of World Weather Inc. “We’ve […] Read more
Rain and eventually frost in store for Sask., Man.
New Sask. farm drainage rules ready for rollout
Saskatchewan has laid out a new set of regulations meant to bring all farm drainage works — including previously grandfathered drains — into compliance in the next 10 years. The regulations, announced Tuesday, will first be applied to pilot projects in the province’s east — in the Souris Basin, near Stoughton, and the Assiniboine Basin, […] Read more
This year’s El Nino could be strongest on record
Geneva | Reuters — The current El Nino weather phenomenon is expected to peak between October and January and could turn into one of the strongest on record, experts from the World Meteorological Organization said at a news conference Tuesday. Climate models and experts suggest surface waters in the east-central Pacific Ocean are likely to […] Read more
Stewardship program expecting a flood of new applicants
About 8,000 producers have completed an Environmental Farm Plan — but that number is about to grow by 5,000 a year
Reading Time: 3 minutes Jason Bradley thought he was a pretty good steward of the land — but doing an Environmental Farm Plan helped him become a better one. “If it wasn’t for the Environmental Farm Plan, this would not have come to fruition,” said the manager of Red Deer River Ranches, indicating the fenced-in riparian areas and the […] Read more
Rancher’s generous donation is a gift for all Albertans
Reading Time: 2 minutes Gottlob Schmidt had a dream of preserving the land that he has spent so much time on. And the realization of that dream will benefit all Albertans with the creation of the province’s 76th provincial park. “It has always been my wish that someday I could leave this land to someone else,” said the 90-year-old […] Read more
Invader blasts its way into wet areas
Reading Time: < 1 minute Himalayan balsam can be spotted in a number of municipalities across Alberta, and is especially common in flower beds. Before it was listed as a prohibited noxious weed, Himalayan balsam was a very popular ornamental. It was even readily available in greenhouses. Himalayan balsam is incredibly invasive in wet areas — mature seed capsules explode […] Read more
Want to kick up your management skills a notch?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Producers who want to take their management skills to the next level are being encouraged to apply for the second annual Robert (Bob) L. Ross scholarship program. Ross, a dairy producer from St. Marys, Ont. who died in 2014, was an influential advocate for business management training and a mentor to farmers across the country […] Read more
Researchers using big data to find feed-efficient dairy cattle
The goal is to develop a prediction tool for breeding cows that will eat less with no loss in productivity
Reading Time: 2 minutes Researchers at the University of Alberta are looking to give producers a bit of a boost by isolating feed-efficient traits in dairy cattle. “We have an estimate that breeding for increased feed efficiency and reduced methane emission can reduce feed costs by about $100 per cow per year,” said Paul Stothard, an assistant professor of […] Read more
Doing the right thing — and getting paid for it
ALUS program shares cost of stewardship projects with farmers
Reading Time: 4 minutes Like most farmers, Kevin Ziola wants to be a good steward of the land — but it’s been tough for the third-generation farmer to balance his conservation efforts with his bottom line. “As a cattle farmer, I believe it’s important to work with nature, not against it,” said Ziola, who runs 200 head of cattle […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market tenacious
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices appeared to shrug off all negative economic news and divorce from the fed cattle complex this past week. Volumes were once again quite thin, characterized by varying quality. Feedlot operators were active on all fronts, especially in southern Alberta where the barley harvest is in full swing. Heavier yearlings on […] Read more