Turning animals onto pastures while grass plants are still small, succulent, and their second leaf barely fully emerged, may be doing more harm than good. Provincial forage specialist Karin Lindquist said if the grass is bitten before it has reached that three-leaf stage, it is forced to revert back to those energy stores to regrow […] Read more
Alberta crop conditions as of May 16
Over the last week, another major weather system swept across the province, bringing more rain (10-50 mm) to the Regions. Affected areas that are currently too wet are experiencing delays in seeding progress, as well as in the harvesting of overwintered crops. However, in the Southern and Central Regions, the weather has cooperated, allowing for […] Read more
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has revised its Using Animal Unit Month (AUM) Effectively fact sheet. AUM can be used to calculate suitable stocking rates for pastures under a wide variety of conditions, said forage/beef specialist Karin Lindquist. The fact sheet includes sections on defining the animal unit, determining the AUM, differences in consumption rates, and […] Read more
Alberta crop conditions as of May 9
Alberta experienced another week of favourable weather which further enhanced soil drying. Temperatures were generally above average and although showers were prevalent late in the reporting period, amounts were small. Saturated soils throughout the North East, North West and Peace regions continue to hamper field operations. Seeding is underway in all regions. Seeding progress has […] Read more
Alberta crop conditions as of May 2
Seeding is off to a slow start due to the cool April temperatures experienced throughout the province. In the South, soils have been slow to warm while in the remainder of the province, the cool temperatures slowed the dry down of already saturated soils caused by the wet conditions experienced last fall. Currently, six per […] Read more
Applying for a Century Farm and Ranch Award has got easier. “We can now, in most cases, find the supporting documentation on people’s behalf, so they don’t need to find their own homestead record or current land title,” said Colin Gosselin, senior project co-ordinator with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “All we need the applicant to […] Read more
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s 2017-18 Agriculture Information Catalogue is now available. The catalogue has more than 600 free and priced books, DVDs, and CD-ROMs on a wide range of agricultural subjects, ranging from crop and livestock production to new ventures and agri-tourism. The catalogue also lists web-based materials, including decision-making tools, online videos, maps, and […] Read more
Planning to plant some of the less common crops such as flax, camelina, or hemp? Then start small, says provincial crop specialist Harry Brook. “Use the first year as a chance to learn the agronomics and particulars of the new crop,” Brook said. Also, it’s “imperative to get a contract first before you grow it.” […] Read more
Online survey runs until May 8
Alberta producers have a chance to offer their ideas on what should be in the successor to the current Growing Forward 2 agreement, which expires on March 31, 2018. The online survey includes discussion about key priorities, including markets and trade; science, research and innovation; risk management; environmental sustainability and climate change; value-added agriculture and […] Read more
The ban on pruning elms is now in place until Sept. 30. All pruned wood and firewood from elms should now have been disposed of, either by burning, burying or chipping. Stored elm wood can harbour the elm bark beetles that can carry DED. “If elm trees are pruned during the pruning ban period, these […] Read more
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