Larry Martin says while global demand for food is rising, producers need to think hard about how they respond to it
Reading Time: 2 minutes These are unprecedented times for agriculture, but that presents new challenges, says a leading agricultural economist. “Are we going to have these high prices that we’ve seen for these last few years, or is that just a glitch?” Larry Martin asked attendees at the recent Smoky Lake Agricultural Conference. “We’ve never had a five-year glitch […] Read moreEconomist says agriculture is in new era that offers both opportunities and challenges
Export opportunities for forage producers are growing but every market is different
China’s bid to double milk production will mean a huge increase in forage imports, and opportunities abound in the Middle East
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s a good time for forage producers to get into exporting — but there are pitfalls, too, says the chair of the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association’s forage export committee. “One of the things we’re realizing is that good data is hard to find, especially when you are talking about exports to the U.S.,” said […] Read moreScientist urges forage growers to stay ahead of the production and management curve
Duane McCartney says growers need to keep up with new varieties and improved methods for dealing with issues such as bloat and pasture management
Reading Time: 3 minutes Forages don’t get the respect they deserve. That was the message retired Agriculture Canada research scientist Duane McCartney delivered to the Alberta Forage Industry Network meeting. “The forage industry in Canada and Alberta is a very, very big industry,” McCartney told attendees. “Your organization needs to get that kind of information out.” Forage acreage has […] Read moreIt isn’t a business plan until it’s written down on paper
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you’re starting a journey, you need to start with a plan. Starting a business is no different, says Kathy Bosse, new venture coach with Alberta Agriculture. “Don’t make it a chore, don’t make it a job. Use it as a guide,” she told a recent Explore Horticulture session here. “Nobody plans to fail, they […] Read more
Lakeland College marks 100 years
History The first students were immigrants who needed to learn how to farm on the Prairies
Reading Time: 3 minutes Lakeland College is celebrating its first century in 2013, with a theme of “Celebrating the past and transforming the future” and events through the year leading up to the official 100th anniversary in November. Lakeland, located in Vermilion and Lloydminster, has played an important part in the development of the province and has true agricultural […] Read moreExpert says big inputs equal big wheat yields — but not necessarily more profit
BUMPER YIELDS Ontario wheat growers are topping 80 bushels an acre and some U.K. farmers are piling on inputs and reaping 200 bushels plus
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you’re looking for higher wheat yields, fine tune your fungicide and nitrogen applications — and hope better genetics come along soon. That was the advice offered by Peter Johnson, provincial wheat specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, at the Farm Tech conference. “Look at nitrogen and fungicides and look at this interaction because […] Read moreWheat customers seek post-single-desk quality assurance
Warning Customers don’t want to see a repeat of what happened to Australian wheat quality after deregulation
Reading Time: 3 minutes Asian customers are making it clear that wheat quality and consistency remain vital following changes to the Canadian marketing system, and they are already raising red flags about recent shipments. Dave Hatcher, program manager for Asian products and wheat enzymes with the Canadian Grain Commission, told the first annual meeting of Alberta Wheat Commission that […] Read moreDealing with calf malpresentations (but with no pressure)
Easy calver Cattle College uses a plastic model to demonstrate different calving situations
Reading Time: 2 minutes UFA’s recent Cattle College here gave producers a hands-on demonstration on dealing with calf malpresentations, but it wasn’t exactly on a cow. Dr. Claire Ainsworth, a veterinarian with Mayerthorpe Veterinary Services, demonstrated using UFA’s educational plastic model, which contains a calf inside a cow. It was purchased by UFA and is now used by Olds […] Read moreIdentifying the insect ‘superheroes’ in your fields
Beneficials Many of the bugs that you find in a sweep net might be good ones who are eating the bad ones
Reading Time: 3 minutes Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman — all superheroes, but if you’re a farmer, so is Copidosoma bakeri, says Jeremy Hummel, a soil sciences instructor at Lethbridge College. Hummel told an audience at Farm Tech that farmers should add that tiny wasp to their superhero list for its work in fighting cutworms. Hummel’s presentation was on […] Read moreResearch funding a priority for new wheat commission
Reading Time: 3 minutes Directors of the Alberta Wheat Commission say its first annual meeting a the end of January was an occasion for celebration, but now it’s time for work to begin. The AWC is the first provincial wheat commission in Canada, and has been operational since Aug. 1, 2012. It aims to represent the 11,000 wheat growers […] Read more