Cattle emit less methane in the winter than in summer, a recent study has discovered. And now that the results have been sent to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), scientists will use it to develop a more accurate picture of the true contribution of ruminants to global warming. Previously, the IPCC had not […] Read more
Cattle ease up on the gas in winter, study finds
Ritz Says He Won’t Scrap Single Desk Unless Majority Of Farmers Vote For It
Reading Time: 2 minutes Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says his party “respects the vote” of farmers who back the single desk and suggested there won’t be any attempt to impose dual marketing on the Canadian Wheat Board unless a majority of producers vote for it. “Until farmers make that change, I’m not prepared to work arbitrarily,” said Ritz. “They […] Read more
Is That Cow More Efficient, Or Is She Just Prettier?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Imagine two cows: One tall and lean-looking with narrow flanks, and the other short legged, with an enormous gut and girth. Most ranchers would be quick to put the first one on the cull truck in fall, and the other out with the bull on pasture for next year. But appearances can be deceiving. Under […] Read more
Weaning: A Vital Step That Is Too Often Done The Wrong Way
Reading Time: 3 minutes How do you know it’s weaning time in ranching country? That’s easy. It’s the only time of the year that the bawling of cows and weaned calves is loud enough to drown out the howling coyotes. But what’s music to the ears of the ranchers anticipating the arrival of their annual paycheque is actually the […] Read more
Organic Wheat Market In A Slump
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canadian organic wheat farmers have effectively been shut out of the European market due to lower-priced competition from Kazakhstan. After the meteoric rise of organic wheat to $30 per bushel in the spring of 2008, food manufacturers started looking elsewhere for raw materials. They discovered cheaper products from Kazakhstan, a central-Asian nation with more arable […] Read more
Soil — Treat It Well, And It Will Treat Your Crops Well
Reading Time: 3 minutes Crop yields in a slump? Disease and insect problems rife? Input costs chewing up profit margins every year? Before you curse the weather, bugs, or chemical companies, you might want to consider another cause: Declining soil quality. Modern farming has developed a host of quick-fix solutions, but the beneficial effects are temporary if you ignore […] Read more
European Silage Solution Helps Beat Prairie Deluge
Reading Time: 2 minutes What do you do when it’s the end of June and the first cut is ready, but there’s rain in the forecast? The answer, generally, is silage. The problem is a silaging operation typically requires at least three people operating three machines – unless you have a self-loading silage wagon. Don Green, who runs a […] Read more
A Shot Of Rye: Breeding A Tougher Winter Wheat
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada’s top winter wheat breeder has been awarded a $600,000 grant to continue his work – even though he’s winding down his breeding program. But University of Saskatchewan plant scientist Brian Fowler says new winter wheat cultivars from his breeding program will continue to appear for years to come. For example, a new cultivar named […] Read more
Red Meat — Tight Supplies Suggest Prices Will Stay High
Reading Time: 3 minutes The futures markets are sparkling for cattle and looking brighter for hogs, according to market analysts. Tight supplies pushed April live feeder cattle futures to volatile new highs this month, said Anne Dunford of Taber-based Gateway Livestock Exchange. “I’m old, but $1.20 has been the resistance level forever. It broke $1.30 yesterday (Jan. 18),” she […] Read more
Friction Boffins See Future In Plant-Based Oils
Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s one simple reason why Linnaeus Plant Sciences founder Jack Grushcow would rather talk about camelina as a lubricant than as camelina in your tank. Fuel sells for around $1 per litre, but hydraulic fluid sells for $5 per litre. The Vancouver-based entrepreneur told the recent Canadian Weed Science Society’s annual meeting there are a […] Read more
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