A rangeland assessment system looks at the five key functions of rangelands: integrity and ecological status; community structure; hydrologic function and nutrient cycling; site stability, and noxious weeds.

And in all five areas, the adage ‘If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it,’ rings true.

The first step is to break your rangeland into sites. In a grazing system, this would be your fenced fields. Sites may fall into one of four categories: lightly, moderately, heavily, or very heavily grazed. Rangelands are at their healthiest with light to moderate disturbance caused by grazing or fire.

Lightly grazed sites are characterized by the presence of robust Rough fescue and Parry’s oatgrass, which indicates excellent integrity and ecological status. On a more heavily grazed site you may begin to see a lack of Rough fescue and find non-native species such as Kentucky bluegrass invading.

Like a forest, rangelands should also have layers of vegetation, which is called community structure. Tall-growing grasses (such as Rough fescue), mid-growing grasses (such as Idaho fescue and Parry’s oatgrass), and low-growing grasses all work together to create a thriving rangeland. A healthy, lightly to moderately disturbed rangeland should be lumpy looking due to the varying levels of grasses. However, a heavily disturbed area will appear more even throughout as the tall-growing grasses are diminished on these sites.

Hydrologic function and nutrient cycling can be evaluated by looking at the amount of litter covering the ground. Litter is important because it protects plants from extreme temperatures, prevents soil erosion, and provides nutrient cycling. Healthy loamy sites contain around 1,200 pounds of litter per acre. On a normal year, production can be reduced by as much as 40 to 60 per cent because there is not adequate litter on a site.

You can assess the amount of litter on your rangeland by selecting a 50×50-centimetre area and collect all of the litter in that area by hand. Compare the litter you have collected to the litter thresholds photo reference to determine the amount of litter on your site.

Site stability, the potential the site has to erode, is the fourth point to focus on when assessing rangeland health. Any obvious sign of erosion is a signal there is a serious problem that must be addressed.

Noxious weeds are the final piece to consider on your rangeland. Weeds such as Canada thistle are a sign of overgrazing on a site, that means productivity has been reduced.

What can you do if you have performed a basic rangeland health assessment and your findings weren’t exactly what you hoped for?

When formulating a long-term rangeland management plan, keep in mind the four basic principles of good management:

1. Balance forage supply with livestock demand. This means knowing how many animal units your rangeland can support at a given time and not overstocking it.
2. Distribute the grazing pressure across the landscape. Producers can situate water, shelter, and mineral away from each other to accomplish this. Animals must then utilize the entire pasture and in doing so will likely graze a larger area instead of continually gathering and grazing in a single area.
3. Protect each area of the rangeland during its sensitive period. Rough fescue is particularly sensitive to early-season grazing, so don’t turn livestock out too early in the season.
4. Allow forages to rest after grazing. Rotational grazing can play a key role in allowing an adequate rest period for your rangeland as well as aid in extending your grazing period.

Although these management practices may present initial challenges, the benefits of maintaining healthy rangelands are numerous. Benefits include lower feed costs, a renewable and reliable source of forage production, and stability of forage production during drought.

Healthy rangelands also give producers greater flexibility and efficiency for alternate grazing seasons (fall or winter); reduce maintenance costs for things such as weed control; do not require the input of inorganic fertilizers and other soil amendments or additives; and reduce the threat of noxious weeds.

For producers who see the long-term benefits of maintaining healthy rangelands, the rewards are certain to outweigh the extra management necessary.

The post The five keys to assessing rangeland health appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Mother Nature provided these grasses with winter hardiness and reasonable drought tolerance needed to prosper in the Prairie climate — but University of Saskatchewan researchers have done their part, too.

Their efforts date back more than 90 years and many of the perennial grass varieties used by producers today came out of work conducted in Saskatoon.

The program first began at the University of Saskatchewan, was moved to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and, for the last 10 years, has been a collaborative program between the two institutions.

The program allows forage crop breeders across Canada and the U.S. to do genetic studies and testing and exchange breeding lines. It has been under the direction of Bruce Coulman for the past 20 years. Making its debut in 1932, Fairway crested wheatgrass was the first variety the program released.

More recently, the program has developed hybrid bromegrass. The hybrid was produced by crossing smooth and meadow bromegrass, and then followed by many years of selection for forage and seed yield, uniformity, and resistance to diseases.

Hybrid brome combines many of the characteristics of its two parental species — high first-cut yields for hay production (similar to smooth bromegrass) along with fairly rapid regrowth for grazing (like meadow bromegrass).

The releases of two varieties, AC Knowles and AC Success, have been popular with beef producers on the Canadian Prairies. AC Knowles was named after the late R.P. Knowles who made the original crosses to produce hybrid brome in the late 1970s. Grazing studies at Termuende (Western Beef Development Centre’s research ranch near Lanigan, Sask.) and Swift Current have shown total beef production for animals grazing hybrid bromegrass to be equal or superior to meadow and smooth bromegrass.

Although hybrid brome has been highly productive in most areas of the Canadian Prairies, its performance in irrigated and higher-rainfall areas has been somewhat less than smooth. To improve productivity in these areas, Coulman made new hybrids, using more widely adapted “southern ecotype” varieties of smooth bromegrass in the crosses. Following several years of selection in this new hybrid population, a first line is presently under test in regional performance trials in Western Canada, and is also being evaluated in more humid climates in Eastern Canada and the U.S.

Meadow bromegrass and crested wheatgrass are two other major grasses for which new varieties are being developed in the Saskatoon program.

Armada, a high-yielding variety, and Admiral, a variety that stays greener longer into the fall, are both recent releases. Taller, high-yielding “tetraploid” varieties of crested wheatgrass, AC Goliath and Newkirk, have also been released.

Future work on crested wheatgrass will focus on the development of later-maturing varieties, which will maintain their forage quality longer into the summer period. Other grasses in the program include orchardgrass, timothy, intermediate wheatgrass, and hybrid wheatgrass.

In conjunction with Ducks Unlimited Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Swift Current research centre, the Saskatoon program has released several “ecological varieties” of native bromes and wheatgrass for conservation and reclamation purposes.

There’s also more to come.

The program recently initiated a molecular genetics program for perennial grasses and it is likely that genomics will become increasingly important to improve the efficiency of selection in the program.

The Saskatchewan government has also funded a strategic research program chair in forage breeding at the University of Saskatchewan, with Bill Biligetu becoming chair a year ago. New funding from the Beef Cattle Research Fund, the provincial Agriculture Development Fund, and the Saskatchewan Forage Network will expand this forage-breeding and genetics program.

All will ensure this long-running forage-breeding program will continue well into the future.

The post New developments in forage-breeding research appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

With legends like Jack, Ivan, and Duane Daines (just to name a few) on your family tree, there is little doubt that a passion for agriculture and rodeo should run in your blood. That’s certainly the case for Rayel Daines, who is carrying on the family tradition and making her mark on the rodeo circuit, most recently at the Canadian College Finals Rodeo.

Roping and riding have always been a part of the 20-year-old cowgirl’s life, although she didn’t start competing until Grade 9 after watching her first high school rodeo. There’s been many awards since then, including a scholarship and a spot on Western Oklahoma State College’s rodeo team.

She gives a lot of credit to her father Michael, a former professional calf roper.

“My dad is my mentor,” said Daines. “He was the one who taught me how to rope and has been my biggest supporter in my rodeo journey. Even when I was far from home in Oklahoma, he was the person I called.”

She took business administration and has been furthering her business education at Red Deer College after returning home last year.

And, of course, she continued competing, earning a spot at last month’s Canadian College Finals Rodeo in both the goat-tying and breakaway-roping events.

“The few weeks before the rodeo I was very anxious,” said Daines. “I did a lot of mental preparation and actually surprised myself at how well I handled the pressure. Coming in my game plan for both events was to be solid, nothing extraordinary. But after the first round the heat was on and I knew I needed to bring my A game.”

That A game included posting the fastest time in both competitions en route to winning the goat-tying event and taking second in breakaway roping, along with scooping the high point champion award and being the high money earner.

“Scuff (my breakaway horse) was bought for $800 out of the Innisfail Auction Market, and the two of us have learned the ropes together. My dad and I turned him into a breakaway horse when I first started roping, and every year we advance as a team.”

Her other horse, Rev, was purchased from her uncle and has become a jack of all trades as her go-to horse for pole bending, barrel racing, and goat tying. He was named the goat-tying horse of the year at the college rodeo finals, which is held in conjunction with the annual Farm & Ranch Show in Edmonton.

Although years have passed since her father and extended family were top contestants in the rodeo arena, the camaraderie within the sport has remained the same.

“Rodeo is one big family. Everyone knows everyone, and your paths are constantly crossing. It is the only one, or one of few, sports that you will find competitors cheering, assisting, and encouraging each other on. We all want to see one another do well.”

Her recent success may be the peak of her rodeo career thus far, but Daines isn’t about to hang up her spurs yet.

“I am 100 per cent sure that I want agriculture and rodeo to play large roles in my life in the future,” she said. “Anyone who has ever had the honour of being involved in agriculture in any way will tell you that there is a large sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with it. It’s not a hobby; it’s a way of life.”

The post The tradition continues for famous Innisfail rodeo family appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

This year’s show, which runs from March 26-28, features some new events, including the prospect steer and heifer show. This event showcases calves born in 2014, in a junior division on March 27 and an open division (where the big money will be awarded) on March 28.

“The show cattle world is growing and now is the opportune time to get community involvement and foster quality opportunities for youth in the industry,” said Suzanne Bielert.

“This year, we’re sponsoring $4,000 in guaranteed prize money and 75 per cent of all entry fees collected go back to participants.”

There will also be an educational cattle clinic on March 26. Youth participants can book a time to bring their animal for a one-on-one clipping and fitting session and also receive showmanship advice.

The addition of the prospect calf show is timely as the rise in prices has more young people thinking of a career in the cattle industry.

The feature breed at this year’s show is prospect steer and heifer show and two members of the Prime Limousin Club — Excel Ranches and Hillview Farms — have animals from their purebred herds on display. Club members will be on hand to talk about the merits of the breed and the value they bring to the cattle industry.

The show, at Northlands Edmonton Expo Centre, also features a trade show and three daily ‘AgriChat’ information sessions, with a focus on horticulture for this year. Experts will give presentations, and take questions, on topics such as planting for pollinators, creating edible landscapes, and “lasagna gardening,” which promises lessons on how to “do less work and grow more food.”

Other daily events include a performance horse sale, equine clinics, an alpaca show, and the Canadian College Finals Rodeo.

“This year features five halls dedicated to livestock shows, equine programming, clinicians, and small livestock displays,” said Bielert. “We’re confident that the show will provide the industry with the opportunity to create meaningful connections and learn the tools of the trade for doing business in this province.”

For more info on this year’s show, visit farmandranchshow.com.

The post A sure sign of spring: Northlands Farm and Ranch Show appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

With more ‘skin in the game’ than ever before, today’s young cattlemen interested in going back to the farm or starting out on their own have a variety of complex tasks ahead of them. Developing leadership skills and industry connections is imperative to long-term career success for those planning a career in the beef industry.

There is no better resource to help guide a young person through these challenges than someone who has been there themselves. Moreover, today’s young cattle producers will be expected to replace the current leadership as the baby boomer generation takes a step back.

The Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program was developed in 2010 as a program aimed at providing industry-specific training and mentorship to youth to assist the beef industry into the future.

And it’s working.

“The networking opportunities are incredible, and the program is very personalized,” says Andrew Kopeechuk, a current mentee in the program.

“You can spell out exactly what you want from your mentorship and what you get out of it is all about what you put into it.”

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Kopeechuk is from RSK Farms, a second-generation mixed grain and purebred Hereford operation near Brandon, Man. He was paired with mentor Carson Moneo of Peak Dot Ranches, one of the largest Angus herds in Canada, in the rolling hills of Wood Mountain, Sask. Kopeechuk had clear goals going into his mentorship with hopes of taking his purebred operation to the next level and seeking out international opportunities for marketing RSK Farms genetics. “We were on the road to getting there, but advice from Carson has sped up the process and helped us to open doors. We have successfully marketed embryos into Denmark and Sweden.” The Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program is open to beef industry enthusiasts aged 18 to 35 from across Canada. The online application process is simple and semifinalists are chosen from the applications, and then invited to participate in roundtable discussions on pertinent industry topics at the CYL Spring Forum in March. Out of that group, 16 mentees are chosen and paired with industry veterans based on their own personal interests and goals.

The mentorships start in May, with the mentees developing a road map of goals with their mentor. They also have a budget of up to $2,000 to participate in industry events. Additional domestic and international travel opportunities are also available throughout the duration of the program. The mentorship officially goes until February, however, many mentors and mentees develop a friendship that continues long after the official program is over.

Nor do the opportunities end when you graduate, as graduates of the program are eligible to participate in select CYL events after their official mentorship is completed.

Jamie-Rae Pittman, a current CYL mentor praises the connections the program offers participants.

“It’s never a matter of knowing it all, but rather being resourceful enough to reach out and tap into your sources to provide the expertise and know-how to satisfy those questions,” says Pittman.

Originally from a purebred Angus background, she and her husband now run a cattle and crops operation near Kyle, Sask. and she is also the co-owner of Bella Spur Innovative Media Inc.

“I think the most valuable aspect to the CYL program is the relationships that are being developed,” says Pittman.

“You cannot put a price on a network. By injecting youth into some of these networks through connections with mentors, we are ensuring them a place in the future.”

Applications for the CYL program are open until Jan. 21 at www.cattlemensyoungleaders.com. For more information, contact program co-ordinator Jolene Noble by email or by calling 403-275-8558.

The post Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program is a great way to kick-start your career appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

The Inbound Buyer Program is just one of the ways that participating in Farmfair International can get your purebred breeding stock noticed by breeders and buyers from across the country, and around the globe.

The program has worked well for many Alberta seed-stock producers including Dawn Wilson.

“Farmfair International is an ideal destination for international producers interested in making business contacts and learning about the Canadian beef industry,” said Wilson, who owns and operates Miller Wilson Angus near Bashaw with husband Lee.

“The quality of the product is top notch. We’ve met great people over the years and have made numerous international sales at the show. It is the single best venue we have ever been at for direct sales.”

The program has been operating in its current format since November 2010.

“It was created as a venue to facilitate another format of sales to benefit the domestic purebred livestock market and to showcase Canadian cattle and genetics to the world,” said Stacy Felkar, Northlands’ international marketing manager for agriculture.

The program reimburses buyers for 50 per cent of eligible travel costs (up to a total of $1,500) for foreign buyers attending Farmfair. Organizers also roll out the red carpet, offering a day of farm tours, another day at Agri-Trade in Red Deer, and hosting a reception so the buyers can meet Canadian producers and industry reps. Funding for the program is provided by Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency and the Canadian Beef Breeds Council.

• More from the Alberta Farmer Express: Something for everyone at Farmfair International

The visiting buyers can also take in breed-specific events and take part in a matchmaking session that lets them meet purebred producers of their breed. There’s also a full gamut of educational sessions ranging from nutrition to genomics, and their customized itinerary also allows them to take in the Heritage Ranch Rodeo, RAM Country Marketplace, and Canadian Finals Rodeo.

But while the goal is to facilitate sales, the program doesn’t get involved in any business transactions — that’s left entirely to producers and buyers.

There will be 12 breeds of cattle on show this year, and buyers from eight different countries have signed on — Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, U.S., Scotland and Turkey.

Rachel Wheeler, of T & R Genetics in Dubbo, NSW Australia, is the Australian representative for Farmfair International and has nothing but praise for it.

“The show is located in an area with a high number of purebred herds, which is reflected in the quality of livestock on display,” said Wheeler.

“The Inbound Buyer Program ensures that the buyers receive support and are connected with the right people.”

It’s also fun, she added.

“The unique combination of high-quality livestock, RAM Country Marketplace, equine events, and the Canadian Finals Rodeo creates a great spectacle,” she said. “The ability for visitors to tour around the large number of purebred herds in close proximity to Farmfair is also a big advantage.”

Organizers are now looking at expanding the program to include sheep and goats.

Applications for the Inbound Buyer Program are available at www.farmfairinternational.com and are accepted until Sept. 1 of each year. Selected participants are notified by mid-September.

For more information, contact the Northlands Agriculture Department at 780-471-7300 or by email.

The post Shining a spotlight on Canadian genetics appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

If this was out in the middle of a pasture, the cowboy or cowgirl would likely give the calf an injection, perhaps to treat a foot rot or pink eye problem.

However, this time the ranch hands are under the lights of the Edmonton EXPO Centre with a crowd of spectators filling the seats on each side of the arena. They are competing in the team doctoring event at the Heritage Ranch Rodeo and the clock is ticking.

And all the while, the familiar voice of longtime ranch rodeo announcer Gord Colliar booms over the sound system.

“It is the only event that brings the working cowboy to the spotlight,” Colliar said in an interview.

• More from the Alberta Farmer Express: Something for everyone at Farmfair International

The Heritage Ranch Rodeo consists of events that simulate the work done every day on many of the country’s working cattle operations. Contestants must perform the events in a controlled manner that is humane to the horses and cattle involved, while also racing the clock in the team sorting, branding, doctoring and wild horse race, or being judged in the bronc riding.

The events provide heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat excitement while showcasing the traditional methods of the working cowboy that are still in use to this day.

Teams from 16 working ranches from across Western Canada will compete Nov. 4-6 at this year’s rodeo, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Colliar, Vern Lonsberry, Dave Fiddler, and Wilf Robson were instrumental in getting the rodeo started at Farmfair International to celebrate Alberta’s centennial in 2005. They chose to make ‘heritage’ part of the name to honour the cowboys and cowgirls of years past.

“In that initial year, the ranch rodeo was an invitational event where ranches with a brand that had been registered for a minimum of 100 years were invited to put together a team of hands from their ranch to compete,” recalled Colliar.

“It was an extremely high honour for a ranch to be selected to compete in the Heritage Ranch Rodeo and the ranch hands worked hard all year to be selected for that honour.”

Colliar has been the voice of the rodeo since Day 1. A cattle, dairy, and equine industry specialist with Zoetis, he had announced the Medicine Tree Ranch Rodeo in Nanton for 10 years prior, so announcing the Heritage Ranch Rodeo was a natural fit.

The rules have been loosened to allow other ranches to compete, and many of the bigger, historic operations have dropped out because the event coincides with weaning, selling and shipping of calves. But that hasn’t affected the level of competition and there has been a continual improvement in the horsemanship of the contestants, said Colliar.

Although the rodeo is the premier showcase of traditional ranch skills, it’s also much more than that, he said.

“The social aspect of getting together with old friends and educating people about our industry — I am very passionate about that,” said Colliar, adding that’s what brings him back year after year.

It is a showcase of skills both the seasoned cowboy and first-time urban spectator can enjoy — and a glimpse of a world most people don’t get to experience.

“There are lots of working cowboys left in the world,” said Colliar. “They’re just hard to see from the road.”

The post Heritage Ranch Rodeo a showcase of real-life cowboy skills appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Hazing and chemical deterrents may keep these ungulates away in the short term, but this route is often time consuming and not a permanent solution. Fencing the perimeter of your hay storage area is often the only long-term answer to this problem.

The first factor to consider before constructing a fence is to determine if the cost of the damages to your hay exceeds the cost of building the fence. Barrier and woven fences are typically more costly to construct, however, they are a strong force against annual wildlife pressure on stored hay that is continually kept in the same spot. Electrical repellent fences are a less expensive alternative and more mobile, however, they require more maintenance. Below are only a few of the many different fencing options available to farmers.

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Sweet and simple

A “sweet and simple” fence lives up to its name. It consists of one or two strands of 17-gauge smooth wire at 2-1/2 feet above the ground with foil attached at three- to four-foot intervals. In the foil spread a mixture of half peanut butter and half vegetable oil or molasses to entice ungulates to the fence. In theory, they will then avoid the fence once they have been shocked.

A seven-wire vertical electric fence is slightly more secure as it has more strands of wire. However, as with the sweet and simple fence it is only effective at shocking wildlife that walk into it, and doesn’t deter animals from jumping over the fence. A slanted seven-wire electrical fence presents a physical and psychological barrier for deer, elk and moose because of its three-dimensional nature. This type of fence tends to cost slightly more to build than a simple seven-wire vertical electric fence.

A variation of the slanted seven-wire electrical fence is a double electric 3D fence design where two electric fences spaced three feet apart pose a height, depth and width deterrence to ungulates, which have poor depth perception. Another version of the three-dimensional fence is to put an additional four strands of electric or barbed wire at a 45-degree angle off of the top of the existing electric fence. These strands should be facing outwards towards the animals that are coming towards it, once again causing a 3D effect that the ungulates have difficulty navigating. The 3D fences have been documented to be an effective alternative to permanent wildlife fencing, which is more costly and non-mobile.

The Peace River Forage Association of British Columbia spearheaded a 3D fencing research project from 2010 to 2012. The project consisted of eight co-operators, each with their own set of objectives for the project. Each co-operator designed a different variation on the 3D fencing concept. While results varied on each operation, they were successful overall in mitigating wildlife damage to their hay, silage, and grain bag storage areas.

“The 3D fencing is quite high maintenance as it must be checked consistently to ensure both fences remain electrified at all times in order to sustain the effectiveness of the 3D concept,” said Talon Johnson, who works with the Peace River Forage Association of British Columbia.

“However, 3D fencing is a very good temporary option that is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct in comparison to permanent wildlife exclusion fencing.”

Sandra Burton was one of the co-operators who was a part of the fencing project.

“We have put up a number of different variations of the 3D fence over the last few years to keep deer and moose out of our stored hay and winter feeding area,” says Burton.

“They definitely worked to divert wildlife from a habitual trail through our pasture, and kept them out of our stored winter feed. However, we would urge people trying 3D fences to commit to the regular maintenance periodically throughout the winter that each of the systems we tried requires.”

Mitigating wildlife damage to your feed reserves can take on many forms, however, if damage is becoming reoccurring and extensive it is often economically feasible to put the effort into fencing the perimeter to exclude wildlife from these areas.

There are numerous online resources for determining the specifications of the materials required and spacing recommendations. The Peace River Forage Association of British Columbia is continuing to do research on fencing to prevent wildlife damage to feed reserves, and in particular the 3D fencing concept. Results of these studies can be found at www.peaceforage.bc.ca.

The post Protecting stored hay from wildlife appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

The biggest factor in achieving these goals is the timing of cutting, says Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.

“For every week a mixed alfalfa grass hay stand is let mature past prime, protein content drops one to 1.5 per cent and it loses five per cent energy content,” says Yaremcio.

Evaluating the stage of bloom is key, but knowing the optimum time to cut can also depend on your feed requirements at that time of year, he says. For alfalfa, 10 per cent bloom (that is, 10 of every 100 blossoms in the crop are open) is considered ideal while 10 to 20 per cent is ideal for clovers.

Farmers often take their second cut of hay in August or September, however, it is important to keep in mind that a stand needs 45 days of regrowth to fully recover and replenish food reserves in the plants. Therefore, you should not cut your stand if it’s less than 45 days to when you typically get your first frost. (For example, if the first frost in your area is Sept. 15, then the no-cut period begins Aug. 1.)

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It is recommended that you cut alfalfa stands around the last week of September — after two good frosts — as waiting longer results in leaves becoming brittle and falling off. As leaves are high in protein, minimizing leaf loss is important.

When it comes to baling, there are numerous considerations to take into account. Using biological inoculant is highly recommended as it is a cost-effective means of increasing yield, lengthening the window for baling, and preventing mould. Keeping your baler as full as possible by making a thicker windrow will result in less leaf loss. Keep in mind that every time you turn a crop of hay, you lose five per cent of yield — mainly because of leaf loss. A solution can be round bale silage, which will improve yield as the moisture keeps the hay together better and lowers leaf loss, however, costs also increase.

Many hay producers say spending money to boost quality and yield is well worth it.

Barr-Ag Ltd. in Olds is one of the country’s top hay exporters, selling compressed, non-GMO timothy hay and forage products to dairy operations and horse owners in Europe, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the U.S.

The company uses “aggressive means” to improve quality and productivity, says president Barry Schmitt.

“By adopting a similar mentality to grain producers, Barr-Ag Ltd. increased yields on irrigated and dryland timothy and alfalfa stands with heavier rates of seeding and increased fertilizer application,” says Schmitt.

Propionic acid and lactobacillus bacteria have been used by Barr-Ag to preserve and reduce yield loss in timothy and alfalfa crops, although the hay must still be put through a hay dryer for export.

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If you are seeding a new stand of hay, your first step should be to have a soil test done as getting the crop off to a good start is critical. Putting down extra phosphorus and potassium in initial years is ideal as both have a maximum movement of half an inch per year in soil — therefore they remain available to plants for several years. Phosphorus is necessary for growth, while potassium helps stands resist disease and improves winter hardiness.

In established stands, nitrogen is often thought to be the first go-to nutrient when fertility comes into question. However, nitrogen is not always the nutrient lacking most in established hay stands. Pay attention to sulphur levels. A lack of this macronutrient causes yellowing that is often mistaken for nitrogen deficiency.

For more information on improving the quality and productivity of your new or established hay stands, contact Barry Yaremcio or his fellow forage specialist Linda Hunt, who started in mid-April. Both can be reached at 310-FARM.

The post It takes more than sunshine to make high-quality and high-yielding hay appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.