Reading Time: 3 minutes A grazing plan might save you more than you think. Whether it’s a simple or detailed plan, a few key components will not only save your grass, but maybe save you a few dollars in the long run. Adjusting your stocking rate will allow you to get good-quality forage and vigorous regrowth. “Managing the amount […] Read more
It pays to have a plan before turning your cattle out on pasture
Bountiful, nutritious forage doesn’t happen by accident — here’s how to plan for success on your ranch
Seed rebate for cropland conversion
Reading Time: < 1 minute Ducks Unlimited Canada and Crop Production Services are once again offering a discount on Proven forage seed for producers who convert cropland to pastures. Alberta and Saskatchewan producers receive a rebate of $100 per 50-pound bag of forage seed, while Manitoba producers can get up to $125 for every new forage acre seeded as part […] Read more
Fifteen years later, conservation program is an overnight sensation
Almost no one wanted to sign up for the wildlife habitat restoration project when it started, but now there’s a waiting list
Reading Time: 4 minutes John Ross was the first rancher to sign on to the MULTISAR (Multiple Species At Risk) program 15 years ago, when no one else wanted to sign up to the conservation initiative. Now, there’s a waiting list of ranchers signed up to make their grazing land more suitable for wildlife and native species. “We worked […] Read more
It came from outer space — better pasture insurance, that is
Using a new generation of satellites to measure grass production promises to be a game changer for pasture insurance
Reading Time: 4 minutes Ask any rancher or other forage producer — insuring pasture land can be a major pain in the neck. Because of the limitations of current assessment tools, in the event of a wreck producers can be paid nothing or an amount that does not reflect actual loss. Instead, payments are made on an area-wide basis […] Read more
Forage champion Doug Wray receives national award
Reading Time: < 1 minute Irricana rancher and long-term forage advocate Doug Wray is the winner of the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association’s 2016 Leadership Award. “Wray is committed to continued education about grassland and forages,” the association said in a news release. “He travels extensively locally and abroad to observe grassland, forage and livestock management; and frequently shares his […] Read more
Tips for dealing with greenfeed that saw snow before harvest
Heating can greatly lower the feed value, moulds will reduce digestibility, and the potential for nitrites is higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes Greenfeed that saw snow before being harvested this year presents some extra challenges when feeding. Bales containing 18 to 20 per cent moisture (or higher) have the potential to heat, and some of the sugars will be used by the microbes during the heating process, said provincial forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. “This will reduce the […] Read more
Ample hay supplies increase the benefits of storing bales properly
Protecting hay that won’t be fed until the winter of 2017-18 could save you $70 a head in winter feeding costs
Reading Time: 3 minutes Protecting hay from weather damage can significantly reduce the cost of wintering cows. Adequate moisture conditions in most of the province have resulted in larger-than-normal yields resulting in bigger stacks and rows of hay bales. If the winter is normal and cow numbers remain static, there could be a large surplus of hay carried over […] Read more
Nitrate buildup a threat after a light frost
When this happens you need to either harvest quickly or wait for nitrate levels to subside
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nitrate accumulation can become a problem when crops experience light frosts of -1 C to -2 C for even only a few hours during the night. These conditions damage the leaves of the plants, but not the roots. Over the next three to four days, the roots continue to send nutrients up the plant, and […] Read more
The three worst forage weeds
The benefit of attending of Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Crop Diagnostic School at Swift Current last July was having the opportunity to get an up-close look at problems farmers face every season. One of the experts on hand was Rachel Turnquist, a regional forage specialist with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture. Turnquist gave us a look at what[...]
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High-quality forages tougher to find this year
CNS Canada — There seems to be no shortage of forages in Western Canada this year, as wet weather has allowed grasses to keep progressing at a steady rate. Finding high-quality hay could be the challenge, however, according to crop watchers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “It’s been tough for guys to put four to five[...]
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