Reading Time: 2 minutes The Canadian Seed Trade Association has released a “coexistence plan” for GM alfalfa production in Western Canada. “The plan does not advocate for or against the commercialization of GM alfalfa, or favour any one system,” the association stated in a news release. It also doesn’t “consider the potential impact of GM alfalfa hay on the […] Read more
‘Coexistence plan’ for GM alfalfa released
Six tips to successful land rental
This title to the old Russian folk tale by Leo Tolstoy hasn’t lost any of its significance.* It’s a question farmers ponder today, as land and land rent prices continue to rise to levels never seen before. Despite lower commodity prices, the cost of land is still rising dramatically in the Westlock, Alta. area (about[...]
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It was a big year for greenfeed in 2015
Reading Time: < 1 minute Producers in Alberta harvest significant acres of annual crops for greenfeed and silage every year, but production statistics are not available from Statistics Canada, nor any other source. “To fill this gap, we initiated a greenfeed and silage production survey in 2002,” said provincial crop statistician Ashan Shooshtarian. The latest survey (available at agriculture.alberta.ca) shows[...]
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Roundup Ready alfalfa primed for launch in East
But critics of GM alfalfa say U.S. experience shows that ‘coexistence’ isn’t possible
Reading Time: 3 minutes Roundup Ready alfalfa is being launched on a limited basis in Canada’s six eastern provinces. Forage Genetics International (FGI) said late last month it will be releasing some HarvXtra alfalfa seed for planting this spring — but critics of GM alfalfa denounced the move, saying it’s “a myth” it won’t contaminate non-GM seed and hay[...]
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Don’t graze cattle too early this spring
It’s tempting to start grazing when pastures green up, but nutrient quality is poor
Reading Time: 2 minutes Pasture recovery is an important topic on the heels of last year’s dry conditions, particularly given this year’s poor snow cover in the central and southern regions of Alberta. “If we have a dry spring, producers will need to balance potential feed shortages with the need to protect their recovering pastures,” said provincial forage and[...]
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Roundup Ready alfalfa primed for launch in East
The company with Roundup Ready alfalfa on its launchpad plans a limited rollout of commercial seed into Canada’s six eastern provinces this spring. In a move likely to face opposition from several farm groups across the country, Forage Genetics International (FGI) on Tuesday announced plans for a limited release of commercial HarvXtra alfalfa “in time for[...]
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Demand for Canadian forages heading skyward
Forage exporter says the only negative last year was finding enough hay to meet foreign demand
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canadian overseas forage markets have grown in the past couple of years, and the future looks very promising. Korea and Taiwan remain solid markets, but China has come on strong the past few years, Marc Lavoie, forage exporter and manager of Entreprises MacKay, said at the Alberta Forage Industry Network Conference. “Last year, China imported[...]
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It’s a once-in-a-lifetime market for forage seed growers
The flip side is that if you’re establishing pastures this year, you’ll be in for sticker shock when you see seed prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes The demand for forage seed is high, and reduced acreage means that prices are soaring. If you’re seeding a pasture into forage, you’re going to be paying more for your seed this year. “The supply is considerably lower. The carry-over is almost non-existent on a lot of the crops,” Forage Seed Canada president Heather Kerschbaumer[...]
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Save on winter cattle feeding costs
Feeding oats or barley along with straw can be much cheaper than hay
Reading Time: 2 minutes Switching from hay to a combination of straw and grain prior to calving can save about $350 a head during the winter, says provincial beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. “The question then becomes: Is it cheaper to feed oats or barley to the cows?” The answer to that question depends on the price and[...]
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Sask. rancher charged as missing equipment found
A western Saskatchewan cattle rancher faces charges of theft and possession of stolen goods after the discovery of missing tractors, balers, trucks and other equipment Thursday. Iain Stables, 38, is due in Provincial Court in Saskatoon on April 14 to answer to 29 criminal charges, Saskatoon RCMP said in a release Friday. Saskatoon and Warman[...]
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