Reading Time: 4 minutes Although chunks of Alberta got some major rainfall the weekend of July 21-22, the jury’s still out on whether it will make a difference to what has so far been a mediocre year for hay.
Mid-June rain a ‘godsend’ but forage growers manage expectations
Rain was plentiful in some areas — spotty in others
Forage blends benefit swath grazing
Winter feeding trial studies virtual fencing as well as potential of moving away from using only one crop in swath grazing
Reading Time: 2 minutes A researcher at Lakeland College says he wanted to investigate using forage blends in winter swath grazing systems to ease producer hesitancy. Obioha Durunna, who is now in the third year of the study, says he was also prompted by the limited information available on backgrounding weaned calves in such systems. Durunna says producers are […] Read more
Forage association presents 2023 Leadership Award
The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) presented its Leadership Award at its 14th Annual Conference on Nov. 29, in Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, to Dr. Dan Undersander of Wisconsin – the first non-Canadian to win this award. As well as being the keynote speaker at the conference, Undersander has worked as a forage […] Read more
Farmers urged to use marginal land for forage
Ducks Unlimited Canada, Farm Credit Canada lauch program to turn uneconomical farmland into perennial forage
Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – A new program sponsored by Ducks Unlimited Canada and supported by Farm Credit Canada hopes to spur producers to turn uneconomical farmland into perennial forage. The Marginal Areas Program on the Prairies is open to producers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with DUC providing financial support to convert unproductive cropland to forage […] Read more
Forage sources sought
Reading Time: < 1 minute As winter begins, cattle and sheep producers are reassessing their forage needs and sources to ensure they have adequate feed for the winter. Neil Blue, provincial crops market analyst with the Alberta government, says although the early season dry weather allowed hay crops to be harvested in good condition, there were lower than average yields. […] Read more
The benefit of bitters for horses
Bitter plants can provide a natural booster for horses’ gut health
Reading Time: 2 minutes Domestic horses are known for their preference for lush green pastures and sweet hay, yet their natural foraging behaviour intrigues equine professionals, scientists and horse owners: their attraction to a specific group of plants known as bitters. Horses, with their remarkable sense of taste and intuition, display a strong and deliberate inclination toward certain plants […] Read more
Europeans take aim at North American rake market
Speed of operation is a key selling point for forage producers, company says
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Large fields and gentle terrain are the norm in forage-producing areas of North America. Now some European companies aim to have their forage equipment, developed with the typical European farmer in mind, adapted for widespread use on this side of the Atlantic. Two companies in particular hope to gain traction with North […] Read more
Alberta First Nations tribe spins hay into gold
Kainai Forage sets a new record with a 40,000 tonne first cut and it has no plans of stopping there
Reading Time: 4 minutes Four years ago, Kainai Forage set out to increase its premium forage production fivefold by 2024. If its first cut is any indication, it could be on its way to that 100,000-tonne goal. The plant-to-processing company recently set a record-best first cut when it harvested more than 40,000 tonnes of export-destined timothy hay grown under […] Read more
Mix up forages to fight soil salinity
Saline land improved by a number of grasses, say researchers at Ag in Motion
Reading Time: 2 minutes A mix of grasses can help address salinity problems on marginal farmland, says a forage expert. “The nice thing about a mix is you’re kind of guaranteed that something will catch,” said Dexter Lethbridge, a product line rep with Proven Seeds for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Lethbridge, Alta. Partnering with Ducks Unlimited, Proven/Nutrien set out […] Read more
Forage U-Pick: The Tinder for forages?
Online forage tool expands nationwide
Reading Time: 4 minutes A hard-working rancher in central Alberta seeks a sturdy native grass ideally suited for mob grazing and a long-lasting stand. That might seem like something from an online dating profile but it’s more likely to be a query for a newly expanded matchmaking site that aims to connect beef producers with the perfect forage. Since […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
