Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s already a tough situation for forages, and fears are mounting that it will get worse. “We went into the winter in very dry conditions. We have had some rains as of late, but with perennial forage crops, their production is pre-set from the year before,” said Ed Shaw, president and chief executive officer of […] Read more
Double whammy: Second dry year hits forages hard
With pastures suffering and hay supplies tight and expensive, fallback strategies are needed
The test results are back —so what do they mean?
Test results should drive a feeding program, but you need to know what the numbers signify
Reading Time: 2 minutes Interpreting forage test results can sometimes be like trying to read a foreign language. But there’s a new translation tool — the aptly named ‘A Tool for Evaluating Feed Test Results.’ “The tool is designed to take feed test results and compare them to basic nutrition rules of thumb for different classes of cattle,” said […] Read more
Five tips for grazing corn this winter
Corn grazing is becoming more popular across Canada because producers can grow more biomass on less land. If you are planning on grazing corn this winter, here are five tips to help you make the most of the corn grazing season:
Grazing hayfields is an option this fall
However, there are some factors to keep in mind and you need to introduce cows properly
Reading Time: 2 minutes Grazing hayfields this fall is an option for keeping livestock out as long as possible, says a provincial forage and beef specialist. “Most hay stands will have a significant amount of alfalfa in them,” said Karen Lindquist. “Higher-quality hay typically needs to have a legume component to provide sufficient protein and energy to meet animals’[...]
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Drought’s effects linger on Prairies
CNS Canada — After a dry growing season last year in Western Canada, effects of the drought are still evident with news that most livestock producers won’t be doing a second cut of hay. “Pastures and hay fields didn’t get the moisture that they needed to really recharge over that winter period and get a[...]
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Survey on forage production
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Forage Industry Network is asking producers to help it get a better understanding of forage production in the province. In addition to asking about your general location, type of farm, and forage acreage, the questionnaire asks about forage varieties, their uses, and any plans for expanding or decreasing acreage. The anonymous questionnaire takes[...]
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Grass is your foundation, but great grazing doesn’t happen by itself
Irricana rancher Doug Wray intensively manages his five dozen paddocks and makes their health his top priority
Reading Time: 5 minutes After two decades of refining his grazing plan, Doug Wray knew long before the snow melted which of his 60 paddocks would be the first to see cows. The Irricana rancher also has a rough plan for all of his 2,000 acres of pasture for the rest of spring and into summer — but Mother[...]
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Mentorship program links the lab to the ranch
Reading Time: 3 minutes The future of forage research is looking bright, and that’s exciting, says one of the country’s newest researchers in this area. Stacy Singer started work at Ag Canada’s Lethbridge Research and Development Centre just over a year ago and was also one of three scientists chosen for the 2017 edition of a mentorship program created[...]
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The environmental argument for cattle
Critics who slam the sector over water use and greenhouse gases only give half the story, says Beef Cattle Research Council
Reading Time: 5 minutes Editor’s note: A recent blog from the Beef Cattle Research Council offers its rebuttal to “vilifying headlines and simple, partial arguments” that criticize the beef industry for its water use and environmental impact. The following is a condensed version of the blog, which can be found at the Beef Cattle Research Council website. Make no[...]
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Forage seed rebate offered
Reading Time: < 1 minute Ducks Unlimited Canada and Crop Production Services are again offering a forage seed rebate for producers wanting to sow fields to grass. Under the program, Alberta producers receive a $100 rebate on every 50-pound bag of Proven Seed forage varieties purchased at CPS retail locations. While the program is best suited to producers in the[...]
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