Reading Time: 2 minutes Fifteen Canadian farm groups have called on the federal agriculture minister to stop the sale of genetically modified alfalfa seed in this country. In a letter to Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay, the groups state they also want variety registration removed for all GM alfalfa until a full economic impact assessment is conducted. They are also […] Read more
Farm groups say even limited sale of GM alfalfa seed poses too high a risk
Farm groups say the release will begin a ‘spiral of uncertainty’ for producers and their customers
‘Coexistence plan’ for GM alfalfa released
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
Eight tips to run your own crop trials
Do your own research instead of adapting other people's research to your farm
Every acre can be a research acre, said Nicole Philp to farmers at this years CropSphere in Saskatoon. Farmers interested in testing new products and practices can create powerful data sets with a little co-ordination, said Philp, a Canola Council of Canada agronomist. But how can you make sure you get good data out of[...]
Read more
Read more
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[...]
Read more
Read more
Counties say GM alfalfa not wanted here
Councillors and forage industry members concerned about potential loss of markets if GM alfalfa allowed in Alberta
Reading Time: 3 minutes Councillors from counties across the province have voted to keep genetically modified alfalfa out of Alberta until international markets become more accepting of the crop. At a meeting of the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMDC) earlier this month, 59 per cent of Alberta’s county councillors voted to keep the province free of[...]
Read more
Read more
GM alfalfa may already be in Alberta
Accidental contamination of foundation seed heightens fears that forage and hay markets worth hundreds of millions are in peril
Reading Time: 7 minutes Genetically modified alfalfa has somehow made its way into Alberta — raising fears that western Canadian forage seed growers and hay exporters could be shut out of markets worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Alberta Farmer recently learned that a batch of foundation seed contaminated with Roundup Ready alfalfa was sent to a forage seed[...]
Read more
Read more
Funding awarded for forage research projects
Reading Time: < 1 minute Seven projects were awarded funding through Alberta Beef Producers’ $1-million forage research call. They include breeding projects focused on forage wheat, hybrid brome with improved neutral detergent fibre digestibility, and production of oil in the vegetative tissues of legumes. Other projects are quantification of varietal and species differences (variety evaluation trials in multiple soil zones;[...]
Read more
Read more
Can you really afford not to feed test?
You’re rolling the dice if you’re not testing feed, and it’s not hard to rack up a five-figure loss if you guess wrong
Reading Time: 2 minutes I often hear farmers and ranchers say feed testing is expensive and I know lots of you guys don’t feed test. But feed testing and using that information to balance livestock rations is a whole lot cheaper than over- or underfeeding them. Let’s say you’re feeding your critters some pretty good-looking hay. You’re making sure[...]
Read more
Read more
Hay producers see increased competition, lower prices
CNS Canada — Canada’s export hay prices have come down from summer highs and now sit at less than half their previous levels, but despite competition from other growing regions, a weak loonie is helping Canadian producers. South Africa, Eastern Europe and Argentina have increased their alfalfa production, said Edward J. Shaw, director of market[...]
Read more
Read more
Boosting hay stand conditions
Reading Time: < 1 minute Many hay stands, especially older ones, are in poor condition following this year’s drought and in need of a fertility program, says a provincial forage specialist. “Doing it in spring is good, but although doing it in fall might lose a little bit of the nitrogen component, it allows for a very early effect on[...]
Read more
Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
