Reading Time: 2 minutes A new variety of sainfoin is the focus of an upcoming training session in Lethbridge on July 21 and 22. “AC Mountainview has the ability to regrow more quickly than older varieties,” said Grant Lastiwka, a provincial forage and livestock business specialist. “Having a non-bloating, early growth and good regrowth legume is certainly something that […] Read more
Learn how to benefit from sainfoin
A new sainfoin variety called AC Mountainview will allow producers to add alfalfa to their pastures without fear of bloat
The five keys to assessing rangeland health
The old adage about not being able to manage what you can’t measure applies to rangelands
Reading Time: 3 minutes Native rangelands are key assets to livestock producers — and rangeland health assessments allow them to adjust grazing practices to achieve productive, sustainable grazings. A rangeland assessment system looks at the five key functions of rangelands: integrity and ecological status; community structure; hydrologic function and nutrient cycling; site stability, and noxious weeds. And in all […] Read more
Carbon storage could equal cash for your grass
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta farmers who practise no-till cropping have been eligible to apply for carbon credits since 2002. We know that grasslands capture and store carbon, so why aren’t landowners with pasture getting paid for their contribution? That’s the focus of a University of Alberta study on the environmental benefits of things such as wildlife habitat and […] Read more
Feeding pasture cattle on insured hay fields
Reading Time: 2 minutes Here are the options for pasturing cattle on insured hay fields. If clients have any questions or concerns about the policy or procedures they should contact their local Agricultural Financial Services (AFSC) branch office. This spring has experienced low precipitation rates and windy conditions in many parts of the province that may be contributing to […] Read more
Greater rest periods for pasture means more profits
Reading Time: < 1 minute A day spent grazing works out to just half the cost of feeding cattle and adds $1 per head in profit, says forage and livestock business specialist Grant Lastiwka. Allowing for greater rest periods during the growing season will increase its carrying capacity, and allow producers to put cattle out earlier in the spring and […] Read more
New developments in forage-breeding research
One of the more recent offerings is hybrid bromegrass, which offers high first-cut yields and fairly rapid regrowth for grazing
Reading Time: 3 minutes Cattle producers across Western Canada rely on perennial forage grass species to provide their livestock with ample nutrition during the grazing period and for hay. Mother Nature provided these grasses with winter hardiness and reasonable drought tolerance needed to prosper in the Prairie climate — but University of Saskatchewan researchers have done their part, too. […] Read more
Funding for forage research
Call for forage research proposals with $1 million in funding available
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Beef Producers and the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency have put out a call for forage research proposals, with $1 million in funding available. “Forage is the key driver of Alberta’s cattle industry competitiveness, accounting for two-thirds of costs,” Alberta Beef Producers said in a statement. The priority research areas eligible for funding are: […] Read more
Original Grazing School for Women event fast approaching
Registration deadline is June 1
Reading Time: < 1 minute This year’s Original Grazing School for Women includes farm tours, networking events, and sessions on the BSE Surveillance Program, plant identification, grazing in a changing climate, extending the grazing season, record-keeping technology, and a demo on electric fencing. It also includes trips to Luc Tellier Farm and the Iron River Elk Farm along with a […] Read more
Scorecard lets you put your pastures to the test
The scorecard is a simple way to see if a pasture needs to be rejuvenated
Reading Time: 2 minutes Highly productive pastures are the biggest key to high profitability of most beef, and other grazing ruminant operations. The Alberta Tame Pasture Scorecard is a quick and easy way of doing a pasture assessment. “Determining if pastures are functioning at the desired potential can be determined quite easily,” said Grant Lastiwka, a provincial forage and […] Read more
What’s a fair rent for a pasture? ‘It depends’
Higher cattle prices and a decline in available pastures putting upward pressure on rental rates
Reading Time: 2 minutes Higher cattle prices have some producers and landowners revisiting their pasture leases. “Pasture rental rates can be difficult to figure out because there are many factors to consider such as local availability of land and pasture, localized demand, quality of the pasture, condition of the existing fences and water, and bargaining,” said Dean Dyck, a […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
