The rains that fell onto south, central and northeastern Alberta during the week ended May 14 were a mixed blessing for growers according to the provincial government’s crop report released on May 17.
Forages
Alberta Crop Report: Much-needed moisture replenishes province
Shop smart when selecting seed for salt tolerance
Soil tests are recommended before deciding how best to manage salinity
Glacier FarmMedia — Producers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are asking plenty of questions about how to manage salinity in their soil. Jeff Schoenau, a soil science professor with the University of Saskatchewan, is among those fielding questions, although he says the amount of visible salinity in his province is “normal” for April. “I think probably […] Read more
The ground squirrel survey says…
Saskatchewan has surveyed farmers to get a new read on Richardson’s ground squirrel populations and on-farm damage
Richardson’s ground squirrel damage has frustrated Saskatchewan farmers for years. Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture recently conducted a survey of farmers to better understand where Richardson’s ground squirrels are present, the methods producers use to deal with them, and which approaches are most effective. The online survey was conducted this past December and January. A total […] Read more
Challenges for 2024 cash crop economics
Cash flows must be managed carefully against rising costs and falling commodity prices
As we embark on a new production year, there are several new challenges. A recent Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) report says “the cost of critical farm inputs such as fuel, fertilizer, feed, machinery, pesticides, land and labour has increased dramatically. “When coupled with high inflation, interest rates and a price on carbon for essential […] Read more
Into the weeds: 2024 in preview
Prairie specialists consider which weeds are most likely to succeed as the season proceeds
The past few seasons have been a challenging time for farmers on the Canadian Prairies. Extreme heat, lack of precipitation and steep increases in production costs have caused some sleepless nights for many producers. As if those weren’t enough to contend with, another potential threat to crops will soon rear its ugly head: weeds. Grainews […] Read more
Hydrostatic-powershift transmission among latest from JCB
JCB shows three different on-farm handling machines with model updates
In recent years there have been a few machines introduced to the market that aim to take jobs away from the typical loader tractor. And England-based JCB has been providing farmers with some of them. This year the brand showed three different machines at the Commodity Classic farm show in Houston in February carrying the […] Read more
Springtime on the ranch is a hopeful tale
How calf processing has evolved on this ranch over the years
Spring feels like the first chapter of a new book you hope becomes a favourite classic. At the start of a new growing season, you have an idea of the basic summary of the story. The familiar rhythms of the arrival of baby calves and planting crops are certain. However, you can never be sure […] Read more
Spraying facts, fallacies and forethought
Experts share tips on what you need to know before you spray
To spray or not to spray? That is the question many farmers will be asking themselves in the coming weeks. While it’s still too early to say what pest and disease forecasts will look like this season, it’s never too soon to start thinking about temperature and other factors that can help to determine the […] Read more
Drought preparedness through soil and crop management
After each dry year, adapt your drought plan based on your experiences and what you learned
As spring approaches, the agricultural community is becoming increasingly concerned about potential forecasts of drought across the southern Prairies. And rightly so; the print and electronic media have posted numerous drought-related articles. Wide areas of southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan and their dryland farms, irrigated farms and ranching areas could be affected. But what helpful […] Read more
AI assistance for ranchers
A high-tech tool aims to help users make better management decisions around grazing practices
Nowadays, it takes more than just horsepower to drive some of the best ag tools. Artificial intelligence is becoming a leading force in driving innovation that not only helps boost efficiency and productivity for producers but also can make their farms more sustainable. A high-tech startup called Enriched Ag maintains there are fewer AI-powered tools […] Read more