Forages Archives - Page 11 of 174

The young Packard’s grasshopper is green with black scattered dots that resemble pepper. The adult version seen here is grey to dark yellow with two light-coloured stripes behind the eyes and grey forewings.

Grasshoppers: Brace for impact

The past year was bad for grasshoppers on the Prairies and 2024 could be worse, experts warn

By Jim Timlick January 31, 2024

It’s still the middle of winter, but it’s never too early to think about grasshoppers. That was one message delivered at last month’s Canola Week annual meetings in Calgary, which brought together canola industry leaders from across North America. Meghan Vankosky, a field crop entomologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based in Saskatoon, spoke during […] Read more

Graeme Finn’s cattle on a high-legume pasture at breeding time.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Six areas you should watch to maintain your cows’ fertility

High-quality forage and the right mineral package at the right time can set cows up for success

By Melissa Jeffers-Bezan January 25, 2024

As a rancher and a senior forage specialist with Union Forage, Graeme Finn has spent much of his time looking into how feeding cattle affects their fertility. He says it was something drilled into him as a child in Australia. “My grandmother always said, ‘Feed the cattle good at breeding time,’ because that’s when you […] Read more

Canada’s calf crop doesn’t move through expansion and contraction as it does in the U.S., but over the next year, we may see the Canadian herd mirror U.S. expansion.

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Markets

Is it time for beef cow herd expansion?

Prices for calves have been strong, but it usually takes a year of high calf prices before expansion starts

By Jerry Klassen January 22, 2024

Feeder cattle have been trading near historical highs over the past six months. I’ve received many emails and inquiries from cattle producers asking if there is still an opportunity to expand their herds. Producers also ask if they should buy now or wait until spring. Medium-quality bred cows have been trading in the range of […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Rancher’s Diary

It’s been a wonderful visit

For years we've shared our lives with Grainews readers and they've done the same with us

By Heather Smith Thomas January 14, 2024

This will be my final Rancher’s Diary column. I was recently informed that with the current business changes at Grainews, my column will no longer be published, but I was graciously given the chance to say goodbye to my readers — many of whom have become personal friends over the years. I first became aware […] Read more

Here we see a cover crop grazing blend at the Ag in Motion farm show near Langham, Sask., in 2023.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Forages

Grazing cover crops shows soil health dividends

Livestock producers see the benefits but say they could really use more information

By Melissa Jeffers-Bezan January 12, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia — If you’ve wondered whether livestock producers are taking a different approach to cover crops than those growing them for the grain — and are seeing distinct benefits in doing so — the surveys so far say yes. Callum Morrison, a crop production extension specialist for Manitoba Agriculture at Carman and a master’s […] Read more

Columns, Crops

A new year, a new soil moisture map

Let's take a Prairie-wide view of soil moisture at freeze-up in 2023

By Les Henry January 12, 2024

To make a soil moisture map, you need to understand the soil moisture constants: saturation, field capacity, wilting point and plant-available water. Saturation (Sat) is when all soil pores are filled with water — in other words, the water table. Until recently we did not consider the water table to be high enough to provide […] Read more

Feed particle size does make a difference. The ration should include longer stem forages that encourage cud chewing.

Cattleman’s Corner, The Dairy Corner

There’s a reason if cows aren’t chewing their cud

It's important to look at the structure of fibre in the ration

By Peter Vitti December 19, 2023

This fall I visited three similar dairies milking between 100 and 150 cows. It was about 10 a.m. in two barns (different days) and midafternoon in the third. In each case I noticed less than 10 per cent of resting cows (three-quarters were lying down) were not chewing their cud. I reviewed the TMR in […] Read more

John Hardman says buffer strips allow him to turn heavy equipment around without compacting the soil where crops are growing.

Features

Are buffer strips right for your farm?

A Manitoba farmer discusses how his farm benefits from the practice

By Jim Timlick December 19, 2023

John Hardman learned much of what he knows about farming from his father. Now Hardman owns Crooked Creek Farms near Dauphin, Man., which he has run for the past 40 years. He succeeded his father, Edwin, who farmed the same land for nearly half a century. One of the most enduring lessons Hardman learned from […] Read more

These barley plants show signs of the damage potassium deficiency can cause.

Crops, Features

Are your fields potassium deficient?

Cases of potassium-deficient soils are on the rise. It could mean a hit to your bottom line

By Jim Timlick December 7, 2023

Most farmers know the importance of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil and the vital role their presence plays in crop development. But what about potassium? Potassium (K) is critically important in helping provide water balance within a plant. The only way a plant can move sugar and nutrients is by moving […] Read more

A file photo of the aftermath of freezing rain in Montreal on April 6. (David Himbert photo/Hans Lucas via Reuters Connect)

General, Weather

Weather Network predicts mild winter, with caveats

Colder scenario expected for East

By GFM Network News December 1, 2023

MarketsFarm — Strong El Niño conditions that have developed in the Pacific Ocean would typically lead to a milder winter across Canada — but other factors this year could challenge that outlook, according to the winter forecast from The Weather Network, released Wednesday. The winter forecast features a mild start to the season, with a […] Read more

Feed Grains Weekly: Price likely to keep stepping back

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures climb, lean hogs also rise

U.S. grains: Corn rises on strong demand, disease concerns

GFM Network News