Forages Archives - Page 24 of 175

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s spring 2023 flood outlook, issued March 16 and covering the spring period through May, calls for risk of “moderate to major” flooding along the Mississippi River from Minneapolis to St. Louis, but also shows “moderate” flood risk along the Red River, which forms the North Dakota-Minnesota state line and flows northward into Lake Winnipeg. (NOAA)

Manitoba’s Red River Valley at major risk for flooding

Province's March flood outlook report cites U.S. storms as reason

By GFM Network News March 22, 2023

Manitoba has significantly raised the risk of spring flooding in its Red River Valley, follow “recent precipitation events south of the border.” Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre on Wednesday projected a major risk of flooding on the Red River and low to moderate risk of flooding in most Manitoba basins in its March […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner

Getting bulls prepped for breeding season

Bulls in optimum body condition have high sperm count and sex drive at breeding

By Peter Vitti March 22, 2023

Beef bulls are prepared in different ways before the upcoming breeding season. Some are ignored, maybe left on some distant stubble field or in a drylot pen, and inadequately fed. Other bulls are fed too well, so they waddle with fat. The rest are properly prepared for the breeding season, putting them in the best […] Read more

Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures in degrees Celsius for the week centred on March 15, 2023. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

General, Weather

No big changes in current weather patterns

Potential for some precipitation in early April

By GFM Network News March 22, 2023

MarketsFarm — With spring officially underway, don’t expect a lot of major changes in the current weather patterns across the Canadian Prairies and the U.S. northern Plains, according to Drew Lerner of World Weather Inc. at Overland Park, Kansas. “For the rest of March, it’s status quo, it will stay cold. We’re not going to […] Read more

File photo of Highway 363 near Moose Jaw, Sask. (Mysticenergy/iStock/Getty Images)

General, Machinery, Weather

Spring road bans loom across Prairies

Mid-March weight limits pending for heavy trucks

By Phil Franz-Warkentin, GFM Network News March 11, 2023

MarketsFarm — The looming spring melt across Western Canada will likely disrupt some grain and livestock movement over the next few weeks, as seasonal spring road restrictions come into effect across the Prairies. Spring road restrictions set axle weight limits for vehicles moving on certain roads to reduce the damage heavier loads can cause during […] Read more

Even without increasing the cow herd size, enhanced grazing management can pay dividends by extending the grazing season.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Pasture

The importance of giving grass a vacation

A properly managed rest period should lead to increased forage production

By Sean McGrath March 8, 2023

Often the largest category of costs in a cattle operation is what economists consider fixed costs. These are usually big things such as tractors or land. In most cases, land is the largest cost item in a farm operation. On the other side of this equation are what we refer to as variable costs. These […] Read more

Columns, Crops

The benefits of irrigation in Alberta

Irrigation plays a significant role in increasing crop and livestock production

By Ross H. McKenzie March 2, 2023

Irrigation is often referred to as the “lifeblood” of southern Alberta. Irrigation water was first diverted from the St. Mary River in 1900 and arrived by canal system to Magrath, Raymond and Lethbridge. Now, 122 years later, just over 1.8 million acres are irrigated in Alberta. Irrigated agriculture contributes about $6.5 billion to Alberta’s GDP […] Read more

Forecast probability of temperature above, below and near normal (calibrated) for the period of March, April and May 2023. (Map by Environment and Climate Change Canada)

General, Weather

‘Normal’ spring ahead for most of the Prairies

Below-normal rains expected for southern Alberta, western Saskatchewan

By GFM Network News March 1, 2023

MarketsFarm — Canada’s Prairies are looking at normal temperatures over the next month to three months, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). The federal department on Tuesday issued its temperature and precipitation probabilistic forecasts, which also called for normal precipitation for most of the region. “The forecast is really neutral for the Prairies, […] Read more

A composite satellite view of Hurricane Fiona nearing Nova Scotia at about 6 p.m. local time on Sept. 23, 2022. (U.S. National Hurricane Center image, NOAA.gov)

General, Machinery, Weather

Nova Scotia to bridge Fiona funding gap for farmers

Provincial program offering up to $400K per farm

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News February 25, 2023

Nova Scotia farmers who didn’t qualify for federal disaster financial assistance (DFA) in the wake of Hurricane Fiona last September may be able to get in on a new provincial program instead. The province on Thursday announced $3 million for what it calls the Fiona Agriculture Response Gap Funding program, offering up to $400,000 for […] Read more

Along with native grass pastures, the Baergs are trying different combinations of seeded grass and legume species to  provide both annual and perennial forage stands.

Cattleman’s Corner

Crop diversity intended to beef up the soil

Proper rotation is part of developing sustainable farming operation

By Alberta Beef Producers, Canadian Cattle Association February 22, 2023

“If you take care of the grass, it will take care of you.” These are the words of wisdom Alberta cattle producer Jerry Baerg received from one of his mentors, and which he has followed as he and his family set about building a sustainable beef operation near Linden in south-central Alberta. Over the past […] Read more

A handful of soil health projects have secured funding for the next five years in the hope of kick starting soil health practices in the field. (Assiniboine Community College photo)

Crops, Weather

Multi-million-dollar fund greenlights soil health projects

Eight projects to push soil health practices will get funding for the next five years

By Alexis Stockford, GFM Network News February 21, 2023

Eight soil health projects across Canada will be getting a multi-million-dollar boost in private funding over the next five years. The Weston Family Foundation — the philanthropic arm of the Weston business empire — has slated $10 million for those eight projects through the organization’s soil health initiative, it was announced Feb. 13. The initiative […] Read more

Food and beverage makers’ sales predicted to slide on trade tensions: FCC

More canola among AAFC’s 2025/26 projections

Klassen: Feeder market remains volatile

GFM Network News