Weaning represents the single greatest source of stress that can be imposed on a calf and, to a certain extent, the cow too. Research has shown that more calves are treated for disease and health problems immediately post weaning than at any other time in their lives. The abrupt separation of cow and calf causes […] Read more
Consider Two-Stage Weaning
Slow Release N A Good Fit In Wet Areas
Does slow release nitrogen make a difference? That was the focus of a recently completed, four-year study by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, which looked at canola and barley response to ESN and urea in a no-till system. ESN (Environmentally Smart Nitrogen), developed by Agrium Inc., is a polymer-coated, granular urea fertilizer, which slowly releases nitrogen […] Read more
How To Stretch Your Phosphorus Dollar
When fertilizer prices climb many farmers begin to look at ways to get more out of the fertilizer they are using. There are now a number of different products on the market which claim to help them do this. In reality, however, research suggests that good old-fashioned recommendations may work just as well as any […] Read more
Staged Fertilizing: A Comparison Of Two Systems
Maximizing yields often starts in the fall with a nitrogen appl icat ion. Then there’s the pre-seed burn-off. Then the seed goes into the ground with the greatest of care and maybe a few more nutrients. Now you can sit back until spraying time, right? Perhaps. When it comes to fertility management, strategies are shifting […] Read more
Managed Grazing Reduces Costs
As livestock producers look to maximise productivity on their existing land base, more and more are turning to management intensive grazing systems (MIG) to help them. “What we have done in the past is managed for production,” says Rob Davidson, who has practised MIG on his farm near Creston, B.C. for the past 25 years. […] Read more
Don’t Cut Corners On Electric Fencing
When you build an electric fencing system it’s important to do it right the first time, says a B.C. producer and fencing specialist. “Electric fence has been around for years but has often been very poorly installed and with poor equipment and so it’s not very effective,” says Rob Davidson, a sales representative for PowerFlex […] Read more
This Isn’t Australia: A Critical Look At CTF
A recent story on the cover ofGrainewsgot a lot of people’s attention, and maybe not in a good way. The story “The case for controlled traffic farming” presented several reasons why CTF works in Australia and New Zealand, but many asked if there’s any proven benefits for farmers on the Canadian Prairies. To date there […] Read more
LibertyLink Soybeans Impress In 2010
Carl Willis has a serious weed problem on his land, which is why he was one of the first farmers in Canada to try LibertyLink soybeans. The giant ragweed on 130 acres of Willis’s farm near Windsor, Ont., has become resistant to glyphosate and poses a real problem. As well, because this particular field is […] Read more
Innovative MB Graziers Honoured
Three Manitoba beef producers who have demonstrated excellence in the development and implementation of grazing systems were recently recognized for their achievements at the Manitoba Grazing School, organised by the Manitoba Forage Council and Manitoba Agriculture. Chapman Farms of Virden, Rob and Charlene Graham of Holland and the Bos Family Farm at Rapid City, were […] Read more
Unintended Mustard/Lentil Intercrop Surprises
After sowing large green lentils on 180 acres of oriental mustard stubble this spring, Kevin Hursh was surprised by the amount of volunteer mustard that emerged. He’d expected a few volunteers from last year’s crop, but not the number of plants that established. “That field looked awfully yellow by July,” says Hursh, who farms at […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
