Western Canadian farmers are looking for ways to fine- tune or improve efficiency with fertilizer this coming growing season, according to producers contacted for the February Farmer Panel. Putting more emphasis on some specific nutrients that may be lacking in the soil and also better understanding variable rate fertilizer technology are a couple of approaches […] Read more
Farmers fine-tuning fertility for 2012
Calving and winter feeding tips
There always has to be one party pooper, and after looking at a couple of recent news/information reports it looks like pretty good days right now for beef producers. While this boom is good, it probably means the next bust is coming. Everyone was excited in late January that the South Korean market has reopened […] Read more
Wheat is killing us or maybe saving us
I can put up with a lot of abuse, but when you start attacking the ham sandwich I enjoy for lunch, I get defensive. Dr. William Davis, a U.S. cardiologist has written a book called Wheat Belly which I understand (I haven’t read the book) describes in great detail how and why wheat and whole […] Read more
But at least it is Green
The Canadian Cattleman’s Association has just released a study conducted by the Ontario-based George Morris Centre that says efforts by the federal government to promote a biofuel industry in Canada takes a $130 million annual toll on the Canadian livestock industry. The biggest impact: it appears that promoting the use of feedgrains to produce ethanol has driven up the price of feed grains. Tied […] Read more
Thoughts from a couple of readers
I wouldn’t say the mailbag is overflowing, but I did receive a couple comments from readers on recent items. In the Feb. 6 Keepers and Culls I threw out a comment that supply management might be an option for bringing stability to prices in the Canadian beef industry. Charolais breeder Jake Harp responded: “Supply management […] Read more
Farmers finding the fit for precision agriculture
Western Canadian farmers have a range of views of where and how precision farming technology fits in with their specific farming operations. Some are quite convinced new technology such as variable rate applications has a fit, some are rethinking the economics of variable rate technology (VRT), and still others have a more cautious wait-and-see, “will […] Read more
In the life-just-ain’t-fair department
It has been a bummer of a winter so far. Okay, the spring-like weather across much of Western Canada has been good/great. But the country is well into calving season and seeding season isn’t that far away, and I have yet to be given any awards or titles, been snapped up for a senator, or […] Read more
Another view on the new CWB
I had one reader who didn’t necessarily agree with my thoughts on all the new vibes floating around over the new CWB (see February 17 blog). Blair Backman of Saskatchewan figures it will be a step backwards. Blair explains his point quite well and a couple things he is quite correct on, I know nothing […] Read more
Good vibes shared by CWB and barley growers – somebody pinch me!
Here was something you don’t see everyday — at least not in the last 70 years or so….the president of the CWB (Canadian Wheat Board, for those out of date), and three leaders of the Western Barley Growers Association (WBGA), all in the same room, all wearing CWB caps and everyone on friendly terms. It […] Read more
A Roundup Ready hot potato
If you have any thoughts on the pros and cons of Roundup Ready alfalfa the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association is looking for input. The actual deadline for submitting comments for an upcoming report has just passed, but I bet if you sent your thoughts in over the next day or two they would be […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
