Forages & Production Tips

A high stocking density and moving cattle quickly through pastures works well for both  beef production and waterfowl conservation objectives.

Cows and ducks work well together

Producer applies his rotational grazing system to conservation pastures

By Angela Lovell March 9, 2017

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and Rapid City, Manitoba area cattle producer Gerald Bos are working collaboratively on a project that’s a win-win situation for both by benefitting nesting waterfowl and Bos’s beef herd. The project revolves around ‘The Smith purchase’ — a half section of land that DUC bought in 1994, which happens to be […] Read more

Moisture and a reduced stocking rate helped pastures to get back into a productive state above and below ground.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Pasture

Keeping soil biology ticking

Pasture Management: Grazing setbacks happen, but find opportunities to get back on track

By Kim Nielsen March 1, 2017

Normal weather” at 4 Clover Ranch near Rocky Mountain House, Alta. has been illusive for a couple of years at least and it has created some grazing challenges at the expense of pasture performance. Our planned grazing system, where we look at the health of the grass on an ongoing basis, has responded well over […] Read more

Bale grazing is one of the popular options for winter grazing, especially when you have good ranch help.

Cattleman’s Corner, Forages, Weather

Winter grazing begins before Dec. 1

Don't assume winter grazing won’t work ‘here’ — look at the options

By Sean McGrath January 30, 2017

I confess, I am a winter grazier. I love grazing cows in the wintertime. I like reducing my labour and cutting my costs. I like free time for spending with kids or writing Grainews articles. Truth be told, I even like riding saddle horses in the cold, as a lot of our terrain is not […] Read more

Alberta Outstanding Young Farmer nominees, Shane and Kristen Schooten and their children Gracen, five and Berkley, three.

Beef Cattle, Forages, News

Outstanding Young Farmers Alberta: Shane and Kristen Schooten

Starting young and working with family pays off for Shane and Kristen Schooten

By Geoff Geddes November 23, 2016

More often than not, mixing family and business is like an ill-conceived blind date: awkward and hard to get out of. That’s not the case for Shane and Kristen Schooten, recent winners of Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) award. They are living proof that you can survive and even thrive by blending family and finances. […] Read more

Crops, Forages

The three worst forage weeds

By Leeann Minogue October 17, 2016

The benefit of attending of Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Crop Diagnostic School at Swift Current last July was having the opportunity to get an up-close look at problems farmers face every season. One of the experts on hand was Rachel Turnquist, a regional forage specialist with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture. Turnquist gave us a look at what […] Read more

Crops, Forages, Weather

High-quality forages tougher to find this year

By GFM Network News October 6, 2016

CNS Canada — There seems to be no shortage of forages in Western Canada this year, as wet weather has allowed grasses to keep progressing at a steady rate. Finding high-quality hay could be the challenge, however, according to crop watchers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “It’s been tough for guys to put four to five […] Read more

Crops, Features, Forages

Forages and grasses for marginal land

Permanent cover crops can increase fertility in "problem soils" over time

By Julienne Isaacs September 26, 2016

Jeff Schoenau has a word for agricultural areas currently in annual production that fail to deliver a return on expensive inputs: “heartache land.” It’s better known as “marginal” land, and it can be defined as land with soil that has limitations including poor water-holding capacity and water availability to roots due to sandy texture or […] Read more

Crops, Forages

Six limiting factors in your soil that will make or break your operation

Without these six key ingredients, your soil — and your farm — could be in trouble

By Jennifer Blair September 26, 2016

Farms and grazing operations — organic or otherwise — are only as good as their worst resource, according to Oregon-based grazier Abe Collins. “Soil is our primary infrastructure on the farm,” said Collins, who spoke at the recent Organic Alberta conference. “Biologically, chemically, and physically, you need to be looking at the limiting factors in […] Read more

Crops, Forages, Weather

Rain causes extreme haying delays

By GFM Network News July 13, 2016

CNS Canada –– Excessive rain and high humidity over the past few weeks are causing major problems for haying operations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “We should be well underway in our progress and I think we are far behind right now,” said Leanna Rousell, executive director of the Saskatchewan Forage Council. The majority of Saskatchewan […] Read more

Vermeer’s BW5500 inline bale wrapper is designed to help speed up the wrapping process for large producers or custom operators.

Forages, Machinery

New Vermeer bale wrapper

Inline wrapper designed for larger operations

By Scott Garvey June 15, 2016

Vermeer has added a new inline bale wrapper to its hay and forage equipment lineup. The BW5500 is designed to cut down the wrapping time for large-volume hay growers and custom operators. “As you increase the number of bales wrapped each year, producers should consider moving from an individual wrapper to an inline wrapper,” said […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit contract highs on shock herd decline

Alberta Crop Report: Harvest more than three-quarters finished

NFU says proposed plant breeders’ rights come at farmers’ expense

GFM Network News