alfalfa Archives - Page 2 of 4

File photo of an irrigated alfalfa stand in Saudi Arabia. (JohnnyGreig/E+/Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia highly dependent on grain imports

Alfalfa more profitable for domestic growers

By GFM Network News April 4, 2023

MarketsFarm — While Saudi Arabia is a giant among the oil-producing countries of the world, the desert kingdom does produce small amounts of grain. With a population that’s about one million less than Canada’s, Saudi Arabia is extremely dependent on importing its grain from overseas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) attaché in Riyadh explained […] Read more

The nymph (juvenile) stage of  the twice-stabbed stink bug.

Crops, News

New and notable Prairie crop pest insects

Haven’t heard of canola flower midge? Can’t identify those RED BUGS showing up in your fields? Didn’t know alfalfa weevil populations are developing insecticide resistance? Everything you need to know about new insect threats

By Madeleine Baerg June 4, 2020

Most Prairie farmers know more than they might want to about common crop pests like grasshoppers, cutworms and flea beetles. However, nature likes to throw curveballs, and pests are no exception. Here’s what you need to know about several new-to-you pests currently catching Prairie farmers by surprise. Alfalfa weevil While alfalfa weevils are familiar to […] Read more

This photo was taken July 25,2017. It is a good quarter section that has changed hands and belongs to an absentee owner. It was “planted down,” and the result a few years later was a decent stand of bromegrass. This looked like a fair seed crop. But it was later baled as a hay crop.

Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Fertilizing for forage yields

For higher grass yields, fertilize it like a crop

By Les Henry March 11, 2020

We often hear “plant it down” when a field is not performing well for annual crops. That may mean simply planting some grass and accepting hay yields determined by the moisture in a given year. It is not uncommon for such stands to perform poorly and then be utilized as pasture. There are many situations […] Read more

Ed Shaw, left and Scott Keller talk about diversification options at FarmTech in Edmonton.

Columns, Hart Attacks

Some good ol’ reminders about diversification

No crazy ideas about what to do with alfalfa and barley

By Lee Hart February 28, 2020

I must admit I haven’t heard much about farm “diversification” in recent years. And maybe that just means everyone these days is already diversified to the max so there is no need to talk about it. I think back 15 or 20 years and there were many actively promoted diversification schemes (and some of them […] Read more

Standing corn west of Giroux, Man. on Oct. 21, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Corn, Crops, Forages

Manitoba beef sector faces tight feed situation

By GFM Network News October 22, 2019

MarketsFarm — An early snowstorm may have been the last straw for Manitoba livestock producers looking to put up feed ahead of winter. While the foot or more of heavy snow that blanketed much of the province over the Thanksgiving weekend has melted, saturated fields continue to limit corn silage harvests and hay cutting. “Feed […] Read more

Ben Stewart talks to farm tour members about an annual forage seeding including triticale and forage brassicas that will be cut for swath grazing.

Cattleman’s Corner, Forages

Species diversity is key to year-round grazing

Annual seedings provide important support to perennial pastures

By Lee Hart October 15, 2018

Ben Stewart believes in using a diverse mix of annual, biannual and perennial forages in his summer pasture and winter feeding program to improve rates of gain on his cattle, reduce winter feeding costs and improve soil health. The fact that he also works with a company that sells forage seed might make him a […] Read more

Crops, Forages, Wheat & Chaff

Successful forage establishment

Q & A with CPS

By Nathan Trowell March 8, 2018

Q: What are the top factors for successful forage establishment? A: To grow a productive forage crop, consider important factors like soil, weeds, previous crop and herbicide residues. Identify and consider the impact of soil factors like flooding, drainage, low pH (acidity), texture and salinity that may impede establishment, productivity or species/variety selection. Control winter annual, biennial […] Read more

It takes more than water and sunshine to grow grass — you need to also plan for it.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Where does grass come from?

Aside from the obvious answer, it is important to have a grazing plan

By Sean McGrath February 7, 2018

We do some apparently strange things on our operation. We are short on cropland and long on native rangeland in our resource mix, so we run smaller cows and calve later than many of our neighbours. We also try to extend our grazing season, particularly the grass component, for as long as is humanly or […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Maintain forage fibre in a dairy diet

Dairy Corner with Peter Vitti

By Peter Vitti October 19, 2017

I recently visited a dairy producer running 200 cows having problems maintaining butterfat at 3.9 per cent in his 35-kg milk producing herd. He asked me to walk the lactation barn and see what I could find out. It took about 20 minutes to walk the feed bunk and cows, and in the end, I […] Read more

Crops, Forages, Weather

Manitoba forages fight past winterkill, pest issues

By GFM Network News June 22, 2017

CNS Canada — The first hay cut is well underway in several parts of Manitoba as favourable weather conditions set the stage for what could be a decent forage season. “Generally speaking they’re (forages) all doing well,” said Pamela Iwanchysko, farm production extension specialist with the provincial government in Dauphin. “The rains were timely.” What […] Read more

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

GFM Network News