Columnists – Page 4

Corn fields emerge as good forage for overwintering beef cows

Better Bunks and Pastures: Cows will need supplements to make sure they get balanced nutrition while grazing corn

By Peter Vitti February 4, 2025

Corn fields grown especially for overwintering beef cows are a patchwork across our Prairies. Whole corn plants can provide substantial nutrition to maintain precious body condition of gestating beef cows. Yet, nobody should open the gate to any field and allow cows to stampede into it. That’s because there are still some issues in order […] Read more

Closeup of Canadian 100 dollar bill on top of US one hundred dollar bill

Columns, Currency Markets, Home Quarter Investing

Wish not for a weak Canadian dollar

Investing for Fun and Profit: Weak currency is symptomatic of weak investing confidence in a country

By Herman VanGenderen February 4, 2025

There exists what I believe is a very common misconception that a weak currency is good for the economy. Statements by news media and politicians often parrot this theme because on a short-term basis, exports become cheaper for foreign buyers and imports more expensive for domestic purchasers, theoretically enhancing domestic production. However, what’s missing in […] Read more

Daniel, Lorin and Barry Doersken operate Gemstone Cattle Co., a diversified farm and ranching operation at Gem, Alta.

Features, Special coverage

Quebec, Alberta producers named Outstanding Young Farmers

Meeting counterparts from across the country a great learning experience

By Lee Hart February 4, 2025

An innovative market garden operation near Quebec City, and a progressive ranching operation in southeastern Alberta with a focus on direct meat sales to consumers, won the hearts and votes of judges in November as they were named Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (COYF). Simon Plante and Alison Blouin, owners of Polyculture Plante from Sainte-Petronille, just […] Read more

Columns, Editor's column

Editor’s Rant: Lights out

Thoughts on green policy-making ahead of Justin Trudeau's departure

By Dave Bedard January 30, 2025

Up on the shelf where we keep light bulbs of assorted sizes and wattages, I just happened across an old compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) — remember, those bulbs that looked like an Arby’s curly fry wrapped in thin white glass? Talk about a relic from a bygone time in western civilization when, it seemed, the […] Read more

Columns, Farm Life

Books worth cooking from, part 3: Anna Olson’s Baking Wisdom

First We Eat: The Ontario pastry chef’s book is meant to be accessible to beginners and pros alike

By dee Hobsbawn-Smith January 29, 2025

Perusing a library’s shelves, whether virtual or bricks-and-mortar, is always a pleasure, especially when I have food on my mind. To my great joy, I recently found an impressive new baking book from a Canadian pro. Pastry chef and TV/YouTube personality Anna Olson, who is married to chef Michael Olson, is a reassuringly approachable pastry […] Read more

Gregory cut the slough hay and I followed right behind with the baler. The slough hay will be used on really cold days for extra feed or bedding.

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Forages

Fall work, a visit from family, then snow

Eppich News: The last of the slough hay finally was baled just before the snow arrived

By Heather Eppich January 29, 2025

The weather was very nice for the end of October and the beginning of November. We had quite a bit of fall work and different projects to do. On Nov. 6 the last of the summerfallow was worked before winter. That same day, Gregory started working on the fence over at Landis. There had been […] Read more

As cattle have gotten larger, their requirements for water grow.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Larger cattle need more water

Animal Health: Long-term trends in the beef sector continue to evolve

By Roy Lewis January 29, 2025

The only constant is change and I have seen a lot of changes in beef production; this article will outline some of them. With lots of evidence of warmer summers, water access is paramount in most of our eyes. There’s more capacity for access by all classes of cattle, including from newly designed water troughs […] Read more

Acidosis, whether subclinical or acute, can have significant effects on a dairy herd’s health.

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Dear Dairy Diary: SARA in lactating dairy cows

Dairy Corner: Changing the effective forage fibre resulted in subtle but important improvements

By Peter Vitti January 29, 2025

Dear Dairy Diary, June 24, 2024: I received a call from a dairy producer who milks about 200 dairy cows. Several of his lactating cows were lethargic, quit eating and milking and had severe diarrhea. The producer moved a bubbly loose pile with his boot and noticed a lot of undigested corn and what seemed […] Read more

Columns, Crops, Practical Tips

Let’s close the circuit on what leads to ergot

Practical Research: The solution to the problem for wheat, barley and oat growers is very well documented

By Ieuan Evans January 29, 2025

“Ergot risk threatens Man., less severe elsewhere.” This title appeared in The Western Producer, Aug. 22, 2024. Let’s put that headline in proper perspective. For some reason there are agricultural specialists on the Canadian Prairies and in some states who cannot face actual facts. When you have specialists who refer to wheat as a self-pollinated […] Read more

Earthworm channels in soil tend to be enriched in organic matter, microbes and nutrients, which are of significant help in nutrient cycling.

Columns, Crops

One does not simply measure soil health

Agronomy Management: Just analyzing soil samples won’t give you the big picture

By Ross H. McKenzie January 29, 2025

Over the past 40 years, Prairie farmers have made extraordinary strides in improving soil quality. Two major reasons were the shift from using summerfallow to continuous cropping, and the shift from conventional cultivation to no-till or minimum-till farming. Farmer adoption of these improved practices was gradual. Most famers were cautious and wanted to be sure […] 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