minerals Archives

FEED ME: Can well-fed plants fend off diseases and insects?

We examine an Idaho farmer’s program for crop self-defence

By Jay Whetter May 7, 2025

Blake Matthews works with agronomist Jared Cook on an intensive cropping program that improves plant health and soil health, reduces pesticide use and somewhat increases profits. We check in with Prairie experts to see how that program’s principles could work in this region.

It’s well documented that if a micronutrient is missing or deficient, your expected yield could crash.

Columns, Crops, Practical Tips

Soil fertility, revisited

Practical Research: The history of crop production on the Prairies was one of nutrient extraction at an alarming pace

By Ieuan Evans March 7, 2025

Soil fertility: a simple concept that requires long and well thought out answers. There are lots of articles on soil nutrient testing, along with many procedures, methods and interpretations. Early on in the 1970s with Alberta Agriculture, my colleagues and I were very surprised with the answers to the soil testing questions we asked. A […] Read more

Hoof strength problems are one area where the use of chelated minerals could make sense.

Cattleman’s Corner, The Dairy Corner

Strategic use of chelated minerals makes financial sense

Dairy Corner: There are specific cases where chelated minerals should be used in dairy diets

By Peter Vitti September 17, 2024

In the last couple of years, I’ve noticed most dairy lactation diets contain a fortified level of chelated trace minerals. When I ask dairy producers why they feed them over conventional ones, they often say they don’t know or their nutritionist thinks it’s a good idea. There is nothing technically wrong with feeding chelated trace […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

How to manage beef cow summer mineral intake

Better Bunks and Pastures: Most solutions are found with common sense and changing practices

By Peter Vitti July 23, 2024

A long time ago, I helped a producer feed loose mineral to his herd of 60 beef cows. It was at the start of summer and during their breeding season. We’d just rip open a couple of bags and pour the mineral into an old wooden crate near a full dugout of drinking water. Often, […] Read more

Ergot is best recognized in the field as black or dark purple sclerotia sticking out of a floret.

Columns, Crops, Practical Tips

How a worldwide destructive cereal disease problem was solved in Alberta

In the story of ergot in wheat, barley and oats, the answer was simply 'copper'

By Ieuan Evans May 4, 2024

When I was first hired by Alberta Agriculture as a diagnostic plant pathologist, I was told I would be primarily responsible for barley, oat, wheat and canola diseases. I was also asked to head up the provincial control program for bacterial ring rot of potato (BRR). The BRR program, run in partnership with the federal […] Read more

Graeme Finn’s cattle on a high-legume pasture at breeding time.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Six areas you should watch to maintain your cows’ fertility

High-quality forage and the right mineral package at the right time can set cows up for success

By Melissa Jeffers-Bezan January 25, 2024

As a rancher and a senior forage specialist with Union Forage, Graeme Finn has spent much of his time looking into how feeding cattle affects their fertility. He says it was something drilled into him as a child in Australia. “My grandmother always said, ‘Feed the cattle good at breeding time,’ because that’s when you […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Cow-Calf

Providing proper mineral mix the first step to meet cattle nutrient needs

It's one thing to put it out there, but another to make sure they eat it

By Peter Vitti December 15, 2023

Many commercial cattle minerals can be fed on a free-choice basis to gestating beef cows until calving. But even the best of these products fail if cows don’t eat enough, or engorge themselves. Mineral intake problems must be corrected quickly so cows can either maintain or build a mineral (and vitamin) status which contributes to […] Read more

Dave and Lynne Longshore of Bar-E-L Angus have worked with Bullseye services for years to make sure their cattle have proper nutrition at all stages of the production cycle leading to healthy, fertile bulls, and cows that produce vigorous and robust calves.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Nutrition key to optimizing purebred performance

It’s all about fertile females and bulls with breeding soundness

By Lee Hart September 3, 2022

Dave Longshore doesn’t take any shortcuts when it comes to proper nutrition for his purebred Black Angus operation in central Alberta. It’s important to produce healthy, sound and fertile bulls that will be offered as breeding stock, and if cows and heifers aren’t fed a well-balanced ration with proper mineral supplements, that will also mean […] Read more

General, Weather

Manitoba to consolidate and shut agriculture, MASC offices

Province announces 'new rural service delivery model'

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News January 7, 2021

Updated, Jan. 7 — Manitoba’s agriculture and resource development department and crop insurance and ag lending agency will close their offices in 21 communities and consolidate others this spring, in a bid to reduce their “physical footprint.” Agriculture Minister Blaine Pedersen on Wednesday announced what the province billed as “a new rural service delivery model […] Read more

Once she calves, this cow's dietary needs will change.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Old school nutrition works after calving

It doesn't have to cost a lot to maintain proper body condition

By Peter Vitti April 11, 2017

Already, I know a few producers have had a couple of sleepless nights checking cows at calving. Most have told me all has gone well, because their cows came through the winter in good shape and were well-prepared for this year’s calving season. Moving forward, they now feed their calved-out beef cows diets which contain […] 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