silage Archives - Page 2 of 3

Silage corn grown during drought can lead to feed quality and safety issues.

Drought-stricken corn can make dangerous silage

High nitrate levels, moulds and toxins might prevail 

By Peter Vitti November 5, 2019

Much of this year’s corn crop across the southern Prairies has been once again hit by drought. My photograph of a southern Manitoba cornfield in mid-August shows one of the worst cornfields I have ever seen. It tasselled out early with curled grey leaves and no visible cobs on its stalk. Most whole plants were […] Read more

Wheat in southeastern Saskatchewan on May 31, 2019. (Leeann Minogue photo)

Cereals, Crops, Forages, Weather

Saskatchewan extends greenfeed seeding deadline

By GFM Network News June 19, 2019

Saskatchewan farmers who still want to put in cereal crops for greenfeed with crop insurance coverage will get an extra couple of weeks to do so. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance on Wednesday announced an extension on the June 30 deadline for seeding crops for greenfeed, to July 15. Producers who have crop insurance will now be […] Read more

AGCO introduces two new RB Series silage balers to  North America. They are based on a Lely design.

Machinery

PHOTOS: AGCO introduces the RB Series round baler

Lely-influenced round balers join  the MF family in North America

By Scott Garvey May 17, 2019

European expatriates will certainly be familiar with the Lely brand of equipment. The brand has had a presence here in North America for several years as well, and long-time Canadian dairy operators will be well aware of their barn systems. But the brand has had a strong presence in the hay and forage sector overseas […] Read more

Crops, Wheat & Chaff

Establishing a corn crop for grazing or silage

Q & A with Nutrien Ag Solutions

By Gary Topham January 30, 2019

Q: What are some factors to consider when establishing a corn crop for grazing or silage? A: Corn is a great option for grazing or silage, but there are several factors to consider when you’re establishing your corn crop. Crop rotation, fertility, plant depth and population, planting date and soil temperature and weed control are […] Read more

An insect was causing these pinholes in Lenny’s crop. But which one? Not all corn varieties were impacted.

Crops, Features

Crop advisor casebook: Pest leaves puzzling pinholes in corn silage

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the January 8, 2019 issue of Grainews

By Colette Thurston January 2, 2019

Lenny is a central Alberta producer who owns a farm west of Irma where he grows corn silage for his purebred Simmental cattle herd. We have been working with Lenny and his corn silage plot for three years now, and I examine the plot about once every week during the growing season to monitor its […] 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, Features

New crops equal new feeding practices

Adding corn to rotations is changing livestock  feeding practices in Western Canada

By Nicole Rasmussen January 16, 2018

As corn moves into Western Canada, so does the opportunity for livestock producers to diversify and improve the diet of their animals. Beef and dairy producers in the west have embraced corn as part of their animals’ ration and are increasing corn acres rapidly. Traditionally, beef cattle in the west have been fed with one […] 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

Corn, Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Right and wrong fermentation

Dairy Corner: If silage moisture is too high going in, it can affect feed quality and palatability

By Peter Vitti December 6, 2016

This autumn, I have seen a variety of corn fields being chopped into silage for dairy cattle. While some of this corn was dried enough to make some good quality corn silage, I was surprised when I saw some producers literarily harvested green chop. After all, they were faced with another rain shower, which forced […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, The Dairy Corner

Dairy Corner: Rain can compromise good quality hay

Feeding and management options to consider

By Peter Vitti August 15, 2016

The other week I was driving in southern Manitoba and saw a group of dairy cattle grazing tall lush pasture. The grass was up to their bellies and I thought: “When was the last time that our pastures looked so good?” The next field had cut hay in wide swaths that looked rained-on and bleached. […] Read more

Daily Network News

‘We should always aim for free trade’: low tariffs not good enough say agriculture leaders on Hoekstra remarks

CBOT weekly outlook: Soybeans/corn awaiting acreage data

ICE Canada Weekly: More behind canola, soyoil than crude oil prices

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