winter Archives - Page 2 of 5

A woman digging out her driveway after a big snowstorm

Prevent winter injuries and illnesses

Getting creative with nutrition and maintaining restorative movements can help keep you healthy during the cold months

By Kathlyn Hossack February 1, 2024

Winter is notorious for an increase in aches, pains, illnesses and injuries. Some of this stems from colder temperatures and less sunlight, which can take a toll on our bodies and minds even before hazardous conditions such as snow and ice take effect. We can’t control the weather, but there are a few things we […] Read more

Columns, Farm Life, Weather

Snuff out the winter sniffles

Some easy movements can help relieve sinus congestion

By Kathlyn Hossack January 13, 2024

Winter is a season commonly associated with sniffles. Any way to get sinus relief is beneficial as we go through the coldest months. A common area of congestion is our sinus cavities, which take up space behind our cheekbones and brows. They are often a culprit behind headaches, facial pain, sniffly noses and sometimes even […] Read more

Photo: Environment and Climate Change Canada

General, Weather

Warmer winter likely across Canada

High probability of warm spring to follow, long-range forecast shows

By GFM Network News January 2, 2024

Warmer than normal temperatures are expected across all of Canada through the winter months, with average precipitation for most of the agricultural areas of the Prairies, according to the latest long-range seasonal forecast from Environment and Climate Change Canada, released Dec. 31.

Under sunny skies, neighbour Ken Reiniger loads some slough hay bales, that will make good winter feed, onto the trailer.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Weather co-operates for fall projects

Digging potatoes and hauling feed all completed under fairly warm dry conditions

By Heather Eppich December 13, 2023

The weather this fall has been very nice. The wind has been cold at times, but we really couldn’t complain about the temperatures. I gave the foals a few days to settle down after weaning and then started refreshing their halter training. We try to work with them to introduce the halter a few days […] Read more

Later calving was supposed to avoid the snow, but winter just didn't want to give up this year with a heavy snowfall in late March.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Weather didn’t co-operate for calving beef cows

Rancher's Diary: After a short labour, a new great-granddaughter is welcomed into the family

By Heather Smith Thomas May 16, 2023

March 22 We’re about to start calving. Andrea put boards over gaps at the bottom of the barn wall where critters have been crawling into the barn —to block their access and stop the wind. There were sheets of ice where water ran into the barn when snow fell off the roof, melted and ran […] Read more

Built in the 1970s this calf shelter still works today to provide calves with a dry place to bed down away from the wind, snow and rain.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Winter shelters have saved calves

Having protection from wet and wind made a difference, even under extreme weather and low temperatures

By Heather Smith Thomas May 4, 2023

Ranchers who calve early know the value of shelter for baby calves. When my husband Lynn and I started ranching in 1967, our cows were calving in March and April and we had terrible scours, especially when the weather was wet. The pastures on this place were contaminated with scour “bugs” after intensive cattle use […] Read more

As we headed out to find the horses that got out of their pasture, Joseph decided he wanted to come along. A halter was placed on a quiet gelding he was able to lead back into the pasture.

Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Time to build the ice fence

Eppich News: Horses find a frozen pathway across the slough

By Heather Eppich January 11, 2023

Sunday Nov. 13 turned out to be an interesting day. It had been quite cold and then it snowed. This combination was just perfect for our horses to walk across the frozen slough. At church a neighbour told us that he had seen some horses along the road. After church, Gregory took the truck to […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Monitoring the cow herd before winter

A thorough checkup can identify problems early and reduce losses

By Roy Lewis December 9, 2022

Now is the time to do a good inventory of feed sources and whether there is enough for a long, cold winter. I always recommend to be on the lookout for alternative feed sources, as one never knows when you could run short. Feeds ranging from distillers grains to cull potatoes are among alternative sources. […] Read more

Different materials can be used to
cover hay, but properly secured
black plastic works well particularly
because snow slides off easily.

Cattleman’s Corner, Hay

Tips for protecting hay quality over winter

Research shows single bale rows are better than a pyramid stack

By Heather Smith Thomas October 25, 2022

Several methods can help preserve feed quality and reduce moisture damage in your winter hay supply. Warren Rusche, feedlot and beef management specialist with South Dakota State University, says the ideal way to store hay is under cover in a shed, but this works best for square bales. It’s usually not practical for round bales […] Read more

File photo of a field pea crop in western New South Wales, Australia. (Alfio Manciagli/iStock/Getty Images)

Crops, Pulses

Pulse weekly outlook: Australia’s winter pulse production mixed

By GFM Network News September 6, 2022

MarketsFarm — Australia’s 2022 winter pulse crop will see its ups and downs, according to a quarterly crop report released Tuesday by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). Chickpeas saw the largest projected production decline, dropping 41.5 per cent from the 2021-22 marketing year to 621,000 tonnes this year, Australia’s […] 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