Forages
Prairie soil scientist and author Les Henry, 83
Henry's outreach to farmers spanned more than half a century
Glacier FarmMedia — Saskatchewan soil scientist Les Henry, well known for his work on improving Prairie farmland and his outreach to Prairie farmers in the pages of Grainews, has died. Ending a long fight with congestive heart failure, Henry died Friday in Saskatoon at age 83, having continued to write until very shortly before his […] Read more
Manitoba farmers make good progress despite rain
Spring planting in Manitoba entered the home stretch at 83 per cent complete as of June 5. Manitoba Agriculture reported a 19-point gain from the previous week as farmers contended with wet conditions across much of the province.
Alfalfa replant disease and related disorders
While the exact cause remains unclear, we now know it’s best to wait two or three years before trying to re-establish that alfalfa stand
It has now been shown you cannot plant alfalfa immediately on land that had grown alfalfa the same or previous year, nor even where one had been winterkilled. The current theory is that autotoxicity occurs when mature alfalfa plants excrete a chemical that inhibits the germination and growth of alfalfa seedlings
Transitioning yearlings to pasture
A well-planned and managed grazing season — focused on maximizing forage growth/production, adequate grazing management and appropriate mineral supplementation — can reduce production costs and increase profitability.
Alberta Crop Report: Much-needed moisture replenishes province
The rains that fell onto south, central and northeastern Alberta during the week ended May 14 were a mixed blessing for growers according to the provincial government’s crop report released on May 17.
Choosing forage varieties without getting lost in the weeds
Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen
Henry Ford famously said, “Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it’s black.” Today’s vehicles have endless options in terms of colour, body style, engine, drivetrain and everything else you can imagine. Some people revel in these endless options, enjoy mixing and matching and “building” exactly what […] Read more
Forage seed producers hold steady in changing industry
With nearly 40 years producing forage seed, the Siklenka family has seen some varieties fall in and out of favour, but other things remain the same
Forage seed production may not receive the attention of many other parts of the beef industry, but it plays a crucial role. Nathan Siklenka and his father, Darrel Siklenka, own and operate Siklenka Seed Farm together near Glaslyn, Sask. The farm has been in operation since 1985. Siklenka Seed Farm is well known for its […] Read more
Native plant 411 for livestock producers
The native plants in your pasture tell a story about everything from disturbances to soil quality
Southwest of Calgary, Alta., as the jagged peaks of the Rockies level out to the Prairies, rough fescue grows in dense tufts. This native plant is Alberta’s provincial grass and a tasty meal for livestock in the fall and winter. Saskatchewan’s provincial grass is needle-and-thread grass, named after its sharp seed tip and long awn. […] Read more
Researcher targets fibre digestibility in cattle for forage efficiency
Initial research found surprising links between cattle efficient at digesting fibre and methane emissions
Dr. Gabriel Ribeiro walks onto the stage at the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference following four other researchers in the Saskatchewan beef industry. This is part of the Cattle College portion of the conference, where researchers educate conference attendees on the work they’ve been doing in the industry. Ribeiro is an assistant professor and the Saskatchewan […] Read more
Now is the time to prevent feed shortages
As we approach spring we should be preparing to plant and produce enough forage to support the needs of our livestock for the whole year. In Canada, that means a strong focus on preserving and storing forages (i.e. silage, hay, greenfeed, stockpile forages, swath grazing) as the grazing season is short. For feedlots, where animals […] Read more