Les Henry. (University of Saskatchewan video screengrab)

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



Alfalfa replant disease and related disorders

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




A sweet and red clover forage mix.

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


Cicer milkvetch at the Siklenka farm. The forage is becoming increasingly popular with producers, despite the long establishment time.

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

Pasture sage doesn’t affect pasture production, says an agrologist, but too much of it may be a sign that a producer needs to nourish grasses.

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


Feeding time at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence’s feedlot. Researchers followed the same group of heifers through four related studies examining methane emissions, feeding behaviour, feed efficiency and the animals’ ability to digest forage.

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

Cattle producers should have a good estimate of the forage requirements to feed the animals for the whole year.

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