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Author Archives Trudy Kelly Forsythe

Before settlement in the B.C. interior, fires were a normal part of keeping grass from building up in the forest understory.
Forages, Livestock

Fighting forest fires with cattle

Targeted grazing keeps the risk down around British Columbia interior communities

By
There’s a new group of firefighters in British Columbia, but not the usual two-legged kind. They’re cattle and they’re just doing what they do naturally — grazing — but under the watchful eye of the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association. It’s leading a project to use a management tool called “targeted grazing” to reduce the intensity of […] Read more
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada plant breeder Dr. Yousef Papadopoulos holding a sample of AAC Trueman alfalfa to show its branching root and unique rhizomatous growth habit systems.
Forages, News

New branch-rooted alfalfa cultivar hits the market

AAC Trueman is more resilient in extreme weather and can withstand extended periods of dryness, wetness or flooding

By
It’s been 30 years in the making, but a new branch-rooted alfalfa cultivar that is tolerant to both drought and excessive moisture is now available in Canada. It’s an important advancement given the increased occurrence of extreme weather events including heavy rains, flooding and drought. The licensing right for this new variety was awarded in […] Read more
Pilot projects in each province will determine the best management practices for local areas.
Crops, Forages

Leaving the grass – and the carbon – in the ground

National project will show how forage and grassland owners can use high-performance management to boost yields and store carbon

By
Canadian forage producers know the value of the land they are responsible for — all 33.8 million acres of cultivated forages and 36 million of native or improved pastures. This land has a direct economic impact of $5.09 billion, but studies on the value of its environmental impact, or “ecological goods and services,” suggest it’s […] Read more
Research shows if cattle are given a preference, they want between 60 to 80 per cent of legumes in their pasture.
Crops, Forages

Legumes are best, but…

Nova Scotia researchers are looking at ways to maintain their percentage in forage mixtures under grazing

By
Not only are legumes a superfood for humans, but they are a superfood for cattle too. In fact, regardless of what type of livestock producers raise, the animals perform better on a diet of grass mixed with legumes than if just on a diet of straight grass, resulting in better weight gain and increased milk […] Read more
Putting a value on forages
Forages, Livestock

Putting a value on forages

A new project by the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association will establish protocols for high-performance forage management

By
With over 70 million acres of dedicated Canadian cropland and a direct economic value of $5.09 billion, forages are the country’s third-largest crop, just behind wheat valued at $5.2 billion and canola at $7.3 billion. There’s no doubt forages are good for the economy. Perennial forages play an environmental role with the ability to reduce […] Read more

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AGCanadaTV: In Case You Missed It – Your National Ag News Recap for the week ending April 16, 2021.

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