Hay in the swath in northwestern Saskatchewan.


Feed Watch: July 8, 2019

A dry spring has robbed many Prairie producers of first cut hay yields and lowered carrying capacity on pastures. Still, rain improved pasture conditions in many areas and some producers are cutting poor hay fields to encourage regrowth for a second cut. Overall hay growth and pasture looks better in Alberta than Saskatchewan and Manitoba. […] Read more

Pasture conditions in Bruce County, Ontario, are excellent. Photo: Tom Cunningham

Feed Watch: July 1, 2019

A look at forage, pasture and feed conditions across the Prairies and Ontario

While dry weather has dominated the Prairies until recently, Ontario producers have received too much rain and not enough sunshine. “We’re trying to get some hay off,” said cow-calf producer Tom Cunningham as it rained outside on the Friday before the July long weekend. Cunningham farms north of Wiarton, Ontario, in Bruce County. Cunningham estimated […] Read more


Hay Bale Landscape

Using an invasive weed to help fill the feed gap

When feed is in short supply, producers may want to harvest kochia.

For Prairie cattle producers looking for alternative feed sources this year, one possibility may be kochia. Kochia is an invasive weed, often seen growing on marginal land or tumbling across the Prairies. It’s a prolific seed producer, growing in saline soil and in arid or semi-arid conditions. A recent news release from Agriculture and Agri-Food […] Read more



Bison on pasture near Pigeon Lake, Alberta.

Feed Watch: June 24, 2019

A look at growing conditions for forage and feed across the Prairies and Ontario

Some areas in Western Canada welcomed rain recently. But overall, the Prairies are facing a 200-millimetre moisture deficit, Environment Canada estimates. To turn around the growing season, timing of rain is at least as important as volume, Marlo Glass reports in MarketsFarm. Drought-stricken areas will need a rainy day every week or 10 days throughout […] Read more



Prairie drought reaches tipping point

Prairie drought reaches tipping point

MarketsFarm — The Prairie provinces have been under the influence of a large ridge of high pressure for a number of weeks, which has produced prolonged dryness with little precipitation. That high pressure system has pushed low-pressure, precipitation-carrying systems to the south, where the U.S. Midwest has already received significant rain. Environment Canada estimated the […] Read more

Brad Welter speaks to radio reporter Jack Dawes and Kevin Hursh during a Sask Farm Writer Association media tour on June 8.

Feed Watch: June 17, 2019

A look at growing conditions in the Prairies and Ontario

This spring, many agricultural regions across Canada have faced a Goldilocks scenario with rain — most have received either too much or too little, with very few getting it just right. For many beef producers and feedlot operators, that will mean finding alternative feed supplies. Brad Welter, president of Pound-Maker Ag Ventures, is all too […] Read more