The three worst forage weeds

The three worst forage weeds

The benefit of attending of Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Crop Diagnostic School at Swift Current last July was having the opportunity to get an up-close look at problems farmers face every season. One of the experts on hand was Rachel Turnquist, a regional forage specialist with Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture. Turnquist gave us a look at what[...]
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Direct marketing grass-fed beef is a family business

Direct marketing grass-fed beef is a family business

Family farm in Alberta made the decision to go certified organic in the 1990s

After Tim Hoven and his wife Lori took over the management of his family farm at Eckville, Alta., in 1998 they made the decision to go certified organic. It seemed like a natural next step to him. His parents had become involved with holistic management in the late 1980s after taking a course with Don[...]
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(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

High-quality forages tougher to find this year

CNS Canada — There seems to be no shortage of forages in Western Canada this year, as wet weather has allowed grasses to keep progressing at a steady rate. Finding high-quality hay could be the challenge, however, according to crop watchers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “It’s been tough for guys to put four to five[...]
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Six limiting factors in your soil that will make or break your operation

Six limiting factors in your soil that will make or break your operation

Without these six key ingredients, your soil — and your farm — could be in trouble

Farms and grazing operations — organic or otherwise — are only as good as their worst resource, according to Oregon-based grazier Abe Collins. “Soil is our primary infrastructure on the farm,” said Collins, who spoke at the recent Organic Alberta conference. “Biologically, chemically, and physically, you need to be looking at the limiting factors in[...]
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Forage advocates gather in Saskatchewan

Forage: News Roundup from the September 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Dave Kerr, a beef producer from Lashburn, is the new president of the Saskatchewan Forage Council, with past-president Kelly Williamson of Pambrun and Sarah Sommerfeld of Outlook as finance chair. The vice-president position was yet to be filled coming out of the annual general meeting following the field day with the Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development[...]
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When to move cattle

When to move cattle

Grazing with Steve Kenyon

If you’re just starting out or have been rotationally grazing for a while, one of the main challenges you face during the grazing season is when to move the livestock. I have to make the same decisions with my herds. Each year is different and my grazing has to adjust with it. No matter how much you[...]
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Cow chewing hay

Get hail-damaged crops tested before feeding to livestock

Doing a feed test ‘is much cheaper than losing an animal,’ says beef extension specialist

Hail damage this summer on the Prairie provinces is approaching an all-time high — and with many producers putting livestock on their ruined fields, the risk of nitrate poisoning is also shooting up. So be sure to do a feed test first, said a beef extension specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “A feed test[...]
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South African holistic management specialist, Ian Mitchell-Innes from South Africa, discussed management tactics with a group of Manitoba producers in Lenore on July 12.

Focusing on nutrition will also help the pasture

World-renowned holistic management specialist 
says green is not the only right colour for grass

Many graziers have a theory that if you look after the soil, the rest of the operation will take care of itself, but Ian Mitchell-Innes looks at it the other way around. “The biggest mistake that people make after learning about holistic management is they try and save the ground. I did this also when[...]
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Alfalfa and chicory helped carry the cattle through the dry pasture conditions.

When rain comes to pastures at the right time

A sudden turn in moisture conditions made all the difference

I am back up on 4 Clover Ranch near Rocky Mountain House, Alta., having arrived a week ago and getting our custom grazing operation going with cow-calf pairs trucked in as this is written. Meanwhile back at our Alcheringa Pastoral (Australia), Helen happily reported that our steer sale in late May had gone well. We[...]
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(WeatherFarm.com)

Rain causes extreme haying delays

CNS Canada –– Excessive rain and high humidity over the past few weeks are causing major problems for haying operations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “We should be well underway in our progress and I think we are far behind right now,” said Leanna Rousell, executive director of the Saskatchewan Forage Council. The majority of Saskatchewan[...]
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