Forages , Latest & Featured - Canadian Cattlemen

German seed company buys Prairie forage seed firm

DSV to take up full control of Northstar Seed

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News May 6, 2022

A Prairie company producing and selling forage, turf and grass seed for international and domestic markets is set to be an early foothold for a German seed firm in North America. DSV (Deutsche Saatveredelung) announced last week it has reached a deal in early April to buy up all shares of Northstar Seed, which is […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Forages, News Roundup, Pasture

Grazing management terminology: Animal units, AUMs and how to apply them

By Beef Cattle Research Council April 7, 2022

Does it feel like grazing management information is shrouded in acronyms and terms that boggle the mind on first glance? Do you struggle to decipher terms like animal unit equivalents? And how does one go about calculating AUMs and then applying those numbers? Be reassured, you’re not alone! There’s a lot going on when sorting […] Read more

Totes of seed lined up and ready for shipment at Union Forage’s warehouse in south Calgary.

Features, Forages, News

Union Forage rising

Thinking outside the box, customer consultation key to Union Forage’s success

By Piper Whelan April 5, 2022

In the Union Forage warehouse, general manager Geoff Barker explains the process of creating custom forage seed blends for clients, his voice denoting his Australian roots. Towering shelves lining the south Calgary warehouse are stacked with pallets and large totes of seed, neatly labelled for traceability purposes. On the wall, a large promotional poster states […] Read more

Cows getting their fill of minerals. Mixing untreated legume seeds into loose minerals is one way to reseed pastures.

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Features, Forages, Pasture

Options for reseeding pastures

From frost seeding to aerial application, there is a range of methods for rejuvenating forage stands

By Jill Burkhardt April 1, 2022

Fuel and fertilizer prices are rising daily, making the decision harder on whether producers should reseed pasture. “That full break and reseed, even prior to this year, was the most expensive way to go,” says forage and grazing specialist Christine O’Reilly. But there are more options than cultivating and reseeding with a drill. “Reseeding tends […] Read more

Features, Grazing, Pasture

Grazing management and soil health

By adapting grazing practices that fit your context and by following the six soil health principles, you can improve the soil on your ranch

By Burke Teichert March 30, 2022

I hope this title suggests that there is a definite causal link between grazing management and soil health. Nothing you do on grazing lands can improve soil health more than good grazing management. While growing up, I wanted to be a rancher because I liked cattle and the challenge of raising them profitably. I wanted […] Read more

Small-bale grazing with intercrop regrowth at the MBFI Johnson Farm.

Forages, Livestock

Diversifying the tool kit for grazing annual forages

By Mary-Jane Orr March 1, 2022

For the 2021 field season at Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives (MBFI), we were impressed by the outcomes of management tools for diverse annual forages to extend grazing through fall and into winter. At both farm stations, the Brookdale Farm and Johnson Farm, we showcase fields grown for general farm operations to support the research […] Read more

Forages

Agriclimat project preparing Quebec farmers for changing climate

Quebec forage producers a part of developing farmer-focused climate change adaptation plans

By Piper Whelan February 14, 2022

Heatwaves are anticipated to become more frequent in Quebec’s Montérégie region, spelling potential trouble for future forage production. Climate change data for this agricultural region predicts an increase in days with night temperatures above 20 C, which could negatively impact the respiration of plants that rely on cooler nights to survive hot summers. Using regional […] Read more

Hay, News

More donated hay needed to help farmers in Saskatchewan

Twenty-six loads shipped, 24 farmers still awaiting assistance

By Mennonite Disaster Service January 5, 2022

It was snowing on Greg Melchior’s farm near Battleford, Saskatchewan in early January—and he couldn’t have been happier. For Melchior, who has 114 head of beef cattle, the snow meant there might be better times ahead. “If we get enough snow, maybe things can return to normal,” he said. “Maybe the sloughs will fill up […] Read more

Cattle grazing at B-C Ranch near Dorintosh, Sask.

Beef Cattle, Forages, Pasture

Finding equilibrium in forest grazing

Fire suppression, managing invasive species among benefits of grazing forested areas

By Piper Whelan November 23, 2021

If producers want to reap the benefits of grazing forested areas, they can’t ignore the balance needed for the health of these ecosystems. Creating balance in forest grazing systems involves managing for risks, such as erosion, particularly in steep areas, soil compaction in places where cattle tend to gather and impacts on water quality if […] Read more

Cattle grazing at Kingsclere Ranch in the Columbia Valley of B.C. Jeff Braisher produces beef and timber on the land he own and manages, balancing between forestry and beef production.

Pasture

Into the woods

A focus on balance required to get the most from grazing forested areas, producers say

By Piper Whelan November 22, 2021

On Kingsclere Ranch, the balance between forestry and beef production is mutually beneficial for both its business model and the environment. “The cows have a role to play in the total balance of the equation, and that’s a pretty significant role,” says Jeff Braisher, who produces high-end timber as well as raising cattle at Golden, B.C. Here […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rise as Cattle on Feed report shows lower inventory

Canadian cattle herd sees first year-over-year increase since 2021

U.S. grains: Soybeans extend gains to two-month peak; corn and wheat choppy

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