Round bales can be stored under tarps to keep out moisture and reduce rot.

Managing forage in a dry year

Planning for drought needs to occur before drought arrives

Drought is normal in Western Canada and it is not going to go away. We just don’t know when the next drought will be, or how long it will last. “Drought affects two basic parts of the rancher’s business,” says Dr. Art Bailey, range science professor emeritus at the University of Alberta. “On the demand […] Read more

Hay in the swath in northwestern Saskatchewan.


A systems approach to cutting hay

Forages: News Roundup from the April 2019 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Deciding when to cut hay often comes down to a gut feeling. “And lots of times, that can get you into trouble,” said Ryan Sommerfeld of RPS Gelbvieh, based near Medstead, Sask. Sommerfeld outlined his simple methods for cutting and baling hay at a regional agricultural update in Turtleford, Sask., in early March. Sommerfeld avoids […] Read more





(WPohlDesign/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Markets steady amid cold Alberta weather

Excessively cold temperatures in Alberta may be causing headaches for both feed grain buyers and sellers, but prices remain relatively steady for what’s moving. The cold weather hasn’t really led to a significant increase in demand, but “it’s definitely made the farmer grumpy,” said Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities in Lacombe, Alta. “In general, the […] Read more



CBOT December 2018 corn (in black) and January 2019 soybeans (in green). (Barchart)

CBOT weekly outlook: Rangebound soy, corn look for fresh news

CNS Canada — With Midwestern harvest operations nearing completion for the year, rangebound U.S. grain and oilseed markets are looking for fresh news to provide direction. Soybean, corn and wheat futures all remain stuck in relatively sideways trading patterns and “the only thing that will change that is an adverse situation in South American weather, […] Read more

Photo: iStock

Fair weather welcome for harvest wrap-up in Sask.

CNS Canada – Thanks to good weather during the last half of October 99 per cent of Saskatchewan’s crop has been harvested according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s final Crop Report of 2018. However, snow and rain in early November has delayed the harvest of the remaining crops such as flax and oats, but producers hope to […] Read more


Weather forecasters predict less than average snowfall if El Nino takes shape this winter.  Photo: File

El Nino developing as Western Canada recovers from drought

CNS Canada – Despite above normal precipitation over the last couple of months, when comes to the drought, the Prairies are not out of the woods as winter approaches. We are headed into an El Nino, at least according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,” said Bruce Burnett, […] Read more

Photo: Thinkstock

Alberta harvest nearing completion

CNS Canada – Alberta farmers made significant harvest progress in late-October, with nearly 95 per cent of crops off the field as of Oct. 30, according to the final crop report of the season from Alberta Agriculture. On a crop-by-crop basis, spring wheat was 96.1 per cent harvested, durum 95.4 per cent, barley 95.6 per […] Read more