alfalfa Archives | Country Guide

Manitoba beef sector faces tight feed situation

By Phil Franz-Warkentin - MarketsFarm October 22, 2019

Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — An early snowstorm may have been the last straw for Manitoba livestock producers looking to put up feed ahead of winter. While the foot or more of heavy snow that blanketed much of the province over the Thanksgiving weekend has melted, saturated fields continue to limit corn silage harvests and hay cutting. “Feed […] Read more

Contrast in control of Roundup Ready alfalfa with herbicides applied in early fall (foreground) compared to late fall (background).

Crops, Forages

Pest Patrol: Killing off Roundup Ready alfalfa

#PestPatrol with Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA

By Mike Cowbrough September 18, 2019

Reading Time: 3 minutes Six tank-mix partners are recommended for the removal of Roundup Ready alfalfa, and since they vary significantly in cost (Table 1 below), their effectiveness was evaluated in a trial conducted at the Elora Research Station in 2018-19. Growing degree day accumulation after herbicide application appeared to have the greatest effect on the control of Roundup […] Read more

The Green Gold program focuses on quality rather than quantity for the first cut, but it’s also helped producers harvest more cuts per year.

Crops, Hay

Knowing when it’s ‘hay day’

A provincial sampling program helps producers decide the best time to cut alfalfa for maximum RFV

By Duncan Morrison October 5, 2018

Reading Time: 3 minutes An alfalfa-monitoring program designed more than 20 years ago continues to pay dividends for Manitoba dairy producers and the domestic and export dairy hay industry. Manitoba Forage and Grasslands Association’s (MFGA) “Green Gold” program just wrapped up the program’s 23rd year of helping to predict “Hay Day” — the date when harvested pure alfalfa stands […] Read more

Crops mowed down by the great white combine can have high concentrations of nitrates and need to be tested before being used as feed.

Crops, Hay

Nitrate accumulation a danger in hailed-out crops

The crop, its development stage, and the amount of nitrogen in the soil all need to be considered

By Alberta Agriculture July 31, 2018

Reading Time: 2 minutes Think about nitrate accumulation when salvaging cereal, oilseed, or hay crops damaged by hail, says a provincial beef and forage specialist. “Nitrate accumulation occurs in a plant when it is injured and is not able to convert nitrate to protein efficiently after a hailstorm,” said Barry Yaremcio. “In non-legume crops, water and nutrients are pushed […] Read more

Crops, Forages, Weather

Manitoba forages fight past winterkill, pest issues

By Dave Sims June 22, 2017

Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — The first hay cut is well underway in several parts of Manitoba as favourable weather conditions set the stage for what could be a decent forage season. “Generally speaking they’re (forages) all doing well,” said Pamela Iwanchysko, farm production extension specialist with the provincial government in Dauphin. “The rains were timely.” What […] Read more

Drought conditions in North Dakota are causing spring alfalfa to wilt.

Crops, Forages, News

Should drought-stressed alfalfa be clipped?

Clipping drought-stressed alfalfa will not help it regrow faster when rainfall or moisture comes back

By North Dakota State University June 7, 2017

Reading Time: 2 minutes North Dakota State University – Many parts of the state where alfalfa is grown are experiencing moderate to severe drought, which is causing spring alfalfa growth to wilt, and shoots and leaves to dry. “During drought, forage is likely in short supply and farmers are likely to try to get as much forage as possible,” […] Read more

Corn, Dairy Cattle, Forages

Forage fed vs. corn silage in dairy cattle

Quebec researcher says that since dairy farmers are paid based on components, forage-fed cattle can outperform those fed on corn silage

By Ray Ford April 19, 2017

Reading Time: 3 minutes Corn silage use is trending on Quebec’s large dairy farms, but Valacta’s Robert Berthiaume argues farmers who run against the herd can bulk up their bottom line with perennial forages. “If you make the best use you can of perennial forages, you can make a lot of money, at least as much or more than […] Read more

Corn, Crops

Corn silage moves west

The prospect of more tons per acre and fewer worries about harvest weather is prompting some cattle producers to park the baler

By Angela Lovell February 15, 2017

Reading Time: 6 minutes High land prices and persistent problems with haying weather in Western Canada are prompting more cattle producers to consider corn silage. Acreage has increased steadily in for the past five years, especially in Alberta where producers seeded 110,000 acres of silage corn in 2016, up from 70,000 acres in 2012. “New genetics have made corn […] Read more

Drought at Swift Current affected the study results, but over the long term, red clover should also provide advantages when included in the rotation in drier areas.

Crops, Forages

Growing your own N

New research in Saskatchewan proves forage rotations of only two years can provide a valuable fertility boost

By Julienne Isaacs October 7, 2016

Reading Time: 3 minutes When Duane Thompson talks about sustainability, he makes no bones about the fact that nothing is sustainable unless it’s economical for the farmer. “Sustainability is a nice notion but you want to be improving and getting better,” he says. “I’m not really big on sustainability — I want to be sustainable-plus.” Thompson is a case […] Read more

Crops, Forages, Weather

High-quality forages tougher to find this year

By Dave Sims October 6, 2016

Reading Time: 2 minutes 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 […] Read more

Alberta hog farmers to get set-aside via AgriRecovery

No credit expected for farmers’ past work in new carbon market

Spring road bans coming into effect across Prairies

GFM Network News