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
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
Drought’s effects linger on Prairies
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — After a dry growing season last year in Western Canada, effects of the drought are still evident with news that most livestock producers won’t be doing a second cut of hay. “Pastures and hay fields didn’t get the moisture that they needed to really recharge over that winter period and get a […] Read more
Prairie hay crops look thin in many areas
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Many farmers taking off their first hay cuts are also gathering more talking points to grumble over at coffee row. While many producers are still working to get the first cut done and the situation could change with the second cut, many regions are already reporting below-average yields. “In areas of the […] Read more
Farmer-made hay dryer boosts quality
Chinook bale dryer uses spikes to dry bales from the inside out
Reading Time: 3 minutes Chris Martin saw how hay bale dryers were working in Quebec and thought that the concept would work on his farm in Ontario. And he figured he and his brother could make one that worked even better. Three years later, they have their dryer working – but not perfected – and have sold one other […] Read more
Cellulosic sugars co-op offer improves, hosting baling demos
First demonstration takes place on Nov. 14 in Watford, Ont.
Reading Time: 2 minutes Farmers continue to sign up for an Ontario co-operative that will pay them for their corn stover and wheat straw. Brian Cofell, general manager of the Cellulosic Sugar Producers Co-operative (CSPC) says that the co-op has about 40 per cent of the acres committed that it needs by next fall, when it plans to harvest […] Read more
U.S. northern Plains ranchers welcome hay lottery
Reading Time: 3 minutes Reuters — Hundreds of livestock ranchers in the drought-stricken U.S. northern Plains are embracing what organizers say is the first lottery designed to provide some much-needed relief to their operations. The prize? Tons and tons of hay. Ranchers in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana have been suffering through the region’s worst drought in 30 […] Read more
Rain means much of Ontario first cut hay is yet to be harvested
Forage quality declining with each passing day
Reading Time: 2 minutes Wet weather that has much of the Ontario first cut hay crop still standing in the field hasn’t yet changed the price for hay. Typically, the first cut hay harvest is mostly complete by the first of July, but regular rains in June this year have left hay in the field and declining in quality each […] Read more
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
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
Technology could open up hay export markets for Ontario
Reading Time: 3 minutes An Ontario hay co-operative hopes to have a double-compaction facility running by 2018, giving it access to global markets for hay. Ontario hay has traditionally been at a shipping cost disadvantage compared to most competitors, as hay headed for Asia or the Middle East has had to be shipped by rail to the West Coast. […] Read more
New baler expands Kubota lineup
The orange brand takes another step toward full-line status
Reading Time: 4 minutes Anyone attending a major farm show in Canada or the U.S. recently will almost certainly have noticed Kubota equipment on display, and probably a lot of it. The brand has clearly been targeting farmers, and it clearly intends to make much bigger inroads in the ag equipment sector in North America. Kubota executives are also […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
