Agriculture Canada

Agriculture Canada’s Lethbridge Research Centre has released new research guides for manure management, forage and potato production. They are available free to Western Canada’s producers, industry and extension. Manure management This program has developed in response to the increase in intensive livestock operations and heightened environmental awareness by the public. Research focuses on use of […] Read more

North American society is demanding changes to the way farmers care for farm animals, according to Colorado State University philosopher Bernard Rollin. The public has moved beyond just wanting to protect animals from obvious cruelty and now wants the agricultural community to ensure it is meeting the social, behavioral, psychological and physical needs of animals […] Read more

Scientists at the Agriculture Canada Research Centre in Brandon, Man., have shown it is possible to reduce many problems associated with swine manure by decreasing the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus excreted. This was achieved by using amino acid and enzyme supplements in place of protein supplements with diets based on conventional or hulless barley. […] Read more

Pulse crops are a key part of crop rotations, increasing net returns and providing rotational benefits to subsequent crops. Recent studies at Indian Head, Sask., show peas and lentils grown every other year in rotation with wheat can reduce the amount of inputs needed and help control weeds in the wheat crop. Research by Doug […] Read more

Scientists are searching wild potato species for resistance to blackleg in the first phase of a new study at the Agriculture Canada Lethbridge Research Centre. The disease-causing bacteria induces about $32 million in damage to potato crops in Alberta each year. The four-year project aims to identify new sources of genetic resistance and incorporate them […] Read more

Early results from a study on irrigated potatoes show there might be room in some cases to cut back on scheduled watering. Results from the first year of a three-year study have found that Russet Burbank potatoes appear to be quite tolerant to missing scheduled irrigations. The study will look at how drought stress applied […] Read more

A new product used in conjunction with some nitrogen fertilizers can reduce damage to seedlings and cut losses due to evaporation, according to research at the Agriculture Canada Brandon research centre. The new product is an urease inhibitor called Agrotain. Effective placement of nitrogen fertilizers can be a concern in low-disturbance farming. Urea and urea […] Read more

Two new bean lines designed to fuel the growing bean industry in Western Canada have outperformed United States-developed standards in prairie-wide tests and received support for registration in 1998. AC Alberta Pink (unofficial name), a pink dry bean, is significantly higher yielding under irrigation and has larger seed than the pink standard, Viva, said bean […] Read more

The source and quality of cattle drinking water can have a dramatic impact on weight gains, according to preliminary results of a study at the Agriculture Canada Lethbridge Research Centre. It has long been assumed that as long as cattle have access to an adequate water supply, the only variable that will affect their performance […] Read more

Plants not traditionally viewed as forages might be excellent for late season grazing, according to research at the Semi-arid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre in Swift Current, Sask. Native shrubs, once ignored by forage researchers, are earning new respect for fall grazing of beef cattle in the drier parts of the prairies. Research at Swift Current […] Read more