At C.G. Paulgaard Farms, the women run the combines during harvest. When they do, things tend to run fairly smoothly on the 15,000 acre crop and livestock operation, according to Joanne Paulgaard, who runs the operation along with her husband, Rod, children Kyle and Shelby and Rod’s mother, Norma. An operation their size requires a […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Cover crop use on the Prairies not well known
Prairie farmers want more information about cover cropping: its benefits, best variety choices and agronomy. Callum Morrison, a PhD student at the University of Manitoba, learned that much and more from year one results in a three-year project. In 2019, Morrison surveyed 211 farmers who have grown cover crops. In 2020 he wants to double […] Read more
COVID cases reported at Alta. potato plant
Eight cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among workers at the Cavendish Farms potato plant in Lethbridge. Chief medical officer Deena Hinshaw confirmed today that cases had been found at that facility, a $430 million frozen potato plant that opened a new facility in the city’s northeast quadrant slightly more than a year ago. “We […] Read more
Alberta irrigation gets major financial boost
Another 200,000 acres of southern Alberta farmland will be irrigated in coming years as a result of an $815 million injection into the region’s agricultural industry. That will add to the existing 1.3 million acres already under irrigation in the south. The funds will be used to build four new off-stream water storage reservoirs, adding […] Read more
Ag society takes steps to survive COVID-19 crisis
Regional exhibitions and agricultural societies across the Prairies continue to struggle financially as events are cancelled because of the pandemic. The Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association is among them but the board, staff and community have taken steps to keep the venue afloat while continuing to hope for more government support. Last week it launched the […] Read more
Stockade Roundup cattle show plans to continue with live event
Lloydminster’s annual Stockade Roundup could be the only livestock show held on the Prairies this year. The event is going ahead, albeit with a slightly different appearance to accommodate pandemic-related health protocols. Jenelle Saskiw, executive director of the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association, said there will be more cattle but fewer people at the Nov. 4-7 […] Read more
Alta. cattle operation provides tranquil haven
On the Farm: Blue Rein Ranch raises grass-fed beef while also offering animal-assisted mental health therapy services
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. — Up a gravel road and down a gentle hill lies a place of calm, where horses graze within sight of a big red barn, dogs drool over chew toys and cattle munch on prairie grass. It’s Blue Rein Ranch, where a sense of serenity is a valued commodity on Marvin and […] Read more
Iron contest – photo essay
The tracor pull event at the Coyote Flats Pioneer Village near Picture Butte, Alta., proves a good place for tractor renovators to compare notes. Photos by Barb Glen.
Winter feeding starts with a sample
A protein test on a randomly grabbed sample will be three to four percent lower than what the cattle are actually eating
Don’t grab randomly. That’s good advice in social situations and it’s just as good when taking a forage sample. Winter is approaching and cow-calf producers who plan to winter graze should take forage samples and make their plans, said livestock grazing guru Jim Gerrish. But rather than taking a random sample from a square foot […] Read more
Online tool helps determine backgrounding profitability
Decisions on whether to background calves depend on many factors including feed costs, grass conditions and calf prices, but the real test is whether keeping calves longer will bring higher profits per head. The Beef Cattle Research Council has recently updated the price seasonality data in its calculation tool to give cow-calf producers information needed […] Read more
