BROOKS, Alta. — Fungicide trials conducted by Alberta Agriculture researchers have confirmed that there are effective treatments for blossom blight in alfalfa seed crops. Plant pathologist Ron Howard told members of the Alberta Alfalfa Seed Commission Nov. 27 that products are available to battle the sclerotinia and botrytis pathogen complex that causes the disease. Blossom […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Alfalfa seed inventory low; U.S. demand up
BROOKS, Alta. — A reduction in Canadian acres sown to alfalfa seed is a concern for the future but a boon in the present. Terry Ewacha, executive vice-president for Pickseed’s wholesale and western operations, told Alberta alfalfa seed growers Nov. 27 that tight supplies are keeping prices on firm ground. “I think the outlook currently […] Read more
Uniform kernels make better feed
Similarly sized kernels make it easier to roll the barley, improving digestibility and feed value
Growing barley with uniform kernel size will improve its use as cattle feed. That’s the message ruminant nutrition expert Tim McAllister of Agriculture Canada delivered to barley growers in Lethbridge Nov. 22. Uniform kernel size allows cattle feeders to roll and temper barley for optimal use by ruminants. Although growing conditions, seeding rates, variety and […] Read more
Yield trials examine value of early seeding in dark brown soil
Early seeding canola will increase yields most of the time, says an Alberta oilseed specialist, but there are caveats for those in dark brown soil zones. Murray Hartman of Alberta Agriculture told a Nov. 23 meeting of the Alberta Canola Producers Commission that early seeding will likely pay off on dryland under reduced tillage systems […] Read more
Feed, malt barley spread could narrow
Tight feed grain supplies will likely buoy barley prices this winter, says an Alberta Agriculture crop markets analyst. Charlie Pearson told southern Alberta barley and wheat growers Nov. 21 that their location in the province’s prime cattle feeding region puts them in a slightly different market position, but overall tighter supplies will affect prices across […] Read more
New Alberta group getting its bearings
Checkoff funds commission General manager will hire staff for research, marketing and finance
The first regional meetings for the Alberta Wheat Commission are underway in a province that annually grows 6.6 million acres of wheat. Lynn Jacobson, one of two directors for Region 1, helped spearhead the formation of the new commission, which officially formed Aug. 1. The commission had been explained to producers in a series of […] Read moreNew organization seeks louder voice for farmers
Annual meeting in January | Motion passes to consider replacing new commission with all-crop commission
Just as the newly formed Alberta Wheat Commission is electing directors and establishing its plans, one of its members has proposed it be replaced by an all-crop commission. Lethbridge area farmer Alex Russell made the motion Nov. 21 at the first Region 1 meeting of the Alberta Wheat Commission. His motion was passed and will […] Read moreCause of wonky brain proteins remain mystery after 30 years
Jay Ingram threw a mousetrap into a nest of other mousetraps set to spring. The resulting chain reaction, with traps snapping and leaping off the table, was a quick and noisy way to illustrate his point about prions. Ingram, a former radio and television host and author, threw his mousetraps during the Prion Diaries, a […] Read more
BSE: effect of devastating discovery lingers
Cattle industry collapse | CFIA researcher says confirming Canada’s first case in 2003 was gut-wrenching
Dr. Stephanie Czub has had one of the loneliest experiences in agriculture. She diagnosed the bovine brain sample that confirmed Canada’s first homegrown case of BSE in 2003, which dealt crippling blows to the cattle industry from which it has arguably yet to recover. Czub talked about her experience last week as part of a […] Read morePrevention best weapon against sclerotinia
Weather related | Canola is susceptible to the disease if it receives moisture during the flowering period
There were several reasons for disappointing canola yields across Western Canada this year, and sclerotinia was one of them. The fungal disease, which thrives in hot and moist conditions, robbed farmers of 10 percent of their yield in Alberta and Saskatchewan and five percent in Manitoba. Clint Jurke, an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council […] Read more
