LANGHAM, Sask. — The session at the Ag in Motion farm show near Saskatoon was titled “Uncover the secrets below your soil’s surface.” Mark Kuehn, project manager with Trimble’s Ag Business Solutions sector, was tasked with explaining how that can be done and how Trimble has done it for various clients. The company uses a […] Read more
Author Archives
Strychnine ban for gophers pondered
Health Canada proposes to end the use of strychnine to control ground squirrels and is seeking public input on the matter until Sept. 27. The proposal stems from a regular review of pesticides under the Pest Management Regulatory Agency. In its consultation document, Health Canada said strychnine kills ground squirrels, also commonly called gophers, but […] Read more
Wasp may take sting out of lygus damage
Researchers in Alberta are studying if a parasitic wasp will attack lygus bugs and protect canola and alfalfa crops
Lygus bugs can adversely affect many types of crops and work is underway to see if a parasitic wasp called peristenus can become a natural control for the pests. Hector Carcamo, research scientist at Agriculture Canada in Lethbridge, said peristenus successfully attacked lygus in laboratory-grown canola and alfalfa. Now he is studying how and whether […] Read more
Alta. researchers on the hunt for shorter alfalfa
Shortening the distance between nodes on an alfalfa plant reduces its height but produces the same number of flowers
BROOKS, Alta. — Researchers are testing four types of plant growth regulators on alfalfa this year to gauge their potential for shorter stands and reduced lodging. Brad Alexander, in charge of research and extension with the Alberta Alfalfa Seed Commission, told growers on a July 24 summer tour that PGRs had shown promise in greenhouse […] Read more
Heat stress requires extra animal care
Prevent heat stress by providing adequate water for outdoor dwellers and air movement for indoor dwellers
Dairy cattle and pigs breathe harder, beef cattle lie around and eat less, and all of them drink lots of water when temperatures rise above 25 C. Those physical responses aren’t surprising but the potential for heat stress in livestock should be monitored, according to veterinarians. Cooler nights are the saving grace for most western […] Read more
Swift foxes found in Alberta
At least five swift foxes are now resident in southeastern Alberta, a species that was declared locally extinct within Canada in the 1930s. Cameras erected on property managed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada photographed the foxes in an area south of Medicine Hat and about 50 kilometres west of the Saskatchewan border in late […] Read more
Producers may be forced to look for strychnine alternatives
Health Canada proposes to end the use of strychnine to control ground squirrels and is seeking public input on the matter until Sept. 27. The proposal stems from a regular review of pesticides under the Pest Management Regulatory Agency. In its consultation document, Health Canada said strychnine kills ground squirrels but it also kills non-target […] Read more
Traces of PED a ‘serious heads up’ for Sask. hog farmers
Two positive samples of the virus were found last week in the province on a livestock trailer and a truck wash
The truth is out there: evidence of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus continues to appear. Two positive samples found last week in Saskatchewan serve as a reminder that hog producers should be vigilant about biosecurity. No Saskatchewan pigs had contracted the virus as of July 30. The samples were found in a truck wash and on […] Read moreMilitary base makes fire aftermath promises
Canadian Forces Base Suffield is taking steps to be a better neighbour after causing a fire last fall that destroyed livestock, pasture, feed, fences and outbuildings outside the base. The Sept. 11-12 blaze, started when base personnel detonated an artillery shell during dry, windy conditions, burned about 90,000 of acres to the north and east […] Read more
Alfalfa seed crop yields up, prices down
This year’s alfalfa seed crop looks to be average to somewhat above average, based on its appearance, but surplus seed from previous good crops has lowered prices. “I’m hearing guys thinking that its going to be another above average year, but at the same time a lot of guys have ripped out acres and they’re […] Read more
MEMBERSHIP