Saskatchewan producers are becoming more interested in incorporating nitrogen-fixing fababeans into their rotations. An estimated 15,000 acres were planted in the province last year, up from 10,000 acres in 2008. Although fababeans are the most efficient nitrogen-fixing grain crop on the Prairies, little research has been done on the benefits of including them in rotations. […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
Sask. expects few pest issues
Saskatchewan farmers will face the usual assortment of insect threats this year, but only a few are forecast to cause significant damage. Brent Flaten, the province’s integrated pest management specialist, told the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association annual conference which pests to watch out for and where. Forecast maps are posted on the Saskatchewan Agriculture website. […] Read more
Crop insurance includes honey
Saskatchewan honey producers are now eligible for yield loss coverage through the provincial crop insurance program. The province’s 150 commercial beekeepers produce about 17 million pounds of honey a year, representing 30 percent of Canada’s honey production. Tim Wendell, chair of the Saskatchewan Beekeepers Development Commission, said few producers have carried insurance from private companies […] Read more
New crops under insurance umbrella
Three crops have been added to Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation’s coverage list for the upcoming season. Camelina, soybeans and navy beans are now all insurable, agricultural minister Bob Bjornerud said last week. In 2009, producers planted 25,000 acres of camelina, 15,000 acres of soybeans and 2,000 acres of navy beans. Bjornerud announced details of the […] Read more
Lackluster bulls are costly
MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Cattle producers spend a lot of money on bulls and should be sure they are getting quality for that investment. A breeding soundness exam is key, several speakers said at a recent bull selection workshop. John McKinnon, beef industry research chair at the University of Saskatchewan, said the exam, including a […] Read more
Good year-round nutrition helps bulls get job done
MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Bulls need attention even after they have finished their job in the breeding pasture. John McKinnon, beef industry research chair at the University of Saskatchewan, told a recent bull selection workshop in Moose Jaw that producers sometimes pull bulls from the pasture and then forget about them. “Don’t ignore the bull […] Read more
Choosing ideal bull
MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Choosing the correct sire is an important decision. A cow contributes a single calf each year, but a mature bull can produce more than 25 calves in the same period and influence the direction of a cow herd. Garner Deobald of Hawkeye Land and Livestock near Hodgeville, Sask., says producers should […] Read more
Forage researchers urge more funding
Bruce Coulman probably doesn’t tell a lot of people how old he is, but in his profession age is becoming an issue. The head of plant sciences at the University of Saskatchewan is 60. He’s one of six forage researchers at public institutions in Canada. Five of them are at least his age or older. […] Read more
SaskPower struggles with line relocation backlog
A program to bury power lines in Saskatchewan farmyards was so popular last year that it went over budget and still has a lengthy waiting list. Mike Mamona, SaskPower’s construction supervisor of field services, said 199 names were on the waiting list for the first-come, first-paid program as of Dec. 31. “It tells me that […] Read more
Livestock gets $2.5 million for research
Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund has allocated $2.5 million for 21 livestock and forage research projects. Agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud said the money has leveraged another $1.5 million in third-party funding. The money will fund cattle, forage, swine, meat processing, bison and sheep research. Most of it – $1.7 million – is going to the University […] Read more
