Saskatchewan Agriculture

Research at the University of Saskatchewan is helping herb and spice growers develop better crops. Gene Arganosa, research officer at the Crop Development Centre at the university, has completed a three-year project on developing the spice industry in Saskatchewan. Along with collaborators Al Slinkard, professor emeritus at CDC, and Frank Sosulski, professor emeritus in the […] Read more

Prairie vegetable growers are finding it difficult to control damage by root maggots using registered pesticides or accepted production practices, says Doug Waterer, a vegetable crops specialist with the department of plant sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. Waterer has attempted to develop an integrated control strategy using innovative chemical and cultural control methods. “Although […] Read more

North Dakota and southwestern Saskatchewan might be close geographically, but warm-season grasses native to the state don’t necessarily survive the winter north of the border. That was one finding in a five-year project by the South West Saskatchewan Forage Co-operative Association Ltd. “There is interest in the warm-season grasses that grow naturally in North Dakota: […] Read more

Cattle grazing on post-harvest stubble fields are a common sight at this time of year. It is an idyllic scene in the golden light of late fall, but the situation may not be as safe as it appears. “After spring seeding, excess treated seed is sometimes dumped at the edge of a field or slough […] Read more

The 1998 chickpea harvest might be in the bin, but producers can’t relax yet, says Ray McVicar, provincial special crops specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. “Experienced chickpea processors are warning producers to closely watch their chickpeas in storage,” he said. “There could be considerable change in the results of the percentage moisture test over time, so […] Read more

The call for changes in cattle injection-site practices has been issued many times, but it appears livestock producers and veterinarians are either not hearing or are ignoring the message, said a consultant for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s Quality Starts Here program. Veterinarian Joyce Van Donkersgoed said the latest of the four injection-site surveys conducted since […] Read more

Many areas of the northern grain belt face a long and costly winter feeding period. Harvesting, baling, storing and handling hay, as well as transporting manure are labor intensive and increase the fuel requirements and equipment inventory. “But recent work in western Alberta has indicated there is potential for extending the grazing season by stockpiling […] Read more

A shortened, easier to read version of Nutrient Content and Digestibility of Saskatchewan Range Plants is now available. The report is based on a three-year study conducted by the Grazing and Pasture Technology Program in co-operation with Agriculture Canada’s Semi-Arid Prairie Agriculture Research Centre in Swift Current, Sask. Author and program manager Zoheir Abouguendia said […] Read more

Due to this year’s early harvest, many stubble fields will be ready for planting winter cereals earlier than usual. This is ideal timing, said Ken Panchuk, soil specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. Success with winter cereals requires more than just good timing, however. “The key is shallow planting. Shallow planting into standing stubble provides the best […] Read more

Sheep producers have new technology that can help them breed for meat with less fat and more muscle. At a ram evaluation seminar sponsored by the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board, 30 sheep producers learned about ultrasound technology as a way of measuring a ram’s loin-eye depth. The size of the loin eye, or chop area, […] Read more