Millet might not be an ingredient in prairie recipes, but it is part of the daily diets of people elsewhere in the world. It is also a staple in many bird feeders. Italian (Setaria italica) and Proso millet (Panicum milaceum) are major components of bird seed mixes, but are not generally grown in Saskatchewan because […] Read more
Stories by Saskatchewan Agriculture
Manure good option for fertilizing forages
Cattle manure may have a future as “brown gold” if current trends in fertilizer and natural gas prices are considered. “With fertilizer prices continuing to rise because of high gas prices, the value outlook for cattle manure looks more promising than ever,” said Trevor Lennox, a forage industry development specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. The production […] Read more
Rejuvenate seeded pasture and hayland
The rejuvenation options facing producers when their seeded pasture or hayland declines after the first few years need not be as dramatic as one might expect, says Al Foster, a forage development specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. “In older stands, the reduction in yield is often a result of a loss of the seeded species,” Foster […] Read more
Late seeding promotes mildew in peas
Two distinct growth stages are occurring in Saskatchewan pea crops this year. The 2005 season got off to a quick start on many farms as growers seeded in early April to reduce the risk of early fall frost. Then the cool wet weather came along, and the balance of pea seeding was delayed until late […] Read more
New findings on grazing cereals
It was a question for which there was no definitive answer. Should livestock producers grow annual cereals for feed and graze their cattle throughout the season, or should they grow the cereals to the milk or soft dough stage, cut them and swath graze or bale them? Saskatchewan Agriculture has an answer. “There is more […] Read more
Scouting fields for early-season insects a must
Scouting for potential insect problems early in the year is important because plants are small and more vulnerable. However, it can be a difficult job. “In the spring, insects are smaller and often below the soil surface, where methods for determining population levels tend to be more labour intensive,” said Scott Hartley, Saskatchewan Agriculture’s provincial […] Read more
Yellowfeed shows promise as harvesting alternative
Yellowfeed is the name given to a new method of harvesting an annual cereal crop for hay. The idea is showing some promise, said Lorne Klein, a Saskatchewan Agriculture forage development specialist. “The traditional method of harvesting annual cereals for hay or greenfeed is to cut and crimp the crop at the milk-soft dough stage, […] Read more
Resist off-label pesticide use
When using pesticides, yielding to temptation may not result in the desired outcome. Producers might have on hand a pesticide approved for barley, wheat or oats that they are thinking of using for canaryseed. Canaryseed is, after all, another grass crop. However, if there has been no research supporting its use on canaryseed, the producer […] Read more
Application of hog manure likely sustainable practice
A new study provides encouraging news about how repeated swine manure applications affect crop production, soil and environmental quality in Saskatchewan. Results show that manure applied at agronomic rates is a sustainable management practice. The rate of application must be in balance with crop nutrient needs. Jeff Schoenau, soil scientist at the University of Saskatchewan, […] Read more
Oilseeds can be used in feed
Saskatchewan cattle feeders are getting a first-hand look at the latest developments in supplementing cattle rations with oilseeds. The Prairie Feed Resource Centre in Saskatoon recently organized feedlot tours that included the Pound-Maker Agventures feedlot in Lanigan, Sask. The centre is hoping to increase awareness of the benefits of integrating more edible oil crops in […] Read more
