A light sprinkle of rain fell as the first two truckloads of alfalfa-timothy hay from Ontario arrived at Merlis Wiebe’s farm northeast of Osler, Sask., on Sept. 10. They are part of Hay West, a new program from Mennonite Disaster Service to help drought-affected farmers in Saskatchewan. The initiative is a repeat of 2012 Hay […] Read more
Author Archives
Corn grazing needs the right variety
A seed company says 90 to 95 percent of corn hybrids are bred to be combined rather than used as silage or grazing
Is your corn bred for the herd or the combine? That’s the question Tyler Russell of NorthStar Genetics asked during Ag in Motion’s Livestock Days, held at the Discovery Farm site near Langham, Sask., Aug. 20-21. “We find there’s a lot of corn bred for a combine or for a grain versus corn bred for […] Read more
Farm family downsized to be more efficient
On the Farm: Couple say their imminent debt-free status and anticipated extra income will allow for creative thinking
QUILL LAKE, Sask. — It was a choice of getting bigger or getting more efficient. Dwight and Tanya Odelein decided the latter in 2012 by downsizing from 3,300 acres to 2,400 so they could manage all the labour on their grain farm by themselves. “It wasn’t easy to find hired men and Dad was starting […] Read more
Hybrid rye varieties may offer new feeding opportunities
New hybrid fall ryes on the market are outshining older varieties in every way, says the director of commercialization for FP Genetics in Regina. “They’re not your grandfather’s rye,” said Herman Wehrle. “The exciting thing about this is the new technology that’s bringing in higher yields and improved quality, which is definitely a game changer […] Read more
Genetics, feed help build top cows
Nutritional developments in the beef sector have evolved in step with producers’ genetic and mating decisions
Cows and race cars have something in common — their build and their inputs are part of a winning formula and optimum performance. “Making modifications to your car is like making genetic improvements to your cow. Make sure you are also putting in the right kind of fuel (nutrition),” said Kajal Devani, director of breed […] Read more
Make the most of all your acres
There’s nothing like drought to hammer home a point. Quit wasting money growing annual crops in marginal areas, advises Lyle Cowell, Nutrien’s manager of agronomy services. Instead, farmers should focus resources on the best acres and use marginal land to grow forages. “It’s a simple concept, but I don’t hear too many people talking about […] Read more
Doctor had lifelong love of birds
Stuart Houston loved to band birds. With more than seven decades of banding a bevy of feathered friends, Houston always thought retirement was for the birds, as he once said in a media interview. The medical doctor and long-time bird enthusiast died in July at age 95. Houston was born in North Dakota where his […] Read more
Small-town show hits the big time
Perdue, Sask., show becomes Agribition’s only qualifying event in Saskatchewan this summer amid COVID cancellations
The cattle show in Perdue, Sask., stepped up and out this year. For the first time in its 64-year history, the July 23-24 show was designated a Beef Supreme qualifying show for this year’s Western Canadian Agribition, the only qualifying show in Saskatchewan this summer. “It’s exciting for a little ag society to get this […] Read more
Farmers embrace treaty land sharing process
Network aims to foster understanding between producers and Indigenous people by welcoming them to use farmland
A seed of hope was planted on a small mixed farm near Bladworth, Sask., earlier this month as the first sign for the Treaty Land Sharing Network was unveiled. Farmers, ranchers and Indigenous land users gathered at the McCreary family farm to witness the launch of a grassroots movement dedicated to share land as treaties […] Read more
Tech called a game-changer for ag
Food companies are using technology to push boundaries and make production more sustainable, reliable and secure
Compared to cattle, crickets punch far above their weight as a source of protein. “There’s a biological organism that is arguably the most ancient source of protein that humans have ever consumed in recorded history that has the most efficient feed-to-protein conversion and that is insects,” said Muhammad Ashour, co-founder and chief executive officer of […] Read more
