Have feed tested
This year, livestock producers may use more unusual feeds such as canola, straw and slough hay to feed their animals, partly due to the hay shortage. Producers should test feed to ensure proper nutrition is provided to animals.
“Knowing the quality of the forage being used this winter is going to be critical to make it through on a short feed supply,” says Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist at Alberta Agriculture’s Ag-Info Centre.
With many canola crops containing large amounts of second growth and not expected to be combined, crops are taken for silage or green feed. These crops need to be tested for the standard nutrients: protein; acid detergent fibre; neutral detergent fibre; calcium; phosphorous; magnesium; potassium, and, sodium. This is no different than for any other forage.
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Yaremcio cautions to keep a particular eye out for certain nutrients when testing as they could have a broader impact on overall animal health. “Additionally, canola is known to have the potential to contain higher nitrate levels, as it’s fertilized more than other crops, so it’s important to check them.”
Alta. wheat commission funds research
Wheat research in Western Canada has received a $970,000 funding boost from the Alberta Wheat Commission.
The money, to be made available over a five-year period, will fund 13 projects that focus on agronomic and genetic improvements to the crop, according to a commission news release.
The research will be done at centres across the West.
Chair Kent Erickson said research investment is a key priority for the commission because it leads to new and better varieties and helps maintain Canada’s competitive edge in wheat markets.
Projects will include studies on plant growth regulators, fusarium head blight resistance, soft white spring wheat variety development, gluten strength, fighting rust infection and other aspects of genomics and agronomics relating to wheat.
Funding for six of the projects will come through the Agriculture Funding Consortium, which comprises 13 Alberta organizations, said the news release. Seven others will be independently funded.
The Alberta Wheat Commission’s contributions come from producer checkoffs.
For more information, visit www.albertawheat.com/research/awc-funded-research-projects/.
Tour offered
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry is organizing the 2015 Best Practices Tour, which is scheduled for Oct. 20-21, 2015, in Edmonton.
“If your company is seeking ways to increase productivity and global competitiveness, this will be a great opportunity to tour various agri-food processors that have successfully implemented lean thinking, and lean and green principles,” said Lisa Iwanyk, development officer with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.
The program includes visits to three agri-processing facilities, as well as networking and educational sessions.
Scheduled site tours include Crust Craft Inc., Kitchen Partners Limited and The Little Potato Company.
The registration fee is $25.
For more information, contact Lisa at 780-968-3511.
Apiculturist recognized
Medhat Nasr, the Alberta provincial apiculturist, was recently recognized for his con-tributions to beekeeping.
The Roger A. Morse Outstanding Teaching/Extension Service/Regulatory Award given by the Eastern Apicultural Society of North America (EAS) recognizes individuals in teaching/extension and/or regulatory activity in the field of apiculture.
The award committee based its decision on Medhat’s work over two decades of research, teaching and extension as tech transfer apiculturist with the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association, extension specialist at Rutgers University and as Alberta’s provincial apiculturist,” said Jim Bobb, chair of the EAS.
“I would personally like to thank you for sharing your work with formic acid treatments to control Varroa mites when other treatments were failing us in Pennsylvania. You gave us the tools we needed to keep our bees alive,” Bobb said.
Medhat has been the provincial apiculturist in Alberta for the past 13 years.
Award for agriculture
Farm Management Canada and the Canadian Association of Diploma in Agriculture Programs (CADAP) recently announced the 2015-16 Excellence Award for Agricultural Students.
It is designed to encourage students to improve critical thinking, communication and leadership skills through a national competition.
FMC and CADAP are collecting submissions from agricultural students across Canada and will award three winners with scholarships.
Students are asked to submit a multimedia presentation, a video, a Twitter chat, a blog or a Wiki, responding to the following questions:
What top three priorities should Canada’s agricultural industry focus on to be a leading agricultural body going forward? How will you, as a new graduate, positively contribute to these priorities?
To take part in the competition, apply on the FMC website.
All applications must be received no later than May 6, 2016.
For more information, contact Mathieu Lipari, program manager, Farm Management Canada, at 613-237-9060 ext. 24.
