Farmers are expected to double the number of acres seeded this spring
to Roundup Ready corn for fall grazing, said a Monsanto spokesperson.
“The amount of acres is up significantly across the West,” said Trish
Jordan of Winnipeg.
In most areas, farmers plan to double the amount of Roundup Ready corn
planted over last year. But in parts of central Alberta bookings are up
seven fold.
Jordan said the numbers are relative. There was little Roundup Ready
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corn seed available for planting last year and few acres were seeded
last year.
Farmers across the Prairies are taking a closer look at seeding corn to
extend their fall grazing season.
In the fall, corn is left standing and cattle eat the stalks. Allowing
the cattle to graze the corn in the field reduces the expense of
cutting and hauling feed to the cattle.
Roundup Ready corn varieties allow farmers to manage weeds by spraying
the crop with Roundup and not harming the corn.
“It’s intriguing to farmers as a new way to graze,” said Jordan.
This will be the third year Ryley, Alta., farmer Gordon Pope has seeded
corn for his cattle to graze, but the first year he plans to seed a
Roundup Ready variety. In the past two years he has sown conventional
corn but had difficulty with weeds.
“It’s hard to control weeds. The corn is spaced out and there’s lots of
room for weeds,” said Pope, who plans to seed 10 to 12 acres of Roundup
Ready corn this spring.
“If it works I’ll probably seed more.”
