Manure applied to grey soils can make dramatic crop yield increases without leaching problems if applied at the proper rate. That is one finding from a three-year study called Demonstrating Opportunities for Hog Manure Fertilizer in the Grey Soil Zone by the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute in Humboldt and the Department of Soil Sciences at […] Read more
News
Manure an ideal source of nutrients
Commercial show a big attraction
Keith Young thought he might earn a small bonus by taking his cattle to Canadian Western Agribition. When his pen of 10 feeder heifers entered in the commercial cattle show was named grand champion of that category, the bonus was guaranteed. “If you factor in the prize money, we were more than well paid for […] Read more
Fewer entries, lower prices at Boer goat sale
Drought, expensive feed and closed borders took their toll on the Boer goat sale at Canadian Western Agribition last week. Nineteen lots sold for a total of $6,435, although about half of the highest bids initially didn’t meet the reserve price. The high seller was Halamo Mac N128, the reserve grand champion purebred buck, consigned […] Read more
Ag Notes
New NFU youth president National Farmers Union members elected a new youth president at their 34th annual convention. Dave Lewington, 26, a farmer from Brussels, Ont., said in a News release news that he is looking forward to working on the many issues confronting younger farmers. He said his special focus will be on working […] Read more
Soil moisture levels low
Reports of fall soil moisture levels could cause a little dampness around producers’ eyes. The situation is reminiscent of 2001, the driest fall in 100 years. That dehydrated season kicked off the drought of 2002, a crop year that is etched in farmers’ minds like cracks in the ground. “We’re sort of nipping on the […] Read more
Foreign buyers still at Agribition
REGINA – International business at Canadian Western Agribition remains strong despite the underlying presence of the BSE crisis. Stewart Stone of Heartland Livestock, the show’s international chair, said the bovine spongiform encephalopathy border closures and trade disruptions appear to have had little effect on foreign buyers or their interest in Canadian livestock. “Numbers (of foreign […] Read more
Multi-breed shows make for difficult judging
REGINA – The Heartland First Lady Classic, the Beef Supreme Challenge, the beef carcass competition, the Cinderella Classic, Agribition Pen-Arama – these multi-breed cattle events continue to attract crowds and entries at purebred cattle shows across North America. “Excitement. It is exciting. It is unpredictable. It pits our best of breed against theirs,” said Karen […] Read more
Canada penalized for honesty on BSE case
Countries that slammed their borders shut to Canadian beef exports after the May 20 discovery of one case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy were overreacting and not following international rules, says the world body that oversees animal health issues. In effect, Canada has been penalized for being forthright and transparent. Other countries may take note and […] Read more
Trees block hog odours
SHAKESPEARE, Ont. – Trees and shelterbelts around pig barns can be part of the solution to controlling smells, pollution and complaints from neighbours, says an Ontario government specialist. “Trees alone will not resolve the problem of odour,” Todd Leuty of the Ontario ministry of agriculture said Nov. 19. “But shelterbelts do offer a significant tool.” […] Read more
African genetics impress Simmental buyers
REGINA – It may take show judges awhile to get accustomed to the new look of Bar 5 Simmentals, but in the sale barn, buyers know what they like. South African Simmental genetics from Bar 5 have been spicing up sales this fall where Canadian and American breeders have been competing to own some of […] Read more
