With the American border closed to Canadian cattle, producers have larger herds. So reports of ample feed supplies should come as welcome news.
For the first time in years, prairie farmers are pleased with their first cut of hay. As the initial forage period winds down, producers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are reporting above average yields, while those in Alberta expect an average crop.
According to the cattle industry analysis firm Canfax, cattle producers will feed an extra 500,000 head this fall. A poor first cut of hay would have driven feed costs through the roof.
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Haying operations are almost complete in Manitoba where producers are “very, very, happy” with what they’ve been getting, said Pamela Iwanchysko, provincial forage specialist for the northwest region. “The yields have been phenomenal.”
Some growers report yields of three tonnes per acre, well above average.
“With it being so cool earlier this spring, we thought there would be nothing coming in. It’s been a real relief considering we’ve had two years of dry weather,” said Iwanchysko.
Crop regrowth in the northwest is off to a good start, demonstrating potential for a good second cut of hay. The only negative news is that rain may have damaged some of the first cut.
“I would highly recommend for guys to feed test so they know what the quality is,” she said.
The first estimate of hay yields in Saskatchewan indicates dryland brome-alfalfa should average 1.5 tonnes per acre, which is 50 percent above the 10-year average.
Al Foster, range and forage agrologist for the northeastern portion of Saskatchewan, estimates yields are slightly above 1.5 tonnes per acre in his region.
“Up in this country it’s definitely a better year than the last three or four.”
Harvest is a little later than normal, delayed by frequent showers, but what crop has come off appears plentiful.
“The guys are looking to replenish some supplies that they’ve used up. There seems to be more cows on the farm these days so they definitely needed a good year,” said Foster.
Mark MacNaughton, branch head of Alberta Agriculture’s Ag-Info Centre, said growers in that province didn’t get off to as good a start as their counterparts to the east.
“We’ve certainly received pretty good moisture in the last month, but we needed it 21/2 months ago to make a hay crop.”
Yields and quality are variable. The crop is in good shape in the west and the south but is suffering in eastern and northwestern areas of Alberta.
Excessive rains have delayed harvest, with haying getting under way around the middle of July. MacNaughton expects average yields on a province-wide basis.
Considering that there was virtually no harvest in 2002 and a reduced crop in 2003, farmers aren’t complaining about the 2004 prognosis.
“It’s nice to have something to cut,” said MacNaughton.
There won’t be much of a second cut for dryland hay producers in Alberta, but growers in the south should be able to get out in the fields again.
“They did take some damage with the rain on their first cut, but I think they’ll be doing fairly well down there for the second cut.”
