Producers concerned with old alfalfa stands dying after several years of production should avoid reseeding directly back to alfalfa. Mature alfalfa plants produce toxins that result in toxicity in the soil, which prevents establishment of new seedlings. “The specific toxin produced is called medicarpin,” said Trevor Lennox, a forage specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. “It is […] Read more
Production
Don’t seed alfalfa on alfalfa stubble
New Products
Cost projection software Cattleman’s Calculator Inc. has introduced a new version of its livestock cost projection software. It is compatible with Microsoft Windows Mobile-based pocket PC computer devices, giving producers an effective portable management tool designed to ensure improved cost control measures and higher profits. The software is divided into modules such as feed costs, […] Read more
Attachments improve telehandler versatility
Telehandlers perform a variety of tasks. An array of work tools transform them into more than just a machine to lift and place loads. Telehandler work tools can be bought or rented. Block forks move materials such as brick, lumber, drywall, pipes and blocks around the job site. Carriages can handle palletized loads, such as […] Read more
Grain cleaning grabs extra bucks
Last year’s harvest filled prairie grain bins with a variety of grades, often from the same field. This can cause big problems, expecially when all those grades end up in the same bin and the samples are likely to rate the lowest grade. That’s the situation Brent Genest found himself in this fall on his […] Read more
Field segregation yields better seed samples
Brent Genest says it takes discipline in the field, along with a good eye for grain, to prevent bad grain from ruining good samples. “Before I came back to the farm, I was a grain buyer for 20 years with UGG and then with Pioneer at Rosetown,” he said. “I learned a lot from farmers […] Read more
Profit drives lentil selection
SASKATOON Ñ When it comes to selecting what kind of lentils to grow, Darren Watson says his golden rule is to make money. “You should make your decisions based on trying to make money, so I choose lentil varieties purely on the profit I think they can create.” Watson, who farms with his dad Ron […] Read more
Lentil grower shares agronomy experience
SASKATOON Ñ Darren Watson lists three Ps of new lentil varieties Ð profit, production and peace of mind. “On our farm, we don’t create wealth until we have $220 per acre in revenue. If you can add an extra 10 percent Ñ Plato does yield 10 percent more than the current varieties out there Ñ […] Read more
Processing feed grains
When feed grain prices are relatively low, producers often wonder whether the added benefit of processing feed grains outweighs the cost. “The main reason that feed grains are processed is to improve the digestibility of whole grains,” said Juanita Kopp, forage and beef specialist at the Alberta Ag-Info Centre in Stettler. “Without cracking the outer […] Read more
New Products
PVC forms Octaform Systems Inc., has developed a new forming system that encloses concrete with PVC. The technology can be used in a variety of construction projects and is ideal for industrial and agricultural applications such as liquid manure tanks, aquaculture tanks, barns and foundation walls. Pre-shaped Octaform panels are easy to attach and can […] Read more
Arsenic in water supply not to be treated lightly – Water Clinic
Arsenic is a natural element that can be found widely in the earth’s crust and is present in all living matter. It is used as an alloy agent in the glass industry, hide tanning process and pesticides and pharmaceuticals. Arsenic can occur naturally in water through the dissolving of minerals and bedrock. It can also […] Read more
