VERMILION, Alta. — Figuring out the best time to cut hay is an individual decision, but weather and desired feed quality are important considerations to get the best possible product. “It depends on the performance you need to get out of the cows you are feeding,” said Leila Hickman, an animal science instructor at Lakeland […] Read more
Tag Archives grazing — page 3
Zero in on alfalfa to maximize hay quality
Preparing for swath grazing
Picture it: the cattle out feeding themselves on swaths this winter while you, the cattle rancher, have that extra cup of morning java without having to face the cold, start the tractor and haul bales. And it’s cheaper too, given that 65 to 75 percent of cattle production costs come from feed, pasture and bedding. […] Read more
Producer puts plants to work as solar panels
Saskatchewan producer says he has found ways to keep things greener longer and capture more energy from the sun
LACOMBE, Alta. — When Blain Hjertaas converted from grain production to holistic grazing management, his main goal was to fix the soil on his Saskatchewan farm. “There is no place on earth that we know about where we can’t fix land,” he said at a recent holistic grazing management conference in Lacombe. “I do it […] Read more
Ranchers fear park grazing in jeopardy
Ranchers in southwestern Alberta say they want details on the future of grazing in the new Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park, an area where grazing leases have been held for a century in some cases. The Alberta government finalized the boundaries of the two parks Jan. 20 at an announcement in Pincher […] Read more
Methane reduction boosts bottom line
LANIGAN, Sask. — Greenhouse gas emissions and climate change mitigation are two phrases that have the potential to cause anxiety among Canadian producers. However, grain growers and ranchers shouldn’t assume that reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the farm will necessarily result in higher operating costs and lower profits. In fact, the exact opposite may be […] Read more
Hoof power takes care of poplar regrowth
PROGRESS, B.C. — Glenn Hogberg used hoof power instead of horsepower to clear the wood regrowth in his poplar-logged fields. His cattle turned the rough land into pasture through intensive grazing. “The idea is to get the cows to do as much as they can do,” said Hogberg, who farms near Progress, B.C., west of […] Read more
