Rick Bieber, a farmer from South Dakota, spoke at Western Canada Conference on Soil Health about the many practices he has implemented to improve his soil on his operation.
Tag Archives pastures
South Dakota farmer focuses on soil biology
Retired farmer Rick Bieber spoke at the Western Canada Conference on Grazing and Soil Health
Pasture knowledge refined to reflect Ontario’s climate
University of Guelph, OMAFRA research uses rising plate meters to accurately measure pasture yield
A team of researchers aims to fine-tune recommendations for rotational grazing in Ontario and a key piece of that research is a tool called a rising plate meter. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) forage and grazing specialist Christine O’Reilly outlined use of the rising plate meter during a plot tour Sept. […] Read more
Can small pasture management changes help grassland birds?
Researchers try several strategies this summer with mixed success
The bobolink and other declining avian grassland species have received assistance from farmers and conservation researchers in Grey County. Through a $62,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Bird Ecology and Conservation Ontario (BECO) – a non-profit conservation organization – has been working with landowners to identify nest locations and bird population numbers in the […] Read more
Pasture profits lost if precision practices ignored
Research needed to fill knowledge gaps to hasten precision data adoption
The speed at which green grass grows could translate into higher profits if producers implement precision pasture management. “The knowledge gap is the first hurdle to overcome to get to precision pasture management”, says Christine O’Reilly, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) forage and grazing specialist. Why it matters: Forages have seen […] Read more
Riding the learning curve on pasture cost of production
The first year will be the toughest, but after that figuring costs should be easier
Farmers may have to rethink some common cost-of-production parameters, but it should be possible to accurately track the financial impact of growing pastures. Grazing specialists explored cost-of-production parameters during a panel discussion at the March Profitable Pastures conference, put on by the Ontario Forage Council in Mount Forest. Why it matters: Soil health can benefit […] Read more
Hay shortage in Manitoba Interlake reaches tipping point
MarketsFarm — A state of agricultural emergency has been declared in 12 municipalities, mostly in Manitoba’s Interlake region, due to chronically low hay yields. Drought and grasshoppers have hindered crops to the point that hay production is about 25 to 30 per cent of average. “We’ve moved cows out of pastures because the grasshoppers ate […] Read more
Prairie drought reaches tipping point
MarketsFarm — The Prairie provinces have been under the influence of a large ridge of high pressure for a number of weeks, which has produced prolonged dryness with little precipitation. That high pressure system has pushed low-pressure, precipitation-carrying systems to the south, where the U.S. Midwest has already received significant rain. Environment Canada estimated the […] Read more
Forage supplies starting to dip on dry Prairies
CNS Canada — Forage supplies are starting to dwindle across Western Canada following a long, cold, winter and rain is needed soon to make for a good forage crop this year. “People tended to kind of blend hay this year and they managed to get through. But the prolonged cold spring really I think put […] Read more
U.S. cattle placements hit 16-year high for February
Chicago | Reuters — Ranchers drove 7.3 per cent more cattle into U.S. feedlots in February than a year ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on Friday, the most for the month in 16 years. Persistent drought in the U.S. Plains withered winter wheat grazing pastures, which forced beef cattle into feedyards in states […] Read more
Hay shortage could make for difficult winter
CNS Canada — Many cattle producers looking for local feed this winter might have a difficult time, according to a Saskatchewan provincial forage specialist. However, producers further north in the grey and black soil zones, and those in Alberta producing high-quality feed for export, saw near-record hay production. Terry Kowalchuk of Saskatchewan Agriculture in Regina […] Read more
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