Body condition scoring (BCS) is not a new tool to the livestock industry, by any stretch, but like so many other management indicators, it continues to evolve. In the last decade, researchers have learned that cows have a genetically determined "set point," something they refer to as "Target BCS." According to research conducted in 2007... Read More
Category: Western Canada
There's a new name for the canola disease that first showed up in Canada in a research plot in Manitoba in 2014. Caused by the fungus Verticillium longisporum, the disease was referred to by its common name in Europe: verticillium wilt. The problem is it doesn't appear to cause wilting in canola. "The symptoms that... Read More
Clean Seed Capital Group is celebrating the completion of its first production model CX-6 SMART Seeder in Steinbach, Manitoba. Company executives and dignitaries were on hand for a commercial launch ceremony on Tuesday at WS Steel Manufacturing, the company hired to build 100 units over the next three years. For distribution, Clean Seed signed a... Read More
In this week’s Word, Peter Johnson, resident agronomist for RealAgriculture, examines everything from weather impacts to phosphorous management. And yes, you do have some homework this week. Have a question for Wheat Pete? Call 1-888-746-3311, send him a tweet (@wheatpete), or email him at peter.johnson@bell.net. Highlights: 01:00 Flooding in Ontario. Erosion, erosion, erosion. 01:57 Red... Read More
The Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board has reached a deal to buy 40 percent of Glencore's agricultural business, which includes Viterra, for US$2.5 billion. "We are pleased to be partnering with CPPIB as we embark on the next stage of the development of Glencore Agri," said Glencore CEO Ivan Glasenberg in a statement early Wednesday... Read More
Flax could have an important role in improving reproductive performance in dairy cattle. Research studies looking at including flax oil in dairy rations in Alberta, BC and Oregon showed "mixed results, but in all three studies we found reductions in pregnancy losses," explains Divakar Ambrose in the interview below. Ambrose, a dairy research scientist with... Read More
John Deere wins at the Agritechnica's 2015 Innovation Awards had RealAgriculture representatives hopping in Hanover, Germany in November. You've already seen footage from their ProCut technology and their GoHarvest combine simulation system. In this episode of the TechTour, we move over to forage production, and Deere's "Active Fill Control Sync" (AFC Sync). Don't Miss Out:... Read More
While I tend to be pretty hard on companies and organizations that use fear-marketing to get a product off the shelf, I probably don’t give enough credit to those that market positively. McDonalds' plan to source Verified Sustainable Beef is one I’ve got some hope for. Their Vice-President of Sustainability says in a video “We... Read More