As evolution should dictate, there are substantial benefits to social behaviour in animals, provided that behaviour increases their fitness (or likelihood to reproduce). We see unique social behaviour in many species, including ourselves and our bovine counterparts. In cattle, social behaviours range from grooming to bonding, and witnessed accounts of cows protecting their young and... Read More
Category: Western Canada
This is your friendly neighbourhood public service announcement: go check your bins. For those of you not in Manitoba, spring is arriving...and for those of us in Manitoba, it may arrive soon, I've heard. The warmer (ahem) daytime temps and longer hours of spring sunlight can get bins warming up and, if higher moisture pockets... Read More
Exciting news for youth aged 8-21 in Alberta's beef industry! If you're involved in Beef 4-H, junior cattle shows or beef production, you're eligible to apply for the Alberta Beef Producers' (ABP) "Young Guns Contest." The contest, running until May 30, 2014, is looking for applicants to identify what they see as the biggest challenge... Read More
Adopting warm season crops, like corn, in cool season areas, like Western Canada, takes time, patience and adaptation. The first crucial step is access to shorter season varieties, which we've got, but from there the nutrient/pest/harvest management trial and error learning has to follow. Hear & download more Agronomy Geeks podcasts by clicking here Grain... Read More
Good spray quality is essential in application, but all of the factors involved can make getting there quite a challenge. In reviewing magazines, you may see that publishers will bold a certain pressure (like 40psi). They do this not because that is the pressure the nozzle must experience, but because that is the pressure at... Read More
DuPont Crop Protection has announced its Coragen insecticide has been approved for use on cereal crops in Canada for control of grasshoppers, armyworms and cutworms. The new registration also includes a label expansion for use of Coragen on the rest of Crop Group 1 (root and tuber vegetables), and an update for use on... Read More
Cattle producers all along the supply chain now have access to a new, free market prices app based on historical Canfax data. Using Canadian pricing and continually updating with new pricing information, the CanFax CFX Pro mobile app is applicable and useful for all Canadian cattle producers, says Brian Perillat, with Canfax. Developed with industry... Read More
Cigi's board of directors announced today the retirement of Earl Geddes, chief executive officer (CEO), effective September 8, 2014. Since 2009, Geddes has led Cigi through a challenging period including a transition in marketing from the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly era to an open marketing system for wheat and barley in Western Canada. Also, during... Read More
Canola seed size has climbed in recent years from a once-common 4 grams per 1,000 kernel weight to north of 7 grams per 1,000 seeds. What does that mean to you, the farmer? It means that if you've stuck with your typical four pounds per acre seeding rate (and there are good reasons to do... Read More
As seeding approaches, one of the most common topics I hear discussed is vigour. A vigourous plant stand comes from a healthy seed that is out of the ground and competing in a timely fashion. This can mean fewer days to maturity, quicker ground cover, better weed competition, a more robust rooting system better able... Read More