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Buying last year’s hay — is it a good deal?
Sitting in the yard or field for an extra year has likely changed the feed value
Each year, as spring approaches and hay stocks begin to dwindle, hay prices increase and some year-old stored hay comes on the market. Producers should test before buying, says Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “While the feed may have initially been put up very well, sitting in the
Hand signals a good farm safety tool
Communication is vital to worker safety in any situation, particularly in a fast-paced environment such as on a farm or ranch. Distracting surroundings can prevent important messages from getting through. Distance, noise and distractions from moving livestock, hooking up farm implements or navigating an oversized load, significantly reduce a worker’s ability to hear another worker.
Price now or price later? A primer on DDCs
A deferred delivery contract can lock in a profit, but also prevents cashing in on future price increases
Adeferred delivery contract (DDC) is the most popular type of grain-marketing contract provided by grain buyers. A DDC, as they are often called, locks in the price for a certain quantity of a base grade of grain to be delivered to a certain location at some date in the future. “Advantages of a DDC areAlberta producers reminded of excess moisture program deadline
Alberta Agriculture has reminded the province’s farmers that Sept. 30 is the deadline for applications under the Canada Alberta Excess Moisture Initiative II (CAEMI II) program to aid producers dealing with excess spring moisture that resulted in unseeded acres and/or seeded acres being lost to flood. CAEMI II will provide $30 per eligible acre in
Biofuel Standards Will Affect Farmers
The Renewable Fuel Standards will have an effect on farmers. The federal mandate is that there is a renewable fuel quantity that must be added to fossil fuel, for gasoline a five per cent ethanol blend will be added and for biodiesel a two per cent blend will be added to diesel. These amounts are
Will It Pay To Retain Or Purchase Heifers?
Better prices have returned to the cattle industry, and last fall, bred heifers were selling in the $1,100 to $1,350 range with some reports at $1,450. “When your heifer comes off pasture next fall and comparable animals are selling for $1,350 to $1,450, you need to know whether or not you should keep her or
Rancher’s Return Software Updated
Anew decision support tool to assist cattle producers in calculating their cost of production and break-even prices, has been posted to Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s website. The new tool is an updated version of the highly successful Rancher’s Return excel spreadsheet calculator. “The 2011 version extends the initial cow-calf analysis further through the supply
Feed ‘Em Or Ship ‘Em? Program Helps Decide
At this time of year, cattle producers are probably thinking about how slowly winter is moving and how quickly the feed stack is disappearing. Some tough decisions may have to be made before grazing starts again in late spring – buy more high-priced hay to hold the herd over or pull the trigger and sell
Winter pulse research in Alberta
The advantages of growing spring types of pulses in cropping systems on the prairies are well known. Pulses include field pea, lentil, chickpea, dry bean, faba bean and lupin. These crops are unique in that they biologically fix atmospheric nitrogen N2 through a mutually beneficial relationship with rhizobium bacteria on the root hairs. The inclusion
With roots going back to 1925, each weekly issue of the Manitoba Co-operator contains production, marketing and policy news selected for relevance to crops and livestock producers in Manitoba.