Lured by the promise of cheap and plentiful natural gas, more hopefuls are jumping into the nitrogen fertilizer production. Earlier this spring, Northern Plains Nitrogen (NPN) launched plans for building a $1.5 billion North Dakota project, and in mid-September, CHS Inc., the largest farmer co-op in the United States, unveiled its plan to open a
Nitrogen plants popping up like mushrooms
New Ranchers’ Forum targets wider audience
It’s time to move beyond just moving cattle, say organizers. The Manitoba Forage Council’s annual Grazing School, an event that in years past showcased the latest advances in pasture and forage production, has been renamed Ranchers’ Forum to reflect a new focus aimed at incorporating more aspects of livestock production. “Basically, we’re looking at a
Electric fencing tips to keep your goats from roaming
Expert recommends five strands of heavy-gauge, high-tensile wire with proper grounding for containing a herd of climbers, leapers and stubborn old billies
Good goats love to roam and you need a fence that’s up to the job. Characteristics that make goats effective at grazing rough pastures — such as aggressive feeding habits and the ability to stand on their hind legs — also means they like to explore new areas and will jump and climb and otherwiseMinto goat dairy hit by brazen theft
Owner seeks public’s help in locating 48, all-white, weanling Saanen does stolen in July This time, nobody is pointing the finger at coyotes. Sometime between July 14 and 22, 48 white Saanen kids out of a herd of 600 owned by Oak Island Acres goat dairy in Minto went missing in what owner Diane Rourke
Herds get paid to graze
Eric Weisbeck had one big problem on the 17,000-acre community pasture he manages — brush was taking over. Brian Payne had a simple solution — 700 of his goats. “And then when he told me that I wouldn’t have to do a whole bunch of fencing, I was even more in favour of that,” said
Coyotes no excuse for staying out of the booming sheep and goat sectors
Gord Schroeder says predation losses can’t be totally eliminated, but good management can keep them to a minimum
Demand for sheep and goats is sky high and growing — so why aren’t more farmers raising them? The most common reason is fear of coyotes, said Gord Schroeder, executive director of the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board. “I’m tired of people saying that coyotes are a problem and that’s why we can’t go ahead,” saidMan. flax processor Shape Foods in better shape
Manitoba flax processor Shape Foods has paid off the $114,000 it owed the City of Brandon for its 2010 tax bill, staving off a possible forced sale of the facility next month. "Every new company has some growing pains, and I wouldn’t have accepted this job if I didn’t see an exciting future for the
Nationwide co-op pledges to pay more for lambs
Producer co-op to offer five-cent premium over Ont. price
Bale grazing may require rethink, say researchers
Winter feeding cattle on pasture has long been pitched to ranchers as one of the best things they can do to help the environment and their own bottom line. But new research on the Pipestone Creek watershed in Saskatchewan shows that it may not be as green as earlier suggested. “It’s controversial only because you
Buyers down south “desperate” for hay
Demand for hay from drought-stricken livestock farmers south of the border may drive up the value of this year’s crop, exporters say. Landon Friesen, who along with his father Phil and brother Derek run Southman Alfalfa Producers near Crystal City, said that severe drought in the Midwest has sent U.S. customers scrambling for hay. “We’ve
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