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



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

Western water hemlock is a deadly killer of cattle

This year’s wet spring has seen increased sightings of western water hemlock — one of the most poisonous plants known in cattle production. Prior to 2006, I had only seen one occurrence of this highly toxic plant in 25 years of practice. This year, several multiple plants have been found a great distance apart in



Know your plants: Understanding how grasses grow is key to maximizing pasture production

Grazing expert says producers need to gauge “range readiness” and carefully monitor the amount of defoliation

Good pastures start with a good understanding of how plants grow. Attendees at the recent Original Grazing School for Women were given some key pointers by Edward Bork, who is director of the Rangeland Research Institute at the University of Alberta and also operates a grain and beef operation with his family near Chipman. Grasses


A safe product for grazing alfalfa

An effective prevention for frothy bloat is back on the market. Alfasure was pulled over a licensing issue (whether to be classed as a feed additive or a drug), but requirements were met and it has been relicensed as of June 2012. In the past, producers have understandably been reluctant to plant and graze alfalfa

Pastures vary widely amid topsy-turvy spring

While the east side battles forest fires, the normally dry southwestern 
pastures are poised for lush growth

Pasture conditions around the province this spring seem to be a mixed bag of sorts, ranging from lush to bone dry. In a topsy-turvy turn of events, the southwest, where drought is the rule rather than the exception, ample rains have set the stage for good pasture conditions, said Jane Thornton, a pasture and rangeland


Same grass, different boss

Lower overhead costs under not-for-profit co-op and municipal management structures translate into cheaper pasture fees for ranchers at two non-AESB pastures

Two community pasture operations in Manitoba offer a glimpse of what the future may hold after the federal government phases out its involvement over the next six years. In the rural municipality of Wallace, near Kirkella, a block containing 25 quarters of marginal, rugged land is grazed from around June 1 to Oct. 15. It’s

Keeping an eye on tame pastures

Agri-News / Pasture assessments help producers decide if a pasture needs to be rejuvenated and if so, how best to rejuvenate it. The Alberta Tame Pasture Scorecard is a quick and easy way of doing a pasture assessment. The Sustainable Resource Development Health Assessment forms are another good tool that provides a more detailed assessment.