Cattle converge near the swollen Maple Lakes drain after heavy rains two weeks ago around Reston unleashed “flash flooding.”  Photo: Daniel Winters


Southwest ranchers grapple with flooding

Fast flowing water from recent rainstorms in the Reston area has caused 
widespread damage to downstream roads, haylands and crops

With five gyres the colour of black tea swirling into culverts in the background, Garth Elliott stood on a washed-out road and looks out over what appears to be an inland sea. It’s actually Stoney Creek, which in most years is a tiny rivulet fed by sloughs. “Some years, this creek doesn’t even run,” said



It’s important to pen gilts separately in ESF systems to reduce competition from bigger sows

Electronic sow feeding first choice for productivity

When considering group sow-housing systems, electronic sow feeding (ESF) is likely the best choice for pig producers with high productivity expectations, according to Thomas Parsons at the University of Pennsylvania. “We now have farms pushing above 30 pigs weaned per sow per year and thus the technology itself, if properly managed, is not a barrier

GRAINS-Wheat jumps on short-covering; corn, soy also climb

* Wheat becoming more competitive with corn in feed rations * Corn and soybeans firm, led by new-crop contracts * Trade eyes forecasts for hot, drier weather in US Midwest * Little reaction in grains to Fed policy statement (Updates with closing prices) By Julie Ingwersen CHICAGO, June 19 (Reuters) - U.S. wheat futures climbed


Fencing that once marked pasture land now butts up against the shore of East Shoal Lake.  Photos: Shannon VanRaes

Milking the benefits of canola meal

The Chinese have 7.2 million reasons to switch their dairy cows to canola meal from other protein rations. That’s how many more litres of milk their 12 million cows would produce every day based on a year-long joint Sino-Canadian study conducted by Chinese academics, in co-operation with China’s five largest dairy companies. “Canola meal has



Got the munchies? How about some ‘pot’ roast?

With recreational marijuana about to become legal in Washington state, the budding ranks of new cannabis growers face a quandary over what to do with the excess stems, roots and leaves from their plants. Pigs may be the answer. Susannah Gross, who owns a five-acre farm north of Seattle, is part of a group experimenting



GRAINS-Corn edges lower after 3 pct gain on China demand

SYDNEY, May 23 (Reuters) - U.S. corn fell on Thursday as traders banked profits after the grain surged nearly 3 percent in the previous session on news of strong demand from China. FUNDAMENTALS * Chicago Board Of Trade July corn fell 0.38 percent to $6.56 a bushel, having gained 2.89 percent in the previous session.