The Saskatchewan Forage Council has completed the January forage price survey and is now available online.

This report gives price and production information on the 2008 forage crop in Saskatchewan.  It is compiled by contacting a wide variety of forage producers and sellers, feedlots, auction marts, by consulting feed listing services, classified ads and online forage price information.  Prices are reported for grass hay, alfalfa hay, mixed hay, straw, green feed and organic hay.

Current prices for alternative feed stuffs including grain screening pellets, alfalfa pellets and distiller's by-products are also included in this report.

Regional pricing trends, inventory predictions, transport costs and reports from the Dehy and Forage Seed industry may also be found as part of this comprehensive recap of the 2008 forage industry. 

  
Visit our website at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102427225459&e=001TkPmyqfdV6lHE2mT7pKVY765bbLRUAJHLt9ypMRmkrpWRc7dfuwI4B12TKoK7fsv_R7cdv5ysrQNWyPnB58q9rBPihErmszr8H9LvpX3jDWb6H4LIs40cg== for more information, or to download the report. 

The Saskatchewan Forage Council gratefully acknowledges Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation for their financial assistance on this project.

This one-day meeting will look at cost-effective ways to successfully winter cows, and will take place at four locations.  Specialists from Saskatchewan Agriculture will speak on winter grazing techniques, animal health considerations and the seasonal energy requirements of the animal.  Local producers will be sharing their experiences with bale grazing and crop residue grazing.  Click here to view the agenda for these events.
 
Early registration is January 29, 2009, for Kerrobert and Turtleford and February 5, 2009, for Melfort and Estevan.  For more information or to register call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre (AKC) at 1-866-457-2377. 

 

Location:	Date:
Kerrobert	February 3,2009
Turtleford	February 4, 2009
Melfort	February 10, 2009
Estevan	February 12, 2009

                                                                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the 2005 and 2006 grazing season, the Western Beef Development Center evaluated the performance of three new perennial grass varieties under grazed conditions.  'AC Goliath' crested wheatgrass (CWG), 'AC Knowles' hybrid bromegrass (HBG) and 'Courtenay' tall fescue (TF) were established in 2003 at the Termuende Research Ranch near Lanigan and grazed by yearling steers.  These species were compared to a long established stand (greater than 50 years) of crested wheatgrass which was heavily invaded by smooth bromegrass and Kentucky bluegrass (control pastures).

In 2005, steers grazed all pastures once (late May to early July).  In 2006, two grazing periods occurred on the 'AC Goliath' CWG and 'AC Knowles' HBG (mid August to early September) in addition to an early grazing period.  Tall fescue had insufficient regrowth to warrant a second grazing period which suggests that this species may not be drought tolerant and is not well-adapted to the Lanigan region.  Over the two years of the study, forage yield, quality and steer average daily gain was similar among the new varieties.  All varieties established in 2003 had greater animal grazing days compared to the control pastures, while only 'AC Goliath' CWG had significantly greater total beef production per acre compared to the control pastures (Table 1). Even though TF only had one grazing period in 2006, it still had high AGD and TBP over the two years of the study. Economically, all grasses established in 2003 showed positive net returns.  Spring wheat or feed barley grown in the same time period, would have resulted in a negative net return of $-34.81 and $-4.70, respectively.  Overall, 'AC Goliath' CWG, 'AC Knowles' HBG and 'Courtenay' TF produced high animal production and showed favorable net returns for grazing during the two years of the study.

 

Table 1.  Two-year average grazing production of perennial grasses established in 2003

 

                                   Control      'AC Goliath'    'AC Knowles'    'Tall Fescue'

                                                       CWG             HBG                  TF

Animal Grazing Days      46b              104a             110a                 122a

(animal unit days/acre)

Total Beef Production      158b            323a             248ab                287ab

(lbs/acre)

Net Return                     -22.00            37.45a         3.42ab              19.97ab

($/acre)
When letters are different in a row, values are significantly different (P<0.05)