Control of Absinth and Tansy in Perennial Pasture

Saskatchewan Forage Council Project Update

The Saskatchewan Forage Council, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Ducks Unlimited, is undertaking a project to demonstrate the effects of weed wiper applicators on absinth and common tansy on perennial pastures. In 2015, glyphosate herbicide was applied at six sites (three absinth and three tansy sites) using two weed wiper applicators: a rotating steel drum-type applicator and a wick applicator. Sites were then observed one month and three months after herbicide application and the effects on the weed and the surrounding desirable vegetation were noted. This project will continue with a follow-up assessment in 2016 and the final report will be posted on the SFC website. 

A short web video has been produced to share the project results to date. This video has been posted on the Saskatchewan Forage Council's YouTube Channel. To view the video, click here. 

The project was supported by the Agricultural Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) initiative under the Canada-Saskatchewan Growing Forward 2 bi-lateral agreement.

Posted February 7, 2016

Alberta Beef, Forage and Grazing Centre

Alberta Beef Producers Press Release, December 9, 2015
 
Alberta Beef Producers (ABP), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AF) are pleased to announce the Alberta Beef, Forage and Grazing Centre Agreement. It is an industry-government partnership designed to coordinate and advance research and extension activities related to the forage and beef sectors in the province.
 
The initial five-year agreement highlights specific, measureable, long-term strategic goals designed to improve the productivity, competitiveness, sustainability, land and resource use efficiency of the forage-beef system. The goals are as follows:

    Build and maintain research and extension capacity
    Reduce winter feeding costs by 50 percent
    Reduce environmental footprint of the cowherd by 15 percent
    Improve cow efficiency by 15 percent
    Reduce backgrounding costs by 50 percent
    Improve late summer/fall pasture productivity by 30 percent

The concept for the Alberta Beef, Forage and Grazing Centre arose from producer and industry group concerns regarding the need for essential applied forage research and extension for beef producers in Alberta. This need was further confirmed during focus group sessions held in Strathmore, Lacombe, Vegreville and Grande Prairie in 2011.
 
To read more about this and other Western Canadian forage news, check out the SFC's December 22, 2015 edition of the Forage and Livestock eNews,
 
Posted January 2, 2016

Manitoba's Climate Plan Promotes Forages

Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association, Press Release on July 30, 2015 

A loud and clear carbon-storage nod at forages within the recently-released Manitoba Climate Change and Green Economy Action Plan has reconfirmed what Manitoba Forage and Grasslands Association producers have been saying for years. Grass and forages are good for business and good for the environment.

"We congratulate the Manitoba government and leaders of the Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Development department for including forages and grasslands as part of the carbon solution," says Henry Nelson, MFGA vice-chair and Co-Chair, Environment Committee, Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association. "There's a need for a better and clearer understanding of perennial forages and pastures role in sequestering carbon, and also the relationship of forages and grasslands to the other major greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. We see the inclusion in the province's climate plan as a valuable boost to this needed research and attention."

The Manitoba plan stated: Promoting Perennial Crops - Manitoba will promote perennial grains and forages to conserve soil and store carbon through research partnerships, including with the University of Manitoba and the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association. The timing, says Nelson, is perfect.

"With the Paris conference on climate change and the actions of various jurisdictions such as Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and California planning to adopt Cap-and-Trade systems that harmonize how they track and measure greenhouse gas emissions and collaborate on climate adaptation efforts, the timing is perfect to learn more about and promote our forages and grasslands," says Nelson. "At the same time, we know these grasses are in peril. This directive will help spur investigation of the potential for delivering carbon offsets from Manitoba farms and that is especially encouraging for Manitoba farmers because our current market doesn't acknowledge the public good from these grass systems. This may be a very welcome paradigm shift on that front." Nelson says MFGA has been very active on numerous fronts extolling the benefits of forages and grasslands on economic and environmental platforms.

For more information contact:
Duncan Morrison, MFGA Executive Director
p: 204-800-5163
e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

To view the full media release, click here.

Posted December 10, 2015 

Forage Market Price Discovery in Saskatchewan

Posted Nov 15, 2015