Farmer Rancher April

Page 1

armer ancher Serving the producers of Northwest Saskatchewan Thursday, April 27, 2017

North Battleford, Saskatchewan

Goats more fun than cattle, says local “rancher” By Helena Long

Freelance Reporter

UNITY – When Mathieu Kiefer had the opportunity to buy his parents’ farm and move back to the Unity area some six years ago, he knew what he was going to do as his contribution to the agriculture industry in Saskatchewan – raise goats. Today, Kiefer has more than 100 goats in the home pastures and outbuildings. With 70 breeding females, Kiefer raises the goats for meat and sells them at auction in Tofield, Alta., when they are about eight months old. Goats were selling for between $235 and $315 per cwt. (hundredweight) at the Feb. 27 sale in Tofield. The goats’ birthrate is 2.2 kids per nannie and the weaning rate is 1.8 kids. Typically most people who raise goats for meat breed them so the babies are born in January and February and will be ready for market in the fall. Usually Kiefer has done things a little differently, having the goats kid out in May and not selling them until January. This year, he thought he’d try the earlier kidding but, he said, “Never again.” Normally Kiefer doesn’t have to get too involved in the birthing process but the cold weather created a lot more work, and worry. It was a challenge to predict which nannies were ready to give birth so he could bring them into the limited, heated space in the Quonset. The cold snaps in January and February this year didn’t help either. Over the next year, he won’t put the bucks back with the does until January or so, to ensure the

later, spring-time babies. Kiefer said goats have a five-month gestation period, and it is the shorter daylight hours that drive a female goat into heat. The primary breed in the bloodlines Kiefer raises is Boer. The Boer goat was developed specifically for meat production in South Africa in the early 1900s. Because raising goats is not anywhere near as common as raising cattle, sometimes it can be a challenge in Western Canada to find unrelated bucks for breeding. It doesn’t help that the U.S.-Canada border is closed to breeding stock. Along with the Boers, Kiefer also has a Spanish buck – the Spanish breed is common in Mexico and the southern United States – and a cashmere. Contrary to popular belief, cashmere wool comes from goats and not sheep. According to the Cashmere Goat Association website, “Cashmere is the goat’s soft, downy undercoat, grown to its maximum length by mid-winter and shed in early spring. Any goat can grow cashmere, but those we call ‘cashmere goats’ have been selectively bred to produce it in significant amounts.” Cashmere goats also are good meat goats, making Kiefer’s buck a good choice for varying the genetics in his meat herd. Kiefer’s parents, Conrad and Therese, raised cattle while Kiefer was growing up, but they also had a tourist farm. Visitors could come and spend a night or two at the farm, see different animals, perhaps ride a horse. Because of the tourists, they had a few sheep, pigs, chickens and other animals on the

farm along with the cows. When Kiefer was eight or 10, his father came home with a couple of goats. Kiefer liked them the best of all the farm animals. Kiefer compared goats to dogs, saying they all have their own personalities. The goats of his youth were fascinating and fun so, when the opportunity came to raise livestock, he chose goats. He said he never cared for cattle, and pigs would have been OK but goats are far more interesting. The market is good too; as the diversity of cultures in Canada increases, there are more and more families for whom goat meat is a familiar meal. Just like cattle ranchers, Kiefer “preg tests” his does each year. He keeps track of production and desirable and undesirable traits. For example, not all goats have to have their hooves trimmed, but some do. Those whose feet seem to grow excessively, necessitating more frequent handling, end up being shipped to market so the trait isn’t passed on. For when the goats need to be handled or treated, Kiefer has a goat-sized handling system, including squeeze chutes and a tip table, “identical,” he said to a cattle system, “but smaller.” The goats on Kiefer’s farm, even if most of the kids are ultimately destined for the slaughterhouse, live a happy life. They rarely have to be manhandled. In the summer months, they have acres and acres of grass and brush to roam. Even during the winter, they always have access to a large outdoor yard as well as a comfortable shelter with plenty of straw for

Mathieu Kiefer and his family enjoy the interaction with members of their goat herd. Photos by Helena Long

bedding. They eat as much hay as they want, when they want. Kiefer, his wife Tina and their four children are happy, too. They enjoy watching the goats interact with them and each other, and have named a few favourites, that are likely to stick around. As well as raising goats, Kiefer works full-time with a local grain farmer. 2016 editi on

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Flax: A crop to look into growing on your farm? By Erin Campbell PAg.

Ministry of Agriculture

Looking for another crop to include on your rotation to help reduce disease and insect issues? It could be worth giving flax another look as a cropping option. Flax is often seen as a poor competitor, and issues such as weed control can be a deterrent to growing the crop. However with good strategic planning the year prior to planting flax, in addition to a few easy agronomic practices, flax can be a profitable high yielding crop. Choosing the right crop prior to growing flax can make a huge difference. Wheat, barley and flax are all crops that utilize mycorrhizal relationships with fungus in the soil such as Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMP). AMP are microorganisms in the soil that create a symbiotic relationship with the roots of the plants through mycelium threads, that enhance the uptake of soil nutrients by the plants. This relationship with the AMP in the soil help flax more easily find and take up immobile nutrients such as phosphorus. This is particularity important early in the growing season when phosphorus is needed for early plant development and growth. Canola is a non-mycorrhizal crop, and therefore fewer benefits are seen when grown prior to flax

in a field. If flax is grown after canola, it can reduce germination and seedling growth due to phytotoxic compounds that are released as canola stubble degrades. Faster degradation and thinner crop stubble means less snow can be trapped and moisture for the following growing season compared to cereal stubble. As a shallow-rooted crop, flax requires good soil moisture prior to planting higher in the soil profile to maximize yield. Weed control is often cited as one of the main challenges in growing flax. There are options for in-crop herbicides available to provide some control of weeds during the growing season. However, getting ahead of the weeds and closing the crop canopy is the best strategy for effective weed control when growing flax. Starting with a clean field by using a pre-seed burnoff prior to seeding, in conjunction with higher seeding rates and narrower seed rows will provide a more uniform stand that will help the crop canopy close quickly. Choosing taller varieties has also been shown to have more early-season vigour that can help plants get established and close the crop canopy quicker. Success in growing a high yielding competitive flax crop starts with good strategic planning the year prior to planting your flax crop.

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The stubble of the crop prior to seeding can also have a large impact on soil moisture, stand emergence and fertility that will impact the yield potential of flax.

Good weed control can be achieved season long through using fields that have low weed population and by using seeding practices that encourage quick uniform canopy cover.

Submitted

bigger celebration in 2018.” “Posts celebrating Canada’s Agriculture Day were among the top five topics trending in Canada on Twitter for most of the day, while many more people engaged through a variety of events, from small community gatherings to large forums,” Hill said of Canada’s Agriculture Day, celebrated for the first time on Feb.16. “We were thrilled by the level of participation and engagement by producers and partners of Canadian agriculture, as well as consumers, many of whom have never set foot on a farm, but want to know more about how food is produced in Canada,” she said. “Canada’s Agriculture Day is an opportunity to celebrate and be a part of

Canadians are invited to once again celebrate their love, pride and passion for agriculture and food on Feb. 13, 2018, following Canada’s first Agriculture Day last February. “We feel it’s important to talk about farming and food production throughout the year, but we also recognize the value of having a day dedicated to coming together as an industry so our voices are unified,” said Candace Hill, manager of Agriculture More Than Ever, in announcing the date of next year’s celebration on behalf of industry representatives. “This year’s Canada’s Agriculture Day was so successful that we see an opportunity to build on our momentum for an even

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the conversation about food and farming.” Hill said the day was marked by hundreds of events and the participation of almost 500 partner groups, including industry associations, community groups, individuals and the media. Many have already expressed an interest in participating in next year’s celebration. Agriculture More Than Ever is an industry-led initiative that has more than 480 partner organizations

and 3,500 individuals committed to creating positive perceptions of agriculture. Launched almost five years ago, Agriculture More Than Ever’s goal is to encourage and support those involved in agriculture to speak up and speak positively about the industry. To learn more about Agriculture More Than Ever, go to AgMoreThanEver. ca, or follow the conversation on Twitter @AgMoreThanEver.

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The Battlefords, Thursday, April 27, 2017 - Page 3

Seeing is believing for visiting Ukrainian farmers Submitted

Co-operative Development Association of Canada

A delegation of Ukrainian farmers is kicking the tires on agricultural co-ops in Quebec and Ontario. It’s all part of a week of discovery as they see how the co-op approach can benefit their grain enterprises in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. In Ontario, the group’s many stops include Agris Co-op and Great Lakes Grain in Chatham, Agrico fertilizer storage outside London, an Agromart retail operation in Wellburn, and the Donkers’ dairy goat farm in Shedden. In Quebec, they will visit Comax, La Coop Fédérée, grain and dairy farms, and a farm machinery co-op on their journey to learn more about how they can manage and grow their na-

Co-op members, project staff and volunteers, national and regional Ukrainian authorities, and Canadian officials visit the Zernovyi Co-op elevator in December 2016. Photos submitted

scent co-op enterprises. The visitors include members, board members and the managers of two co-ops in Ukraine. Attending were Zernovyi Co-op, which will soon launch commercial operations of its co-operative

grain storage facility, and Zerno-BUNK Coop, which operates in Bobrynets Raion. The grain project manager in Ukraine is also among the visitors. The grain elevator and the co-ops’ development

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Seeing co-operatives in action here in Canada helps strengthen our belief in the future success of two grain coops...in Ukraine. - Sergii Kurdytskyi, project manager

At the scales of a Great Lakes Grain elevator in Thamesford, Ont.

Storage and Marketing Cooperatives Project, a consortium of SOCODEVI, the Canadian Co-operative Association and IRECUS, with funds from the Canadian Government. “We are pleased to welcome this group of highly motivated farmers and co-op representatives to learn more about the day-to-day operations of grain co-ops in Canada,” says CCA Executive Director Michael Casey.

“We hope that along the way they will be better able to envision what their co-op can achieve.” “This project is a proud part of the rebirth of co-operative agriculture in Ukraine,” says project manager Sergii Kurdytskyi. “Seeing co-operatives in action here in Canada helps strengthen our belief in the future success of the two grain co-ops and the entire co-operative movement in Ukraine.”

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A new executive for Canadian Western Agribition was elected at an April 6 annual general meeting. Photo submitted

Staff Canadian Western Agribition introduced a new leadership team at its annual general meeting on April 6 with the election of its new president, executive team, and board of directors. Bruce Holmquist of Saskatoon is the newly elected CWA president. Holmquist has been involved with CWA for 40 years in a number of different capacities. He joined the CWA board of directors in 2007 and became an executive member in 2012. He has been involved in numerous committees as a volunteer or chair including Rodeo, RBC Beef Supreme, Beef Cattle, Animal Health, High School Rodeo and Prospect Steer and Heifer. Holmquist is currently the general manager of the Canadian Simmental Association. He has been a Simmental breeder and a member of the CSA since 1977 and operates a farm with his family at Kinistino. Also elected to the executive are: vice-president: Chris Lees - Arcola; ex-

ecutive members at large, Kim Hextall – Grenfell, Ross Macdonald - Lake Alma; and Bryce Thompson – Regina. The executive team includes past president, Stewart Stone of Regina. Members of CWA elected the following representatives to the board of directors to serve two-year terms: Jodi Banks - Regina, Curtis Kuchinka - Regina, Michael Latimer - Calgary, Alta., Courtney MacDougall - Regina, Blake MacMillan – Nokomis and Barry Young – Carievale. Directors already on the board, serving the second of their two-year terms are: Carla Borsa - Saskatoon, Doug Fee - De Winton, Alta., Kim Hextall - Grenfell, Levi Jackson - Sedley, Marty Kratochvil - Milden, Chris Lees - Arcola, Ross Macdonald - Lake Alma and Bryce Thompson - Regina Appointed Directors include: Jerry Flegel (City of Regina), Deborah Niekamp (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), Kim Onrait (City of Regina) and Grant Zalinko (Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture).

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Farm safety: find a way, not an excuse By Alicia Sopatyk, PAg. Ministry of Agriculture

Agriculture has been cited as one of the most hazardous industries to work in. More often than not, eliminating these hazards is not realistic or cannot physically be done. Fortunately, safety mechanisms and equipment have come a long way in recent years. But all too often equipment isn’t purchased, used, or maintained for one reason or another. Avoiding excuses and implementing and maintaining safety measures and equipment are easy things to do to minimize the risk to you and your family or employees. Below is a listing of some common reasons for not implementing or maintaining safety features or training all operators, followed by some food-forthought replies as to why you should. But it costs money … Yes, but can you put a dollar value on your life? What about the time and income lost from recovering from an accident? Investing dollar-wise is the first step towards improving farm safety. For example, buying and installing an improved head-catch for the chute can reduce injuries to both operator and livestock and speed up pro-

cessing times. But it takes time … Yes, but think of the time you’ll save by preventing accidents. Investing time-wise is the second step towards improving farm safety. For example, taking some time to review your operation and identify hazards can allow you to take preventative measures. The Farm Safety Walkabout from the Agricultural Health and Safety Network is an excellent resource. But I’m only doing it for five minutes … Okay, but accidents have a very small margin of error. There can also be compounding effects of not using the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). For example, exposure to short, very loud noise will cause the same damage as lengthy exposure to gradual noise. Appropriate hearing protection is a quick, easy and relatively cheap fix in this example. But nobody else is doing it … While this may be true, everyone should be. It’s not about following the fads. Working in an office may have reduced the calluses on my hands, but that doesn’t mean we all shouldn’t be wearing leather gloves when fixing fence, for example. We shouldn’t just count our lucky stars, but learn from each other’s mistakes and

A solid approach to safety ensures the health and well-being of the producer and the livestock. Photo by Vicki Clayton

experiences. Farm safety is a shared responsibility. Make it a habit to talk about farm safety and the things you can do or secure for your operation to ensure everyone is safe on the job. For more information on this or anything else related to agriculture contact your local Tisdale Regional Services Office at 306878-8842 or visit our website at Saskatchewan.ca. — Alicia Sopatyk is Regional Livestock Specialist with the Tisdale Regional Services Branch of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.

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The Battlefords, Thursday, April 27, 2017 - Page 5

U of G gets $20 million to lead agri-food revolution Staff The University of Guelph has received its single largest-ever gift, a $20-million donation from the Arrell Family Foundation to transform the global food economy and further strengthen U of G and Canada as agri-food leaders. “This landmark gift will allow our university to address the defining challenge of our time: food security, safety and sustainability,” said U of G president Franco Vaccarino. U of G is the number one agri-food school in Canada, with a 150-year history in agriculture and a global reputation for excellence, Vaccarino said. “We are uniquely positioned to make a difference. “The Arrell family has

shown incredible generosity and foresight in making this gift, and we are grateful to them for their faith in our agri-food prowess.” The donation will create the Arrell Food Institute at U of G. The University will provide matching funds of $20 million, for a total commitment of $40 million. Along with recent government and private funding — including a $77-million award from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund for the Food From Thought project — this new gift brings the total investment in agri-food at U of G to more than $150 million in the past 12 months. “The Arrell Food Institute will influence research, policy, practice and behaviour. It’s a bold initiative, and its impacts

extend nationally and globally,” said Tony Arrell, a U of G alumnus, and Chairman and CEO of Burgundy Asset Management in Toronto. Tony Arrell and his wife, Anne, who is also a U of G graduate, created the Arrell Family Foundation in 1999. They took part in the gift announcement, along with daughters Laura, Ashleigh and Nicole, all of whom are directors of the foundation. According to Laura Arrell, managing director, the foundation is dedicated to improving health and quality of life, which meshes with the university’s goal to improve life through research, teaching and innovation. The Arrell Food Institute will bring together cutting-edge research, agricultural expertise, big data, environmental sci-

—­Photo by Vicky Clayton

ence, business and civil society. Vaccarino said the institute will turn knowledge and discoveries into applications and insights, and further strengthen the reputation of U of G and Canada in the global food economy. The University re-

ceives substantial provincial funding under its longstanding partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The Arrell Food Institute will build on the university’s strong connections with government, international partners,

industry, and communities, and help attract world-leading researchers, graduate students and experts, he said. The new funding will support new research chairs and scholars, international food innovation awards and a prestigious annual conference.

Market access for pulses to India continues Staff The extension to India’s pulse fumigation exemption will maintain uninterrupted access for Saskatchewan pulse crops to the important Indian market, according to the Government of Saskatchewan. The three-month extension to the current fumigation protocol is in effect from until June 30. Pulse exports from Saskatchewan that are currently in transit or will arrive on or before June 30, will not require fumigation in Canada. “This is a positive step

for our province’s pulse farmers and our agricultural industry, and we thank the Government of Canada for working with industry and provincial governments in order to secure an exemption with the Government of India,” Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart said. “Saskatchewan is pleased to continue to help contribute to the food security of India’s growing population as the top pulse supplier to that marketplace.” In 2016, Saskatchewan exported $1.1 billion of pulse crop to India. As Canada’s leader in

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pulse crop production, Saskatchewan’s 17,000 pulse growers produce 99 per cent of Canada’s chickpeas, 84 per cent of Canada’s lentils and 49 per cent of Canada’s dry peas. “This extension creates stability for Saskatchewan pulse exports and we will support continued discussions from both governments on a long-term, science-based solution,” Minister Responsible for Trade Jeremy Harrison said. “We look forward to building upon our already strong trading relationship.”

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Seeking nominations for Food and Farming Champion Award

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Deadline for submissions is September 30 Submitted

Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan

Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan is seeking nominations for the second year of the Food and Farming Champion Award. This award was designed to shine a light on the people who work hard to promote Saskatchewan agriculture and help farmers build public trust in our food industry. “We had tremendous success with the award last year and received nine nominations from all sectors of the industry.” says FFC SK’s Executive Director Clinton Monchuk. “We put more detail

into our nomination criteria and we are looking to carry forward that momentum into this year.” The Food and Farm Champion Award is bestowed upon individuals

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support, policy, teaching, publications, innovation, and research. Candidates have demonstrated the use of their skills to help engage consumers or correct misinformation about production practices, and have done a measurable job of promoting the agriculture sector. For more details, download the nomination form or check out farmfoodcaresk.org. Saskatchewan veterinarian and epidemiologist, Dr. Leigh Rosengren, was the 2016 recipient of the Food and Farming Champion Award. Her work in the research, education and advocacy of prudent antimicrobial use in livestock production, along with her consistent media and social media presences made her an ideal candidate. Being the inaugural year, FFC SK also considered organizations and businesses who have made an impact on public

—­Photo by Vicky Clayton

opinion of farming in the province. SaskCanola was nominated and received the award for their development of the Licence to Farm documentary. “This award winning film is a great tool to spread the message to farmers that we need to speak up about what we do so someone else doesn’t speak for us,”

says Monchuk. Nominations are to be submitted to the FFC SK office by Sept.30. The selection committee will choose a winner from the nominations and award winners will be honoured at the Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan annual conference Dec.13 and 14 in Saskatoon.

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Agronomy is the study of crop and soil science – important in delivering food from farm to table. But most people don’t know the word. And most agronomists – the scientists working in the field of agronomy – find their complicated jobs hard to explain. That means there is a communication gap, and Nels Hansen wants to help solve it. Along with Christian Malwam, Hansen made a set of videos about agronomy. The series of four videos, “Agronomy Feeds the World,” is now available on YouTube. Each short (less than three-minute) video was produced and funded by the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). The four videos are all themed to demonstrate different aspects of agronomy.

“Most people understand food has its beginnings on farms,” says Hansen. “But they remain unaware of the science of agronomy and how those engaged in it have worked to align food production with population growth.” “We wanted to use video to show how agronomists work for a healthy and sustainable standard of food production,” says Hansen. He and Malwan are professors at Brigham Young University-Idaho; Hansen is also a member of ASA. “We knew that the public was very interested about food and gardening topics based on research,” says Susan Fisk, director of science communications for ASA. “They were eager for ASA to provide information about certain topics like water management and soil compaction. I’m glad Nels was interested in doing the project, and

he and Christian did a great job.” The videos are available for viewing on ASA’s YouTube channel. Each video starts with families and individuals in familiar places: their kitchens prepping food, at the grocery store and farmers’ market buying food, and working in their home gardens. Then the videos show agronomists and growers in the fields managing their production techniques. Each video also includes, on screen, a short definition of agronomists: “Experts in soil and crop management.” It’s our hope that the videos will pique interest and guide people to ask more questions of agronomists,” says Hansen. To view the videos, visit YouTube and search Agronomy Feeds the World. All the videos are available in closed caption formatting.


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The Battlefords, Thursday, April 27, 2017 - Page 7

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Managing salinity with perennial forages

Left, “bathtub ring” salinity. Right, newly developed varieties of alfalfa and green wheatgrass exceed salt tolerance levels of their predecessors. Photos submitted

By Charlotte Ward, PAg. Soil salinity is considered a threat to long-term sustainable production in many parts of the Prairies. Agriculture and AgriFood Canada estimates approximately 5.52 million acres (approximately 11.2

per cent) of agricultural land in Saskatchewan are at moderate to high risk of salinization. Soil salinity levels range from non-saline (zero decisiemens per metre) to severely saline (greater than 16 dS/m). As soil salinity levels

increase, the stress on germinating seedlings also increases. Soluble salts prevent plants from taking up the proper balance of nutrients and water required for growth. In general, perennial plants can handle salinity better than annual plants.

Agribition Express to return Staff

Canadian Western Agribition has announced continuation of the Agribition Express shuttle bus service, despite municipal budget cuts. In a revised budget, the City of Regina has eliminated its funding tied to transit service at Agribition. Despite the cut, CWA says it is still committed to providing the Agribition Express service. "With or without the City supporting it, we feel it's still an important service for our guests and residents of Regina," says CEO, Chris Lane. "Twenty thousand people use it during Agribition and we're not going to leave those

people without a ride." In a press release, CWA states it treats the funding previously received from the City as a sponsorship, giving the City an excellent return on investment. The City of Regina received value for its investment in line with the other sponsors at that level, the release states. "We understand the budgets are putting a lot of groups in tough spots and we've decided not to pass this cut along to our guests. The Agribition Express will be offered again, and it will be discounted again," adds Lane. The 2017 show will take place at Evraz Place, Nov. 20-25.

Perennial forages have various levels of salt tolerance. Species such as tall wheatgrass, green wheatgrass, altai wildrye, Russian wildrye, slender and western wheatgrass have high salt tolerance (<16dS/m). Slightly less saline tolerant forages include sweet clover, established alfalfa, tall fescue and smooth bromegrass (<8dS/m) as well as crested wheatgrass, intermediate wheat grass and meadow bromegrass (<4dS/m). Seedling alfalfa, white, red and alsike clovers have very low salt tolerance (2 dS/m). In comparison, barley has a salt tolerance of 8 dS/m. Recent forage breeding programs have recognized

the challenge salinity poses to agricultural production and efforts have been made to develop forage varieties or species with improved salt tolerance. For example, newly developed varieties of alfalfa and green wheatgrass exceed salt tolerance levels of their predecessors. As salinity can vary within a very small area, one strategy when establishing forages in saline areas is to seed a complex mix of grasses and legumes with varying levels of salt tolerance. The result is greater establishment success and lessens the likelihood of establishment of weedy species such as foxtail barley. Late fall plantings are often the best time to es-

tablish forages in saline soils when drier soils permit machinery to cross with minimal difficulty. Seeds will germinate early the following spring. Once established, perennial forages can have water-depleting characteristics which can be used to draw down the water table, leading to decreased soil salinity near the soil surface. For more information contact your local Regional Forage Specialist or the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 — Charlotte Ward is a Regional Forage Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture. This article was submitted by the North Saskatchewan River Basin Council

Picturesque

— Photo by Louise Lundberg

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Page 8 - The Battlefords, Thursday, April 27, 2017

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