Forage News

pH and Limestone

2022/02/15

The uptake of nutrients into plants depends on the acidity of the soil (pH). This is more important to the well-being of a planted crop than most people think. If your plants are not growing within the optimum pH range, nutrients will be inefficiently taken up by the plants, having a detrimental effect on not only the health of your plants, but the size and quality of the harvested produce.

How to Acidify Your Soil

2022/02/15

Blueberries for example require lower soil pH, or acidity, than is required by crops such as raspberries, corn, forage grass and vegetables. Typically, highbush blueberries must have soil pH between 4.5 and 5.5. If your soil test shows a higher pH, what can be done to decrease it?

How to Overseed Pasture

2021/07/13

The best time to seed is in spring and fall. Avoid seeding in the heat of summer or when in danger of frost. Consistent soil temperatures should be about 8-10°C (or when daytime temperatures reach 15-20°C).

Increased Productivity with Forage Mixes

2021/07/13

Diversity of plant species plays an important role in nutrient recycling and primary production in both natural and managed grasslands. It also ensures one or more of the species will be productive even during stressful conditions such as drought or pest outbreak.

N & P Levels in the Soil

2021/07/09

Farms will be required to soil sample their fields at least once every 3 seasons, if the soil nitrate level is more than 100 kg / hectare (88 pounds per acre) after harvest...

Say Good-Bye to Flies

2021/07/13

Flies are not only a nuisance pest causing undue stress, but they may also transmit diseases to your herd. Streptococcus mastitis bacteria can live up to 16 hours in a fly which is more than enough time to transmit the bacteria from cow to cow.

New Environmental Management Regulations

2021/07/09

On February 28, 2019, the Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management (CPAEM) replaced the Agricultural Waste Control Regulation (AWCR). What does this mean, and how does it affect us?

Phosphorus Deficiency

2021/07/09

Phosphorus is a macro, or major nutrient, required by all plants in considerable amounts, along with the other two macro nutrients, nitrogen and potassium. Most people know that phosphorus plays an important role in early root formation and growth.

Fall Weed Control

2021/07/09

This is about controlling weeds in the fall regardless of whether you grew corn or grass this year. Some comments apply to grass, some to corn, and some to both.

Beware of the Japanese Beetle

2021/07/09

What? Not another new pest? In fact, this is very probably not the last time we have to worry about new pests. Despite the best efforts of the regulatory agencies here and in other countries, eventually, we can expect non-native species of pests of all kinds to find their way to Canadian shores.

Potassium Deficiency in Forage Corn

2021/07/12

Potassium is a macro nutrient, required by all plants in considerable amounts, along with the other two macro nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus. While we know that, in general, potassium is important

Enough Nitrogen?

2021/07/12

Before your corn grows too high (ie; past the “knee high” stage), you can determine exactly how much nitrogen your corn needs from this point on to the end of the season. The Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test (PSNT) is used to give you an indication of whether or not to apply nitrogen at knee-high stage.

Western Rootworm in Corn

2021/07/12

The Western Corn Rootworm (WCRW), Diabrotica virgifera is a major corn pest in the mid-west and eastern North American and is now confirmed as active in the central and eastern Fraser Valley in August 2016.

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