Measuring pasture yield is key to grazing management

by Christine O’Reilly, RAIN Research Technician   If you’re rotationally grazing but you’re not measuring your pasture, you aren’t managing your grazing: you’re just moving livestock around. Think of measuring your pasture like keeping an inventory of the feed available on your farm: it is a real-time assessment of your pasture’s ability to feed your stock. Most animals eat a …

Economic Analysis and Practical Applications of Fodder Trees

This research note is part of a series detailing results from different facets of the trial. For more information, see: Fodder Trees: 2015 Yield and Nutrient Analysis 2015 Sheep Production Report on Fodder Tree Diet 2015 Sheep Preferences of Fodder Trees RAIN has partnered with the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency to investigate whether fast-growing, coppiced trees can be a nutritionally …

2015 Sheep Preferences of Fodder Trees

This research note is part of a series detailing results from different facets of the trial. For more information, see: Fodder Trees: 2015 Yield and Nutrient Analysis 2015 Sheep Production Report on Fodder Tree Diet Economic Analysis and Practical Applications of Fodder Trees RAIN has partnered with the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency to investigate whether fast-growing, coppiced trees can be …

2015 Sheep Production Report on Fodder Tree Diet

This research note is part of a series detailing results from different facets of the trial. For more information, see: Fodder Trees: 2015 Yield and Nutrient Analysis 2015 Sheep Preferences of Fodder Trees Economic Analysis and Practical Applications of Fodder Trees RAIN has partnered with the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency to investigate whether fast-growing, coppiced trees can be a nutritionally …

Fodder Trees: 2015 Yield and Nutrient Analysis

This research note is part of a series detailing results from different facets of the trial. For more information, see: 2015 Sheep Production Report on Fodder Tree Diet 2015 Sheep Preferences of Fodder Trees Economic Analysis and Practical Applications of Fodder Trees RAIN has partnered with the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency to investigate whether fast-growing, coppiced trees can be a …

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RAIN Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

31 March 2016 at 19:00 Laird Hall, Pumpkin Point Road West, Echo Bay, ON   In Attendance: David Thompson (RAIN Project Coordinator), Christine O’Reilly (RAIN Research Technician), Dave Trivers (OMAFRA), Errol Caldwell (RAIN Co-Chair), Nadine Roach (Thessalon First Nation), Gord Hacker (Algoma Cattleman’s Association), Tamara Ashawasega (Thessalon First Nation), Melissa Watson (RAIN Infrastructure Coordinator), Shawn Heard (East Algoma Community Futures …

Sulphur in Algoma Agriculture: Preliminary Data

In the past, sulphur (S) was not typically a limiting nutrient for agricultural production in most of Ontario. Air-borne sulphur emissions created acid rain and snow, which deposited 8 -13 kg/ha of SO4 annually. In addition to reduced air pollution, commercial fertilizers are more refined and deposit less sulphur than older blends. There is growing interest in determining whether the …

Crop Variety Trials: 2015 Soybean Report

Three cold-hardy varieties of soybean were grown in 2015 with a grower co-operator near Thessalon. NorthStar Genetics (Winnipeg, MB) provided seed for NSC Moosomin, NSC Gladstone, and NSC Reston. Soybeans were planted on June 11; Moosomin and Gladstone at a rate of 67 lb/ac and Reston at 87 lb/ac. Harvest was on October 14. The varieties tested were rated for …

Crop Variety Trials: 2015 Canola Report

Ten acres of canola were grown in 2015 with a grower co-operator near Echo Bay. Bayer CropScience provided seed for variety InVigor L130. Previous crop was a long-term hay field. Canola was planted the first week in June and harvested September 24th. No additional nutrients were applied to the crop. Dry yield (tons/acre) 0.957 Moisture (%) 9.4 Grade 1.0 Unit …

Testing Cross-seeding of Hay and Pasture: Call for Interested Farmers!

RAIN is looking for farmer co-operators interested in testing cross-seeding as a method of establishing hay or pasture for spring of 2016. The landowner must be either planting a new pasture/hay field or be rejuvenating an established field by re-seeding. The project aims to assess whether cross-seeding is an economically viable technique for Algoma farmers. It uses the same amount …