Alberta Agriculture

The Waldron Grazing Co-Op Part One; Grazing Practices

In part one of our interview with Mike Roberts of the Waldron Grazing Co-op we talk about rotational grazing, the format of the co op and pasture set up. For more information about the Foothills Forage and Grazing Association: check out their website at https://www.foothillsforage.com/
For more information about the Waldron; check out http://waldronranch.com/
As always, feel free to drop by PCBFA's website at https://peacecountrybeef.ca/
to check out our research and upcoming events.
 
Our theme music is Redwood Highway by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com

Forage pests and control of insects with Jennifer Otani

In this episode, we talk to Entomologist Jennifer Otani from the Beaverlodge Research station about her work in crop protection. We discuss Economic thresholds, control measures and the value of beneficial insects.
You can find the unofficial research station blog is here http://insectpestmanagement.blogspot.com/ and follow Jennifer at @bugs5132 on Twitter!
And have a look at the following resources for more information!
Alberta Forage Manual at https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/077326082x
Field Crop and Forage Pests and their Natural Enemies in Western Canada: Identification and Management Field Guide at http://prairiepestmonitoring.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_1.html
Cutworm Pests of Crops on the Canadian Prairie: Identification and Management Field Guide at http://prairiepestmonitoring.blogspot.com/p/cutworm-corner.html
Field Heroes https://fieldheroes.ca/   and @FieldHeroes
Alberta Pest Monitoring Network at https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-insect-pest-monitoring-network.aspx
Alberta Crop Insects webpages at https://www.alberta.ca/crop-insects.aspx
Canadian Grain Commission’s Stored Insect Pest Keys at https://grainscanada.gc.ca/en/grain-quality/manage/identify-an-insect/
RFSA’s Insect and Disease Trials at http://www.peaceforageseed.ca/research.html
Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Website at https://prairiepest.ca/
Insect Pest Management Program Blog at http://insectpestmanagement.blogspot.com/
 
As always, you can find PCBFA's research, events, and resources at https://www.peacecountrybeef.ca/
 
Music for the intro and outro by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com
 

Monitoring Water quality with Lesser Slave Watershed Council

Meghan Payne of the Lesser Slave Watershed Council discusses their water quality monitoring program, the importance of monitoring and the role of watershed councils in Alberta.
 
To contact the LSWC, check out their website: https://www.lswc.ca/
To view the water quality data the council has collected, check out the Mackenzie Datastream: https://mackenziedatastream.ca/
If you'd like to contact your local Watershed council, check out this resource on the Government of Alberta website: https://www.alberta.ca/watershed-planning-and-advisory-councils.aspx
 
The music for our intro and outro is Redwood Highway by Jason Shaw, check out more at Audionautix.com
 

SARDA's Intercropping Research with Megan Snell

In this episode, Johanna chats with Megan Snell, the research Coordinator from Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association, about Intercropping research in the Peace and a few other projects SARDA has been working on.    
 
To find more information on SARDA's projects or their newsletters, check out their website at https://sarda.ca.
 
PCBFA's research can be found under the applied research tab on our website https://www.peacecountrybeef.ca/
 
Music for the intros and outros is Redwood Highway by Jason Shaw. Check out more music at www.audionautix.com.
 

Monitoring Forage Moisture with West Central Forage Association

In this episode, Johanna chats with Jessica from WCFA and Chelsea Pearce from Martin Deerline about using in-field weather stations and soil moisture probes in perennial and annual forage situations. This project aims to find out how useful the data from these weather stations is to producers as well as tracking how moisture moves under forage-based systems and grazing.
 
Check out the West Central Forage Associations projects here: http://www.westcentralforage.com/research/
 
You can find information about Martin Deerline here: https://www.martindeerline.com/
 
And you can always check out Peace Country Beef and Forage Association's projects here: https://www.peacecountrybeef.ca/applied-research
 
Music for this episode's intros and outros is Redwood Highway by Jason Shaw. Find more at www.audionautix.com
 
 

Tips for Living with Wildlife with Robb Stavne

In this episode, we have a chat with Robb Stavne of Sora Ecological Consulting. Robb talks about dealing with predation, and other issues, as well as methods of control. We also discuss using cattle to maintain wildlife habitats, and how ranchers and farmers can keep their operations profitable while making room for wildlife.
 
To learn more about any of the topics we discussed today, or get some resources or funding on your own operation, reach out to any of the following conservation associations.
Cows and Fish https://cowsandfish.org/
Alberta Conservation Association https://www.ab-conservation.com/
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation https://www.aiwc.ca/
Alberta Environmental Farm Plan https://www.albertaefp.com/
 
As always, feel free to reach out to PCBFA as well at https://www.peacecountrybeef.ca/
 
Music for this episode was Redwood Highway by Jason Shaw. Check out more at Audionautix.com
 

Livestock Water Crossings with the MPWA

In today's episode, Adam Norris and Rhonda Clarke-Gauthier talk with us about their Livestock Water Crossing project, and how the Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance is working to improve water quality and quantity.
 
For more info on the MPWA check out their website here: https://www.mightypeacewatershedalliance.org/
 
Also check out the the Alberta Conservation Association https://www.ab-conservation.com/
Cows and Fish: https://cowsandfish.org/
and the Agroforestry & Woodlot Extension Society https://www.awes-ab.ca/
 
And as always PCBFA's website is https://www.peacecountrybeef.ca/
 
The music for our intro and outro is Redwood Highway by Jason Shaw, Check out more at Audionautix.com
 

Setting up a Farm Safety Plan with Ag Safe Alberta

In today's episode, Johanna and Monika talk with Jody Wacowich and Ellen Jabs from Ag Safe about building farm safety plans and understanding some of the rules surrounding farm safety.
For more info on Ag safe or to access their courses and training, check out  https://www.agsafeab.ca/
Their incident hotline is 1-833-9AGSAFE
Music is Red Wood Highway by Jason Shaw; check out more at Audionautix.com

Reading Feed Tests with Barry Yaremcio

In this episode, Johanna and Monika have a chat with Nutritionist Barry Yaremcio about how to read a feed test, mineral selection, and feeding your cows through the winter.
Barry's Website; https://www.beefconsultant.com/
Fact Sheets;
Winter Feeding Programs for Cows and Calves: https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex8908/$file/420-52-3.pdf
Beef Ration Rules of Thumb: https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex9146/$file/420_52-4.pdf?OpenElement
 
Music is Red Wood Highway by Jason Shaw; check out more at Audionautix.com

Grazing Perennials with Andrea Hanson

In this episode, Johanna discusses using perennials for forage and extending the grazing season with rancher and beef extension specialist Andrea Hanson. For more information on High Legume Grazing check out the Alberta agriculture fact sheet here: https://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$Department/deptdocs.nsf/all/aet16292/$FILE/high-legume-pasture-learnings.pdf
 
Music by Audionautix.com