Farms.com Home   News

Don't Let Cattle Out On Pasture, Just Yet

 
Pasture land in Manitoba is slowly coming along, which is normal for this time of year.
 
That from Dave Koslowsky, chair of the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association.
 
He says the plants that are emerging are in good shape, noting there's plenty of moisture out there.
 
However, farmers shouldn't get too anxious to let their cattle out just yet, as Koslowsky notes that could have consequences later on.
 
"They would definitely stunt the growth," he said. "If the grass gets chewed down too early, and especially if it's a dry year, the grass won't recover and grow strong. If we get lots of rain like we did last year, then it's less of an issue."
 
He says it'll probably be mid-May to early-June before pasture grazing is in full effect.
 
Source : Portageonline

Trending Video

Swine Industry Advances: Biodigesters Lower Emissions and Increase Profits

Video: Swine Industry Advances: Biodigesters Lower Emissions and Increase Profits

Analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG emissions) in the Canadian swine sector found that CH4 emissions from manure were the largest contributor to the overall emissions, followed by emissions from energy use and crop production.

This innovative project, "Improving Swine Manure-Digestate Management Practices Towards Carbon Neutrality With Net Zero Emission Concepts," from Dr. Rajinikanth Rajagopal, under Swine Cluster 4, seeks to develop strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

While the management of manure can be very demanding and expensive for swine operations, it can also be viewed as an opportunity for GHG mitigation, as manure storage is an emission source built and managed by swine producers. Moreover, the majority of CH4 emissions from manure occur during a short period of time in the summer, which can potentially be mitigated with targeted intervention.

In tandem with understanding baseline emissions, Dr. Rajagopal's work focuses on evaluating emission mitigation options. Manure additives have the potential of reducing manure methane emissions. Additives can be deployed relatively quickly, enabling near-term emission reductions while biodigesters are being built. Furthermore, additives can be a long-term solution at farms where biogas is not feasible (e.g., when it’s too far from a central digester). Similarly, after biodigestion, additives can also be used to further reduce emissions from storage to minimize the carbon intensity of the bioenergy.