10 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | July/August 2024 Beyond the Barn BCRC SHARES TIPS FOR CATTLE GRAZING ALFALFA The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) recently shared tips to minimize the risk of bloat for cattle grazing alfalfa. There are several benefits to including alfalfa in forages including nitrogen fixation, improving protein content of animal feed, and increased forage yields. BCRC recognizes that many producers are hesitant to add alfalfa to their forages, or to turn out cattle on forage stands with alfalfa, because of the risk of bloat. In a recent informative release, the organization shared nine tips to help producers minimize risk while using the beneficial legume in their pastures. Don’t move cattle onto wet pasture. Wet alfalfa increases the risk of bloat. Move cattle around mid-day or later. This minimizes moisture and increases plant carbohydrate concentration. Don’t turn cattle out on alfalfa while they are hungry, to avoid overconsumption. Wait until alfalfa is in full bloom. Fibre content increases as the plant matures and slows digestion rate. Don’t graze alfalfa from three days to two weeks after a killing frost. Frost will rupture cell walls, increasing the initial rate of the digestion and increase the risk of bloat. Monitor cattle frequently for signs of bloat or health problems. Put animals with smaller rumens on pastures with alfalfa. Discuss bloat prevention with a vet. One option would include Alfasure, which can be mixed with water to prevent frothy bloat. Some producers may also choose mix alfalfa with other feeds to minimize risk, says the BCRC article. They can use a grass mixture for pasture seeding or include an additional fibre source such as straw or fibrous hay bales to dilute the percentage of alfalfa in the diet. BF - Emily Croft Protein Industries Canada is working to address herbicide-resistant weeds in Canadian crops using artificial intelligence technology. The not-for-profit organization, which focuses on promoting Canadian plant-based proteins, recently announced a project that will develop AI-based detection systems for herbicide-resistant weeds. The program will help farmers and agronomists detect and treat resistant weeds earlier, with the goal of reducing crop inputs and the number of field passes required to manage crops. Protein Industries Canada will collaborate with Precision AI, Geco Strategic Weed Management, the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan, and SureGrowth Solutions for the project. “Our farmers are always looking for new ways to make their operations more resilient, so they can keep producing top-quality food for Canadians to enjoy. “This innovative AI-powered system will help treat herbicide-resistant weeds more effectively, helping farmers improve the quality of protein-rich crops and enhancing the whole value chain,” said Lawrence MacAulay, federal minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. The project will cost $6.2 million, with $2.8 million of that investment contributed by Protein Industries Canada. The remaining investment will be contributed by other partners. The project is part of the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which is a federal government effort to promote the adoption of artificial intelligence in Canada. “By using AI to detect resistance early and provide precision herbicide application, we have a realistic path to reducing or even eliminating resistant strains in Canada,” said Dan McCann, founder and CEO of Precision AI, a collaborator in the study. Founder and CEO of Geco, Greg Stewart added, “A weed population evolves over years and disrupts crop yields over hundreds of acres. Geco is working with a range of weed detection technologies to provide our 50-plus farms with predictive weed control and resistance detection. “We are looking forward to quantifying the value to the farm that will be achieved at plant-level resolution.” BF William - stock.adobe.com photo AI TECH ADDRESSES RESISTANT WEEDS
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