Prairie production and acres chart

[grassfarmer]

Hopperbin, Published research from AB AG Lethridge and U of Minnesota.
"dryland" situation alfalfa fixes up to 198lbs

under irrigation S. Alberta (and you all tell me you have more than enough water in SK)
alfalfa 267lbs, sweetclover 223lbs

Worth a look, no?

[farming101]

Grassfarmer, I like the idea of getting hold of a nice heavy disc and turning a good stand of clover into the soil. I'm sure it would do our waterlogged, rutted soil a world of good.

[hobbyfrmr]

I disk down clover and its a very good feeling when I'm doing it. A good stand fixates 90 to 120 lbs N. The trouble is, around here it is inconsistent catches. It seems either you get a totally awesom stand, 4 feet tall, or else a mangy field, 30 acres nothing, 25 terrific, 15 nothing , 20 terrific.
I am moving towards Faba beans or peas for N fixation. I think alfalfa is the best, but I cannot seem to want to take land out of production for the 3 or 4 year commitment, and no animals to feed. Alfalfa and cows is a perfect organic circle.

[hobbyfrmr]

I am pretty sure it was fjlip that had presented a very good rotation that included fababeans . It in here somewhere!

[wmoebis]

I understand the want/need for relaxing KVD. However protocols are in place to protect the elevators and industry but not so much for producers delivering into the system.
I will refer to CGC's statements on May 13th 2008 when it was stated (in essence) that checks and balances were in place to take samples at last point, before loading on rail cars or going into terminals etc. However farmers sign a declaration of varietal into a given class at time of delivery and therefore assumes responsibility of any misrepresentation.
We as farmers pull up to a probe at the elevator where a sample is taken by a remote, controlled by the elevator staff, it maybe 10 min to 1/2 hr before we even see that sample if the elevator will even let us see it being graded and assessed and may never get to see the retained sample.

Can you guarantee that that sample has never been tampered with or there wasn't a mix up in samples. You have the right to be watch but most elevators are done assessing before you are even in the door and many won't let you into the grading room.
They elevators are suppose to keep 1000g sample, that you agree to, in case there is a problem and it needs to be forwarded to the CGC. The CGC requires 1000g sample or else it is assessed as sample too small. However most elevators only keep about a 500g sample. If a problem arises where does the other 500g come from?

In the grain grading guide one of the degrading factors is Wheats of other classes (WOOC) or contrasting classes (CC) if there is no KVD to distinguish how is the elevator or CGC suppose to identify. Isn't that factor kind of redundant.

My biggest issue is with the training of elevator staff and their knowledge of what these factors and declarations mean to producers. I have seen elevator staff spill/mix samples and hide mistakes so as not to get reprimanded, thinking big deal it is all wheat nobody will know.

Ever wonder why probe samples taken by elevator staff, without you present is good enough for producers to get paid on? But to be an outward official sample where the elevator is going to be paid, has to come from a certified crosscut sampler with 3rd party staff on site to monitor sampling and assessment.

Grain grading at elevators/mills/process elev should be a certified apprenticeship trade. The CGC states that it takes 3-4 yrs to become an inspector but like Humphrey Banack stated back 2013, the guy cleaning out your box corners last week, could be grading your grain and telling you how much money you are going to make, this week.

KVD removal (IMHO) another knee jerk reaction, not thought out from all angles.

[cottonpicken]

Duck for sale duck for sale who wants a duck,well sir that certainly looks like a duck walks like a duck quacks like a duck looks like a duck but how can I be sure it is a duck well sir i assure you it is a duck it's got a certified tag around its neck ok fine I'll take the duck very good sir thankyou oh buy the way every fertilized duck egg from here on out you owe me why is that sir because it's my special duck good sir i own the rights to it how could you possibly question that

[grassfarmer]

hobby, does the clover variability seem linked to weather? better or worse in a dry year? I guess that's why people are going to cocktail cover crops - put in a variety and something will do well.
The faba beans were shown as fixing 267lbs of N under irrigation in the same trial southern Alberta.

[ajl]

Fabas should be good for 70-80 lbs. N Still not quite enough to make green manure work. If it did farmers would be in charge. Then farmers could make credible price demands because there would be a viable alternative. So Tom still thinks C-18 will benefit farmers. Well he would be alone on that one. He needs to share the good stuff. C-18 is a classic attempt by crony capitalists to move money from producer pockets to their own using the government.