Manitoba Agriculture is offering services and tools to help livestock producers affected by dry conditions
By Kate Ayers
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Because of low levels of precipitation and soil moisture this growing season, Manitoba Agriculture is reminding producers of programs and services available to help with forage shortages.
Manitoba Agriculture offers tools and resources that livestock producers can use to manage the impact of lower forage supplies, a ministry release said on Friday.
The provincial government provides information on:
- alternative feeding strategies, such as straw and feed grain rations, greenfeed and utilizing other crop products as feed sources
- the Manitoba Hay Listing Service
- forage and pasture management
Producers with AgriInsurance contracts who plan to use their crop as an alternative feed must contact the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC) for a field appraisal before harvesting the crop, the release said.
Crop producers with crop residue on their fields should consider making the residue available to livestock producers instead of burning it.
The Province also has risk management programs available for producers under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the release said. These include:
- forage insurance under the AgriInsurance program. For more information, producers can visit the MASC website or call their local MASC office.
- Agristability, a program that supports producers following large income losses. Program details can be found here.
- The Western Livestock Price Insurance Program is also available to help farmers protect themselves against unexpected price declines.
If producers are interested in learning more about the programs and services Manitoba Agriculture offers, they can call 1-488-769-6224 or visit the government website.
The Beef Cattle Research Council has a list of drought management strategies on their website as well.