Frost: Take Patient Approach To Swathing

Aug 27, 2015

Except for some areas of the Peace region, which got as low as -5C or -6C on the B.C. side, most frost across the Prairies over the past week was light. Usually the best response to a light frost is to leave the crop standing to mature fully and continue to clear green. But take a look at fields to be sure. Later less mature crops seem to be a little less tolerant of frost.

Swathing right after a light frost will probably lead to lower yield and quality than a crop left to mature completely.

Leave the crop standing, but keep an eye on it. Check in the afternoon for wilting to make sure frost damage was not heavier than expected. Speckling on the stem and pods is may be of little concern, but checks that seeds inside look OK and that pod integrity remains.

What to look for during daily monitoring:

—If the majority of the seeds remain immature and soft (not frost damaged), delay swathing to allow for further seed maturity. 

—If the pods are severely damaged and are beginning to desiccate, swath during periods of dew or high humidity to reduce the amount of pod shelling and pod drop. Severely damaged pods will turn white or black.

—Assess percentage of the plant and crop these damaged pods represent. The pods shown in the bottom photo above will contribute little to yield, and the swath decision should not be based on pods with immature seeds.

Source : AlbertaCanola

Video: FLEECED! Sheep Shearer Hands Over Clippers!

It's sheep shearing day at Ewetopia Farms! ?? Our Dorset lambs and ewes are getting fleeced — and for the first time, our shearer hands over his clippers to a beginner. We finish shearing the last of our adult ewes and this year’s Dorset ewe lambs.

From moving the sheep between barns, loading them into chutes, and watching the wool come off, this is always one of the most satisfying days on the farm. But this video has a twist — we welcomed a new helper, Gian, who’s not only lending a hand but also learning how to shear! With guidance from our experienced shearer, he got a crash course in sheep shearing and even tried his hand at shearing a couple of lambs himself.

You’ll see firsthand how both teacher and student handled this unique challenge. Shearing is more than just removing wool — it’s about sheep health, comfort, and giving us a closer look at the flock. It’s always amazing to see the transformation from woolly sheep to freshly shorn ewes and lambs.