Pasture Rejuvenation Month - March

Helping Alberta Ranchers Grow More Grass

(Calgary, Alberta. Feb. 2, 2004) - Networking is the name of the game in the troubled Alberta cattle industry. In an effort to help cattle producers grow more grass to feed the surplus of cattle expected to hit pastures this summer, March has been declared Pasture Rejuvenation Month in Alberta.

The goal of this initiative is to provide cattle producers with useful information on how to improve pasture health for increased grass production.

"Because of the market situation, we have an excess of cows and yearlings that exceed the amount of available grass," says Arnold Mattson, Rural Development Officer with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - PFRA. "The temptation this spring will be to overstock pastures because it's the cheapest source of feed available to cattle producers."

Giving grass a production boost requires planning with information support. Sufficient moisture to grow grass is a wildcard, but grazing, adequate fertility, and weed and brush encroachment can be beneficially managed.

Range and Pasture Specialist Scot Middleton with Dow AgroSciences, says,  "We can't do much about rain or the markets, but we can get practical and helpful ideas out to Alberta cattle producers on how to increase grass production."

Mattson offers producers three important ways to protect pasture health: Don't overstock grazing land. Manage your grass for the worst-case scenario. Make learning more about grazing management and grazing plans a priority.

"2004 is shaping up to be a challenging year. During tough times it's important to maintain a network of informed and progressive people," says Mattson. "Working with your neighbours is a more viable option than competing with them."

In support of Pasture Rejuvenation Month, industry and government grass production experts will be providing information to trade publications, Alberta weekly newspapers and radio stations during the month of March. Advice and recommendations are also being published in a new magazine, RPM - Range and Pasture Management.