Chewing Cud

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05 Mar

Posted at 11:00h in Chewing Cud

By: Jesse Williams, Agricultural Fieldman, Special Area No.2 On February 27, 2025 the Rumsey Community Hall welcomed 147 female cattle producers to the Tri-County Ladies Calving Clinic hosted by Starland County, Stettler County and Special Area No. 2 Agricultural Services Departments. This unique female-led learning opportunity...

07 Feb

Posted at 09:00h in Chewing Cud, News

Check out the spring edition of Growing and Grazing with Special Areas! In this interactive newsletter, you will read about Knapweed, wild boars and what we got up to this past year and more! Happy reading! To read previous newsletters, visit: Agriculture Services – Special Areas Board...

19 Dec

Posted at 08:00h in Chewing Cud

Our Special Areas Ag Fieldman attended the 2024 Ag Connections Conference presented by MNP earlier this month, and they learned so much! Our neighbor in Starland County, Flaghill Ranch Grass Fed Beef talked about the business of branding and strategies for success in a competitive market....

22 Oct

Posted at 20:08h in Chewing Cud

Check out the summer edition of Growing and Grazing with Special Areas! In this interactive newsletter, you will read about nitrate poisoning, downy brome, funding opportunities and more! Happy reading! To read previous newsletters, visit: Agriculture Services – Special Areas Board...

04 Sep

Posted at 08:00h in Chewing Cud

Three-flowered Avens (Geum trilorum) Native to the Special Areas and also known as Old Man’s Whiskers or Prairie Smoke, this attractive perennial is known for its reddish-purple, bell-shaped flowers that hang in groups of three. The 6 to 18-inch-tall plant has foot-wide, basal clumps of ferny, blue-green...

28 Aug

Posted at 08:00h in Chewing Cud

Broom-Rape (Orobanche ludoviciana) Broom-rape species are parasitic plants that grow on sage (Artemisia) plants. They have a white-ish colouring because they obtain their energy from the sage instead of producing their own via photosynthesis. Three broom-rape species are present in Alberta all characterized by their small...

14 Aug

Posted at 08:00h in Chewing Cud

Prairie Sage (Artemisia ludoviciana and frigida) This aromatic, silvery-white perennial is found throughout the Special Areas. Easily identified with its distinctive scent and silvery leaves,  fringed sage is lower growing with fine, hair-like leaves. Prairie sage is taller with long oval leaves but has the same...

31 Jul

Posted at 08:00h in Chewing Cud

Blue Grama Grass (Bouteloua gracilis) Blue Grama grass is a very distinct grass found across the prairies - particularly on drier sites. Blue grama can be identified by its comb-like seed head when it’s in flower, or by the blueish tinge to its narrow (1-2 mm...

24 Jul

Posted at 08:00h in Chewing Cud

Yellow Toadflax (Linara vulgaris) This noxious (MUST be controlled) weed can flower much earlier in the year but is often noticed in Special Areas around this time of year. While sometimes mistaken for a snap dragon (check your “wildflower mixes”), this perennial is a fierce competitor...

17 Jul

Posted at 08:00h in Chewing Cud

Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) Despite its name, Showy Milkweed is not a weed, but it is very showy. A common sight along Highway 555, showy milkweed is a showstopper when in bloom. A robust plant growing 1m or more in height with large 15 cm succulent green-blue...