| | During the spring and summer of 2006, foragebeef.ca made additions to its on-line topics that relate to forage and beef production. New subject folders on climate change and management practices, as well as identification systems and herd bull care, now complement the topic areas that already existed on the site. The climate change folders contain fresh information on both the issues of animal management and crop management. Topics relate to agricultural practices that enhance or damage the climate from a greenhouse perspective.
“Known by its web address, foragebeef.ca provides a excellent assortment of information relating to both current Canadian agricultural issues and technical information on forage and beef production,” says Ken Ziegler, beef specialist with Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development’s Ag-Info Centre, Rocky Mountain House.
There are three levels of information within the technical section of foragebeef.ca. The website was designed to make navigating through the vast amount of information quick and easy for producers.
Level 1 is the straight-forward “cut to the core” type of information that may be wanted on a particular topic. Here, the most important pieces of information that address the topic are identified. These knowledge nuggets are brief, concise and summarize the issues around a topic efficiently.
Level 2 is for the reader who wants more information about a particular topic. On this level, links and postings have been searched out from numerous sources, and many factsheets from other websites about the topics are included. From literally thousands of factsheets, the best were selected. The main mandate was to select the most comprehensive and applicable factsheets to Western Canadian agriculture.
Level 3 is for the analyzer who wants to know how the information was derived. In this level, a collection of scientific review papers, research abstracts or summaries and links to research communities through out Canada and the world can be found. This level is the storehouse for the research community.
“To complement the technical side of forage and beef information, foragebeef.ca also contains the latest in agricultural news for the forage and beef industry,” says Ziegler. “Readers will have access to the latest announcements and happenings that pertain to western Canada in the central portion of the home page.”
The sidebar on the right hand side of the home page is a quick reference point for the latest weather reports, market reviews and the latest cattle market information.
If during the study or research being conducted on-line the viewer needs to speak with someone, it is recommended to contact a local agrologist in the area of interest. Because climatic conditions affect management practices, it is important that producers contact someone who is credible to the topic area and the situation. Government specialists or private industry specialists will be able to help. To contact someone from Alberta Agriculture, simply call the 310-FARM to be put in touch with an Alberta Agriculture agrologist. Alberta Agriculture agrologists are happy to visit with producers on issues pertaining to their business.
Be sure to bookmark www.foragebeef.ca as a source of sound agricultural information for Canadian conditions.
Contact: Ken Ziegler 310-FARM |
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