Northern Agriculture Research Articles

Stephen Miller on Capitalism in the Old Regime: A Response

AbstractStephen Miller attempts to confute the idea that capitalist accumulation characterised the agriculture of the Île-de-France prior to the Revolution. Instead he tries to assimilate the agriculture of the north into theAnnalesmodel of neo-Malthusian agricultural cycles and Chayanovian subsistence economy which is supposedly characteristic of the Midi. I argue instead that the notion of a northern capitalist agriculture is rooted not only in the extensive modern research of Moriceau but in the political-economic writings of Turgot and Marx which have been largely ignored. Accumulation in the sense of the growth of fixed and variable capital and emerging technological progress characterised northern agriculture. The persistence of small producers which Miller sees as an index of unchanging stasis might better be investigated in terms of the evolution over time of a reservoir of wage labour for larger-scale enterprises as pointed out by Kautsky.

The birds of “Koobabbie” in the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia (1987–2011) and the contribution of the farm to conservation of the region’s avifauna

The avifauna of Koobabbie, a 7 173 ha wheat and sheep property in the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia with 41.5% the property under remnant native vegetation, was monitored on a weekly basis from May 1987 to December 2011. Recorded during this period were 131 species, comprising 55 residents, seven regular visitors, 14 irregular visitors and 55 vagrants. Fifteen species declined over the 25 years, with one species being extirpated and two species increased. Two other species increased until early this century and then declined. The avifauna of Koobabbie was compared with that of the Northern Agricultural Catchment Council region, in the middle of which region the property is located. Koobabbie comprehensively represented the region’s avifauna and contributed significantly to conservation of the region’s avifauna. This study demonstrates the importance of continuous long-term datasets from a single locality. The need to set up a network of such monitoring sites over much of Australia in order to provide information for management of natural resources is discussed.

Spanning the boundary between climate science and coastal communities: Opportunities and challenges

Climate science is complex and sometimes controversial. One of the challenges for coastal adaptation is spanning the boundary between the technical scientists and other stakeholders including local communities and decision-makers. The technical science is very much the domain of professional climatologists, meteorologists, modellers, oceanographers, biologists and geomorphologists. However, the application of this science to the strategic and tactical management of a local coast and ocean requires applied knowledge about the particular coast and the marine environment, including its vulnerability, community values, local politics and relationships, and formal and informal decision-making pathways. We suggest here that there are many organisations and individuals who play important roles in spanning these boundaries. Their roles include some or all of the following: bringing stakeholders together to negotiate pathways forward; translating the complex technical science into terms useful for management and conveying the needs of management or community to scientists; facilitating new applied knowledge and awareness through deliberations; and mediating conflict resulting from different priorities among the stakeholders.In this paper we focus on organisations and agents who are endeavouring to cross these long-standing boundaries and successfully move climate science information between the knowledge-makers and decision-makers in Australian coastal communities. We use two case studies to examine the opportunities and challenges for the uptake of climate science in these communities. The first case study (OceanWatch: a potential boundary organisation for enabling climate science uptake in the commercial fishing industry) is on enabling climate science uptake in the fishing industry through the potential role of a not-for-profit organisation. The second (Northern Agricultural Catchments Council: managing boundaries for coastal adaptation in the City of Geraldton and its region) explores planning for the coastal town of Geraldton, Western Australia and its surrounding region. For each case study we analyse the functions of convening, collaborating, translating and mediating played by boundary organisations and boundary spanners. We then assess their capacity to enhance the salience, credibility and legitimacy of the process.

Delivering resistance to a major constraint for rain‐fed rice production

Delivering resistance to a major constraint for rain‐fed rice production

Climate-induced overwintering challenges for wheat and rye in northern agriculture

Winters are typically harsh in the northernmost agricultural areas of Europe, and winter rye (Secale cereale L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) are the only winter grain crops that can be grown. However, climate change is projected to result in milder winters, which may enable cultivation of winter crops to a greater extent in the future than is possible today. In this study we aimed at identifying main temperature, precipitation events and characteristics that have resulted in past poor overwintering of rye and wheat in their current production areas in Finland. Using long-term (1970–2006), multi-location datasets, we compared our findings with the projected major changes attributable to climate change. Mixed models were used to estimate mutually comparable overwintering damage to all experiments and logistic regression was used to determine whether climatic parameters are related to high levels of overwintering damage. Severity of overwintering damage, and associated yield penalties, fluctuate considerably on a year-to-year basis and no consistent reduction in variability was recorded during the study period. Particularly for wheat, severity of winter damage in any one year was associated negatively with area sown in the following year. There was no evidence of consistent genetic improvements in winter hardiness, but rye was more winter hardy than wheat. Current risks associated with rye production related to low temperatures could be alleviated in the future, although overwintering damage currently enhanced by high autumn precipitation could increase due to climate change. For wheat, fluctuating conditions hampered overwintering, which may be an even harder challenge in future when weather variation is projected to increase and extreme weather events are projected to become more common.

The responses of agriculture in Europe to climate change

Human activities are projected to lead to substantial increases in temperature that will impact northern Europe during winter and southern Europe during summer. Moreover, it is expected that these changes will cause increasing water shortages along the Mediterranean and in the south-west Balkans and in the south of European Russia. The consequences on the European agricultural ecosystems are likely to vary widely depending on the cropping system being investigated (i.e. cereals vs. forage crops vs. perennial horticulture), the region and the likely climate changes. In northern Europe, increases in yield and expansion of climatically suitable areas are expected to dominate, whereas disadvantages from increases in water shortage and extreme weather events (heat, drought, storms) will dominate in southern Europe. These effects may reinforce the current trends of intensification of agriculture in northern and western Europe and extensification and abandonment in the Mediterranean and south-eastern parts of Europe. Among the adaptation options (i.e. autonomous or planned adaptation strategies) that may be explored to minimize the negative impacts of climate changes and to take advantage of positive impacts, changes in crop species, cultivar, sowing date, fertilization, irrigation, drainage, land allocation and farming system seem to be the most appropriate. In adopting these options, however, it is necessary to consider the multifunctional role of agriculture and to strike a variable balance between economic, environmental and economic functions in different European regions.

A new look at an old practice: Benefits from soil water accumulation in long fallows under Mediterranean conditions

The practice of long fallowing, by omitting a year of cropping, is gaining renewed focus in the low rainfall zone of the northern agriculture region of Western Australia. The impetus behind this practice change has been a reduced use of pasture breaks in cereal crop rotations, and the belief that a fallow can improve soil water accumulation and thus buffer the negative effects of dry seasons on crop yields. We evaluated the benefits of long fallowing (full stubble retention, no weed growth allowed) in a continuous wheat sequence via simulation modelling with APSIM at two rainfall locations and five soil types. The simulated benefits to long fallowing were attributable to soil water accumulation only, as the effects on soil nitrogen, diseases or weeds were not evaluated.

Effects of defoliation on carbohydrate status, nodules and spring growth in white clover in a sub-arctic climate

In order to improve the basis for utilizing white clover (Trifolium repens L) in northern agriculture, we studied the effects of defoliation intensity on spring growth in a sub-arctic climate in relation to carbohydrate and nodule status. White clover plants (cv Snowy) were studied in a pot experiment in the field on the coast of northern Norway from spring 2001 until spring 2002. The experiment was repeated with some modifications from spring 2002 until spring 2003. During the growing season from summer to autumn, the plants were totally stripped of leaves down to the stolon, cut at four or seven cm height or left undisturbed. The plants were sampled destructively in autumn, early spring and late spring and sorted into leaves, stolons and roots. The plant material was weighed and analysed for carbohydrate reserves and nodule number. Defoliation during the growing season resulted in reduced concentration of reserve carbohydrates in autumn and reduced winter survival of the stolons. The most severe defoliation treatment reduced the herbage growth in spring. In contrast, the two milder defoliation treatments had no effect on herbage growth during spring or on total plant dry matter and nodule status in late spring. In conclusion, moderate defoliation during the growing season had no effect on herbage growth the following spring nor on carbohydrate, nodule or dry matter status of the plant in late spring. Moderate defoliation increased spring growth and thereby also the nitrogen demand of the plants. This probably enhanced nodule formation and development of inactive to active nodules.

Women's involvement in agriculture in northern and southern Kaduna State, Nigeria

The position of women in meeting the challenges of agricultural development cannot be overemphasized. Women make a significant contribution to food production and processing, but men seem to take more of the farm decisions and control the productive resources. Full participation of women is required to increase agricultural productivity; which can only be achieved when women are perceived as subjects of development. Towards this end, a study was conducted in Kaduna State of Nigeria with a random sample of 230 women to examine the status of women's involvement in the agricultural sector. Data were collected by administering a structured questionnaire to the women. Analysis of the data was done using descriptive statistics and the logit regression model. It was observed that women had a low rate of involvement in farm decisions (41.53%) and could not adequately access productive resources (11.25%). The satisfaction derived from agriculture by the women was low and significantly related to the size of household farm and share of the farm income that reached them.

Integrated, Regional, Natural Resource and Environmental Planning and the Natural Heritage Trust Phase 2: a case study of the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council, Western Australia

Since 2002, the Australian Natural Heritage Trust Phase 2 (NHT2) has required community groups seeking funds for natural resource management projects to have developed nationally accredited regional strategies and investment plans. This case study reports on the progress of one such regional (and sub-regional) group, examining in particular the perceptions of the community group members and other stakeholders of the overall process. Through interviews, participant observation and document analysis in 2004–05, the process of developing a regional strategy and an investment plan by the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council in Western Australia, and the involvement of regional stakeholders in the process, were examined. While the concept of regional-scale management was perceived favourably by community interviewees, their concerns related to increasing bureaucracy, the need for further local involvement, more on-ground action instead of further planning, the relevance of the regional Council to local communities, and the motives of Council members. Communication with regional stakeholders was extensive in preparing the regional strategy, but fell short during the development of the investment plan. The success of the regional planning process will be evidenced by whether members of the regional community actively implement regional priorities, and whether long-term funding and support from the State and Australian governments are provided.

Registration of ‘MT1159CL’ Wheat

Crop ScienceVolume 46, Issue 3 p. 1395-1396 Registrations of Cultivars Registration of ‘MT1159CL’ Wheat J.E. Berg, J.E. Berg Dep. of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 59717-3140Search for more papers by this authorR.N. Stougaard, R.N. Stougaard Northwestern Agricultural Research Center, 4570 Montana 35, Kalispell, MT, 59901Search for more papers by this authorC.R. Cook, C.R. Cook Westbred, LLC, 8111 Timberline Dr., Bozeman, MT, 59718Search for more papers by this authorK.D. Kephart, K.D. Kephart Southern Agricultural Research Center, 748 Railroad Hwy., Huntley, MT, 59037Search for more papers by this authorG.R. Carlson, G.R. Carlson Northern Agricultural Research Center, 3848 Fort Circle, Havre, MT, 59501-8409Search for more papers by this authorD.M. Wichman, D.M. Wichman Central Agricultural Research Center, HC90-Box 20, Moccasin, MT, 59462Search for more papers by this authorJ.L. Eckhoff, J.L. Eckhoff Eastern Agricultural Research Center, 1501 N. Central, Sidney, MT, 59270Search for more papers by this authorN. Riveland, N. Riveland Williston Research Extension Center, 14120 Hwy. 2, Williston, ND, 58801Search for more papers by this authorG.D. Kushnak, G.D. Kushnak Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 974, Conrad, MT, 59425Search for more papers by this authorD.L. Nash, D.L. Nash Dep. of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 59717-3140Search for more papers by this authorP.L. Bruckner, Corresponding Author P.L. Bruckner bruckner@montana.edu Dep. of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 59717-3140Corresponding author (bruckner@montana.edu)Search for more papers by this author J.E. Berg, J.E. Berg Dep. of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 59717-3140Search for more papers by this authorR.N. Stougaard, R.N. Stougaard Northwestern Agricultural Research Center, 4570 Montana 35, Kalispell, MT, 59901Search for more papers by this authorC.R. Cook, C.R. Cook Westbred, LLC, 8111 Timberline Dr., Bozeman, MT, 59718Search for more papers by this authorK.D. Kephart, K.D. Kephart Southern Agricultural Research Center, 748 Railroad Hwy., Huntley, MT, 59037Search for more papers by this authorG.R. Carlson, G.R. Carlson Northern Agricultural Research Center, 3848 Fort Circle, Havre, MT, 59501-8409Search for more papers by this authorD.M. Wichman, D.M. Wichman Central Agricultural Research Center, HC90-Box 20, Moccasin, MT, 59462Search for more papers by this authorJ.L. Eckhoff, J.L. Eckhoff Eastern Agricultural Research Center, 1501 N. Central, Sidney, MT, 59270Search for more papers by this authorN. Riveland, N. Riveland Williston Research Extension Center, 14120 Hwy. 2, Williston, ND, 58801Search for more papers by this authorG.D. Kushnak, G.D. Kushnak Western Triangle Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 974, Conrad, MT, 59425Search for more papers by this authorD.L. Nash, D.L. Nash Dep. of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 59717-3140Search for more papers by this authorP.L. Bruckner, Corresponding Author P.L. Bruckner bruckner@montana.edu Dep. of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 59717-3140Corresponding author (bruckner@montana.edu)Search for more papers by this author First published: 01 May 2006 https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2005.11-0405Citations: 5 Registration by CSSA. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume46, Issue3May 2006Pages 1395-1396 RelatedInformation

Accumulation and Loss of Nitrogen in White Clover (Trifolium repens L.) Plant Organs as Affected by Defoliation Regime on Two Sites in Norway

In order to improve the basis for utilising nitrogen (N) fixed by white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in northern agriculture, we studied how defoliation stress affected the N contents of major plant organs in late autumn, N losses during the winter and N accumulation in the following spring. Plants were established from stolon cuttings and transplanted to pots that were dug into the field at Apelsvoll Research Centre (60°42′ N, 10°51′ E) and at Holt Research Centre (69°40′ N, 18°56′ E) in spring 2001 and 2002. During the first growing season, the plants were totally stripped of leaves down to the stolon basis, cut at 4 cm height or left undisturbed. The plants were sampled destructively in late autumn, early spring the second year and after 6 weeks of new spring growth. The plant material was sorted into leaves, stolons and roots. Defoliation regime did not influence the total amount of leaf N harvested during and at the end of the first growing season. However, for intensively defoliated plants, the repeated leaf removal and subsequent regrowth occurred at the expense of stolon and root development and resulted in a 61–85% reduction in the total plant N present in late autumn and a 21–59% reduction in total accumulation of plant N (plant N present in autumn + previously harvested leaf N). During the winter, the net N loss from leaf tissue (N not recovered in living nor dead leaves in the spring) ranged from 57% to 74% of the N present in living leaves in the autumn, while N stored in stolons and roots was much better conserved. However, the winter loss of stolon N from severely defoliated plants (19%) was significantly larger than from leniently defoliated (12%) and non-defoliated plants (6%). Moreover, the fraction of stolon N determined as dead in the spring was 63% for severely defoliated as compared to 14% for non-defoliated plants. Accumulation in absolute terms of new leaf N during the spring was highly correlated to total plant N in early spring (R 2 = 0.86), but the growth rates relative to plant N present in early spring were not and, consequently, were similar for all treatments. The amount of inorganic N in the soil after snowmelt and the N uptake in plant root simulator probes (PRSTM) during the spring were small, suggesting that microbial immobilisation, leaching and gas emissions may have been important pathways for N lost from plant tissue.

Modernisierte Naturbeherrschung

Having been a subject mainly of north-south relations, biodiversity now is increasingly discussed in the context of northern agriculture. There is an increasing discursive dominance of the standpoint of molecular biology, materialising itself in research institutions and in the policy of the federal ministry of research. As a consequence the contradictions within industrial agriculture are accentuated: The access to genetic resources is increasingly monopolized, and farmers become more and more dependent on the high-tech products of the seed industry. Thereby traditional methods of conserving and developing biodiversity, which the seed industry has always built on, are devaluated. Furthermore the traditional alliance between agriculture and seed industry becomes fragile. This creates new possibilities for small farmers' associations to change societal relationships with nature in modern agriculture.

The Effect of Scours on Calf Weaning Weight

Beef cattle health and performance records of 3637 calves from inbred and outbred populations were evaluated to determine the effect of scours on weaning BW (WW). Animals were maintained under similar environmental conditions at the Northern Agricultural Research Center near Havre, Montana. Inbred animals were linebred Hereford cattle with an average inbreeding coefficient of 0.20. Outbred animals were Hereford, Angus × Hereford, Simmental × Hereford crosses and backcrosses, and Tarentaise × Hereford crosses and backcrosses. Weaning BW was analyzed by least squares ANOVA. Model included year, age of dam, line (inbred or outbred), scours, and date of birth as a covariate. When zero WW were included for calves that died of scours (1%), all main effects were important. The least squares mean WW were 208 and 217kg for scouring and non-scouring groups, respectively. Interactions between year × age of dam (P < 0.01) and year × line (P < 0.01) were detected. Incidence of scours was analyzed by the CATMOD procedure of SAS. The model included year, age of dam, and line (inbred or outbred). All main effects were important (P < 0.01). Incidence of scours ranged from 13% in 1982 to 64% in 1991. Incidence of scours was greatest in calves born to 2-yr-old dams with probabilities of 47% and 33% in inbred and outbred dams, respectively. These results indicate that scours negatively influenced WW. Incidence of scours was greater in calves born to younger dams and for inbred cattle.

Registration of ‘H3860224’ Barley

Crop ScienceVolume 42, Issue 5 p. 1747-1748 Registrations of Cultivar Registration of ‘H3860224’ Barley T. Blake, Corresponding Author T. Blake [email protected] Dep. of Plant Science and Plant Pathology, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 59717Corresponding author ([email protected])Search for more papers by this authorJ.G.P. Bowman, J.G.P. Bowman Dep. of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 59717-2900Search for more papers by this authorP. Hensleigh, P. Hensleigh Dep. of Plant Science and Plant Pathology, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 59717Search for more papers by this authorG. Kushnak, G. Kushnak Western Triangle Agric. Res. Ctr., Montana State Univ., P.O. Box 974, Conrad, MT, 59215Search for more papers by this authorG. Carlson, G. Carlson Northern Agricultural Res. Ctr., Montana State Univ., Star Route 36, Box 43, Havre, MT, 59501Search for more papers by this authorL. Welty, L. Welty Northwestern Agric. Res. Ctr., Montana State Univ., 4570 MT 35, Kalispell, MT, 59901Search for more papers by this authorJ. Eckhoff, J. Eckhoff Eastern Agric. Res. Ctr., 1501 N. Central Ave., Sidney, MT, 59270Search for more papers by this authorK. Kephart, K. Kephart Southern Agric. Res. Ctr., Montana State Univ., 748 Railroad Highway, Huntley, MT, 59037-9099Search for more papers by this authorD. Wichman, D. Wichman Central Agric. Res. Ctr., HC 90, Box 20, Moccasin, MT, 59462Search for more papers by this author T. Blake, Corresponding Author T. Blake [email protected] Dep. of Plant Science and Plant Pathology, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 59717Corresponding author ([email protected])Search for more papers by this authorJ.G.P. Bowman, J.G.P. Bowman Dep. of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 59717-2900Search for more papers by this authorP. Hensleigh, P. Hensleigh Dep. of Plant Science and Plant Pathology, Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT, 59717Search for more papers by this authorG. Kushnak, G. Kushnak Western Triangle Agric. Res. Ctr., Montana State Univ., P.O. Box 974, Conrad, MT, 59215Search for more papers by this authorG. Carlson, G. Carlson Northern Agricultural Res. Ctr., Montana State Univ., Star Route 36, Box 43, Havre, MT, 59501Search for more papers by this authorL. Welty, L. Welty Northwestern Agric. Res. Ctr., Montana State Univ., 4570 MT 35, Kalispell, MT, 59901Search for more papers by this authorJ. Eckhoff, J. Eckhoff Eastern Agric. Res. Ctr., 1501 N. Central Ave., Sidney, MT, 59270Search for more papers by this authorK. Kephart, K. Kephart Southern Agric. Res. Ctr., Montana State Univ., 748 Railroad Highway, Huntley, MT, 59037-9099Search for more papers by this authorD. Wichman, D. Wichman Central Agric. Res. Ctr., HC 90, Box 20, Moccasin, MT, 59462Search for more papers by this author First published: 01 September 2002 https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2002.1747 Registration by CSSA. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. Volume42, Issue5September–October 2002Pages 1747-1748 RelatedInformation

Wheat Curl Mite Control on Winter Wheat, 1996

Abstract Wheat was seeded 14 Jun, at Northern Agriculture Research Center, Havre, MT. Plots measured 16 ft long and 2 rows wide (1-ft row spacing) and were arranged in a RCB design with 4 replications. Insecticide applications were made using a backpack, CO2-powered sprayer equipped with TeeJet XR8002VS nozzles, calibrated to deliver 8.2 gpa at 30 psi. Six of the most recently, fully expanded leaves per plot were selected for sampling. Number WCM per leaf and percent infested plants were determined by visual inspection with the aid of a dissecting microscope. Data were analyzed using GLM and means were separated using LSMEANS.

Northern agriculture: constraints and responses to global climate change

In the northern circumpolar zone, the area between the 600°Cd and 1200°Cd isopleths of effective temperature sum above 5°C, the annual receipt of solar energy is limited by the low angle of radiation arriving at the earth’s surface. This is the primary cause of the climatic constraints observed in the zone, such as low temperatures, a short growing season, frosts during the growing season, long and cold winters and thick snow cover. In Finland, the length of the growing season varies from 180 days in the south (60°N) to 120 days in the north (70°N). Consequently, the growing time for crops from sowing to ripening is also short, which limits their ability to produce high yields. The most advanced forms of farming in the high-latitude zone are encountered towards the south in Northern Europe, central Siberia and the prairies of Canada, i.e. mainly in the phytogeographical hemiboreal zone where the effective temperature sum is higher than 1200°Cd. Conditions for agriculture then deteriorate gradually further north with the cooling of the climate, and this is reflected as an increase in cattle rearing at the expense of grain cultivation. In northern Europe farming is practised as far north as to the Arctic Circle, at about 66°N latitude. In North America, fields extend to about 55°N, In Asia, there are few fields north of 60°N. Finland is the most northern agricultural country in the world, with all its field area, about 2.5 million hectares, located north of latitude 60°N. Changes in the climate and atmospheric CO2 predicted for the future are likely to have a strong influence, either beneficial or disadvantageous, on the conditions for growth in northern areas where the annual mean temperature is 5°C or less.

Genetic components for milk production of tarentaise, hereford, and tarentaise x hereford cows.

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic components for milk production of Hereford (HH), Tarentaise (TT), and Hereford x Tarentaise or Tarentaise x Hereford (HT) cows under range conditions at the Northern Agricultural Research Center, Havre, MT. Milk production of 494 cow-calf pairs was estimated by the weigh-suckle-weigh procedure from 1989 to 1994. Milk production and cow and calf weights were measured at 40 d (early) and 120 d (late) of lactation. The mating scheme was a 3 x 3 design in which HH, HT, and TT cows were mated with HH, HT, and TT sires, producing calves that were varying percentages of Hereford and Tarentaise. Data were analyzed by least squares procedures according to a model that included year, age of cow, sex of calf, linear regression on calf age, and linear regressions on coefficients that coded for various genetic components. These genetic components were breed individual, breed maternal, breed grand maternal, individual heterosis (calf heterosis), and maternal heterosis (cow heterosis). Coefficients for genetic components were such that breed effects estimated TT-HH and regressions on heterosis values estimated the full effect of heterosis. The breed individual genetic component was significant only for calf early and late weights; Tarentaise calves were lighter. Breed maternal was significant for most traits, and these effects were positive for milk production (2.16 and 3.77 kg/d for early and late, respectively) and calf weights but negative for cow weights. Individual heterosis was not significant for early milk production but was significant for late milk production (1.05 kg/d) and calf weights (2.3 and 8.1 kg for early and late, respectively). Maternal heterosis was significant for most traits and increased early milk production (1.25 kg/d), calf weights (4.5 and 5.8 kg for early and late, respectively), and cow weights (18.1 and 6.0 kg for early and late, respectively).

AC Albright barley

AC Albright (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an early maturing, six-row feed barley cultivar. It was selected from the cultivar Otal at the Northern Agriculture Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge, Alberta Canada. It has demonstrated adaptation to north-central and western Alberta and the Peace River region of British Columbia. Key words:Hordeum vulgare, barley, early maturity, cultivar description

AC Stacey barley

AC Stacey is an early maturing, six-row feed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) with excellent barley leaf scald resistance. It was developed at the Northern Agriculture Research Centre, Beaverlodge, Alberta from the cross Otal/Melvin. It is moderately strong strawed, and adapted to barley leaf scald prone areas in Alberta, and the Peace River region of British Columbia. Key words:Hordeum vulgare, barley, early maturity, cultivar description, Rhynchosporium secalis, scald