CALGARY — One of the people fighting the Alberta government’s approval of a proposed $70 million biodigester doesn’t expect much will come of provincial mediation slated for May 30 as part of the appeal process. “I think for the whole group, there’s just too many concerns involved,” said Benita Estes. Related stories: Alta. residents to […] Read more
Beef cattle
Appeal process put in place for Alta. biodigester
Mediation is planned for spring; if unsuccessful, it will be followed by an Environmental Appeals Board public hearing
Feds reduce interest-free portion of cash advance
Increases implemented over the last few years have been discontinued, leaving farmers to pay higher interest cost
REGINA — Farmers applying for spring cash advances should be aware the interest-free portion has dropped back to 2021 levels. For the last few years the government temporarily increased the interest-free amounts to reflect challenging conditions including high interest rates. In 2023, farmers were eligible to receive up to $350,000 interest-free; the maximum total advance […] Read more
Water woes weigh on ranchers
MEDICINE HAT — Cattle producers face headwinds in 2024 ranging from higher rates of open cattle to depleted pastures and worries about water shortages and fires. The situation weighs heavily on Kim Wachtler, who ranches along Alberta’s Cowboy Trail near Claresholm, Alta. Related stories in this issue: Communities feel pinch as river levels plummet Sask. […] Read more
Brand inspection moves toward digital records in Sask.
Provincial agency develops a web tool and app that those involved in moving cattle can use to simplify record-keeping
REGINA — Livestock Services of Saskatchewan will soon roll out a new digital records tool and app to help the industry move away from paper while meeting federal legislation. The MyLivestock portal will be available for non-inspected movement likely in March. However, chief executive officer Jason Pollock said its primary purpose is to serve as […] Read more
Grassland payment proposal gains momentum
Canadian Cattle Association says Ottawa appears open to a program that would pay producers to maintain grasslands
BRANDON — The Canadian Cattle Association has been getting a “warm” reception from the federal government as it proposes a new strategy to preserve the country’s grasslands, says vice-president Tyler Fulton. Last fall, the CCA, Ducks Unlimited and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)developed an idea called the Grasslands Conservation Initiative. The basic concept is […] Read more
U.S. cattle herd reaches 1951 low
REUTERS — The total number of U.S. cattle fell to its lowest level since 1951 as of Jan. 1 in the herd’s fifth consecutive year of decline, U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows. Ranchers slashed their herds as dry weather in the western United States reduced the land available for grazing and raised feeding costs. […] Read more
Letting heifers rough it has benefits
Babying heifers through their first winter may not improve the cattle herd. Instead, a late gain system can optimize heifers for reproductive success and reduce feed costs by 12 percent, according to one Alberta veterinarian. Dr. Elizabeth Homerosky says the system helps target first-cycle births and avoids overfeeding animals before they hit grass. There is […] Read more
VIDEO: Youthful optimism abounds in cattle country
Youth programs help attract young people to the cattle breeding sector, where the optimism can be seen in the show barns
BRANDON — It wasn’t hard to find young cattle folk in the barn at Manitoba Ag Days. “They always say (average age) is getting older, but not in livestock, especially not in this kind of seedstock industry,” said Austen Anderson, as he sat on and stroked one of his Angus bulls, a peaceful creature that […] Read more
Proper tagging seen as the easiest way not to lose them
Tags that go into cattle’s ears properly are more likely to stay there and not cause problems later on with traceability
The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency has launched a new campaign to provide more information to farmers on how to retain tags on cattle. The challenge with cattle tagging is that at some point in their life, animals can lose their iconic yellow button tags, and that’s a problem for the traceability system for livestock. The […] Read more
Rabies remains a rare but continued threat in Canada
Rabies is one of the most terrifying diseases to afflict animals because of how it is spread, its lack of treatment and its dramatic clinical presentation. The virus is spread by bites of infected animals. Within the salivary glands, the virus replicates and enters the saliva. When a rabid animal bites, the virus is inoculated […] Read more
