Slaughter levels have been above year-ago levels for the past two months, with daily kills now close to pre-COVID levels
The backlog of slaughter ready cattle is slowly working its way through the system, according to market data. Canfax senior analyst Brian Perillat told participants of the recent Canadian Beef Industry Conference that slaughter levels have been above year-ago levels for the past two months, with daily kills now close to pre-COVID levels. “We have […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Cattle herd takes slight dip as shrinking trend continues
Statistics Canada says beef heifer numbers dropped 0.8 percent from last year while cows were down 1.4 percent
Canadian cattle inventory numbers continued to decline in the first part of 2020, settling at 12.2 million head as of July 1 Statistics Canada figures. That number represents a reduction of 0.5 percent compared to July 2019. The domestic herd has shrunk by 27.5 percent since its peak in July 2005. In its report released […] Read more
AFSC waives hail insurance premiums in flood-hit areas
Farmers in northern Alberta facing crop losses because of excess rain can file for full refunds on hail insurance premiums booked through Agriculture Financial Services Corp. The agency announced Aug. 19 that producers with non-viable crops in the northeast, northwest and Peace regions and who also had hail endorsement or straight hail insurance can apply […] Read more
NCC buys native grassland in Sask.
A 2,140-acre expanse of native grassland along Buffalo Pound Lake in southern Saskatchewan has been purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada with financial assistance from various partners. Total purchase price and the names of the former owners of the property were not released. Cameron Wood, director of conservation for the NCC in Saskatchewan, said […] Read more
Farmer’s run-in with sheriffs draws fire
More than $66,400 had been raised as of Aug. 17 to help cover legal costs for two Alberta farmers who were charged after an altercation with Alberta sheriffs last month. Jeremia Leussink, 18, was driving between hay fields July 31 when he neared his destination field and came upon a check stop on Highway 2A […] Read more
Fresh Flavour Farm a year-round operation
NOBLEFORD, Alta. — At first, Andy Katoch’s reasons for starting a vegetable operation were selfish, he admits. He and his family are vegetarian and he sought quality year-round food supplies to meet their needs. But now his aquaponic operation in this southern Alberta town is supplying many with vegetables and serving as an example of […] Read more
Mead animal science gets $17.3M
A venerable building at Lakeland College’s Vermilion, Alta., campus will get a complete upgrade and expansion in the coming year using $17.3 million provided by the Alberta government. The WHT Mead animal science centre, built in 1964, will be renovated to include two more classrooms, lecture theatres, a more modern space for technical equipment and […] Read more
Milk River low flow imposes water restrictions on towns, irrigators
Flow of the Milk River through the town of Milk River, Alta., have dropped to nearly zero as dry conditions persisted in southern Alberta and water cannot be diverted from the St. Mary River system. It is the first time in 100 years that the region has seen only natural flow in the Milk. Normally […] Read more
Alberta trees under attack
A bacterial illness and a fungal disease are appearing in Alberta trees. Toso Bozic, tree specialist and consultant with Yard Whispers, formerly with Alberta Agriculture, said he is getting reports of fire blight appearing in apple, cherry, plum and mountain ash trees. Fire blight thrives in moist conditions and temperatures of 22 C to 26 […] Read more
McDonald’s puts the Canadian back in its burgers
McDonald’s Canada will return in September to using 100 percent Canadian beef in its burgers after sourcing about 20 percent of its Canadian restaurant needs from five other countries because of supply issues during the pandemic. John Betts, president and chief executive officer of McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, made the announcement Aug. 13 during the […] Read more
