If grazing leases were recognized as biologically diverse lands worth protecting, public recognition of good stewardship could be enhanced. Protecting biodiversity is an international project. Canada was among 196 countries that signed the United Nations convention on biological diversity in 2010 to halt the decline of biodiversity on land and water. Canada’s conservation vision report […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Livestock beef exports favour Canada
Canadians may be eating less beef, but offshore customers are hungry for more. Canadian per capita consumption is about 17.6 kilograms retail weight but exports to Japan were record high in 2018, thanks in part to a favourable trade agreement where tariffs are being reduced, said Ron Glaser of Canada Beef. While the national herd […] Read more
‘Pendulum has swung too far,’ says vet
AMES, Iowa — Antibiotic-free programs in poultry production may have some poor consequences for the birds. Death rates among broilers have increased from four to five percent, said poultry veterinarian Donald Ritter, director of technical marketing at Mountaire Farms, the sixth largest broiler operation in the United States. “I think we have swung the pendulum […] Read more
Social strategy needed in open sow housing systems
RED DEER — Sows moved into open-housing systems can sometimes start fighting for food and territory. In the wild, they live as family groups called sounders where there is less aggression because they know each other. In domestic barns, the group is more unstable. They live in a limited space with strangers and they are […] Read more
Sixth generation manages this N.B. farm
Becky and Dwayne Perry have recently modernized their dairy and now incorporate a strategic cropping plan
HAVELOCK, N.B. — Six generations of the Perry family have farmed in eastern New Brunswick. Dwayne and Becky Perry are the newest generation and have developed a modern dairy recognized for environmental sustainability and adoption of new technology. Full-time farmers and the parents of three children aged eight to 11, they split duties. Becky handles […] Read moreEastern Canada has hay trade opportunities
MONCTON, N.B. — Forage producers in Eastern Canada might be well positioned to export hay to the United States horse market. Freight rates coming out of Ontario and Quebec are competitive and hay can be shipped within two-day’s time to the southern tip of Florida, said Alex Christensen, president of Southeast Hay Distributors, based in […] Read more
Alta. farmers asked for input on research
Six public sessions will be held this month to talk with Alberta farmers about research. An online survey open until Jan. 31 will also collect opinions on farmer led research and priorities and how this might be carried out. Alberta Agriculture Minister Devin Dreeshen announced late last year the intention to move away from government […] Read more
More sustainability scrutiny called new reality
Grain buyers and end users are increasingly asking producers for details about their production practices on the farm
BANFF, Alta. — Jason Lenz’s farm was one of the first in Alberta to discover wild oats resistant to Avadex. It was an eye-opening experience and the impetus to keep better records of all farm activities, he said during a sustainability discussion at the Prairie Cereals summit held in Banff Dec. 11-12. “There has been […] Read more
Industry introduces glass-to-the-field beer
BANFF, Alta. — Block chain is a complicated concept but thanks to this form of traceability, beer drinkers can track their beverage from field to glass. “This block chain beer is taking traceability to an extreme level, said Matt Hamill of Red Shed Malting in central Alberta. Working with Canada Malting and Last Best Brewing […] Read more
Nova Scotia research centre focuses on grazing
Projects include planting forages from across North America to test different varieties in a number of growing conditions
NAPPAN, N.S. — One of Canada’s oldest research farms is rejuvenating the art of grazing. Agriculture Canada’s Nappan Research Centre in Nova Scotia is one of the original five Dominion Experimental Farms established in 1887. It is the only federal livestock research centre in Eastern Canada working on improving livestock management and forage production. The […] Read more
