The middle of December might not seem like the time to start thinking about overwintering success in winter wheat, but agrologist Mark Akins thinks Christmas is ideal. “And not just about this winter wheat crop, but how your choices for this spring could allow you to best incorporate a fall-seeded cereal into your rotation,” said […] Read more
Stories by Michael Raine
Marketing plan touts Hereford origin
REGINA – Hereford cattle producers will have a new way to brand their cattle in January, using cardboard, waxed paper, tape and stickers. The Canadian Hereford Association will launch a farmgate branded beef program that allows producers to sell their Hereford meat in Hereford packaging. “It creates brand recognition at the local level and takes […] Read more
Genetics take planetary approach
REGINA – The world’s Hereford producers are going global. Jan Wills, general secretary of the World Hereford Council, says with its Hereford Global Evaluation program, the council intends to be the first of the major beef breeds to have an international database of genetics that will allow worldwide exchange of semen and genetics with full […] Read more
Agribition pioneer honoured
REGINA – Bill Smalls has been a long-time Simmental breeder and member of the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame, but at Regina’s Canadian Western Agribition he is known for his pioneering work on the country’s largest indoor livestock show. On Nov. 23, Agribition awarded the producer from Craven, Sask., its builder’s award, now named the […] Read more
Marbling captures carcass award
REGINA – For the first time at Canadian Western Agribition, the steer carcass competition has been won with an animal that graded Prime. Rancher Doug Norris selected the late-born, white calf late last fall. “He was a bit small because of his age, but he had all the right stuff. So keeping him back from […] Read more
Silver cattle attract golden prices at Agribition
REGINA – Can golden thread be sewn with silver needles? The Canadian Charolais Association thinks so and some commercial cattle producers agree. Silver, the terminal cross between Black Angus and white Charolais, caused a lot of discussion at last week’s Canadian Western Agribition. And there was gold, as pens of the calves were auctioned and […] Read more
Cattle entries up at Agribition
REGINA – As Brad Buchanan’s windshield wipers began to stick in place, Mother Nature and the RCMP ensured that White River, Ont., would live up to its name. On Nov. 15 the road through White River leading to the biggest livestock show in Western Canada, Canadian Western Agribition, was closed due to snow. “It’s winter […] Read more
Parade horses call Sask. home
REGINA – Six Saskatchewan-reared horses will haul a major float in New York’s Nov. 24 Thanksgiving Day parade. Manhattan’s Macy’s department store hosts the biggest parade in the United States and the longest float ever to participate, at 25 metres, is being hauled by an eight-horse hitch of black Clydesdales. Six of those were animals […] Read more
Hog producers should focus on piglet care
Weaning 30 piglets per sow, per year is becoming a goal within a producer’s grasp. Colin Pratt of Big Sky Farms at Porcupine Plain, Sask., has peaked at that number. With modern practices, a little technology and a lot of attention to husbandry, it will be the new production benchmark, he said. “All the best […] Read more
Consumers’ opinion on pork safety improves
Canadians felt better about the hog industry last year than they did five years ago, says pollster Susan Jones of Ipsos Reid. The polling company researched Canadian opinions of hog production and pork safety in 1999, 2002 and 2004. “Canadian opinions about pig production have improved significantly, especially since 2002,” she said. Two-thirds of Canadians […] Read more
