Livestock Management
A Manitoba ranching family has won this year’s environmental stewardship award presented by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Brian and Sonja Harper, owners of Circle H Farms at Brandon, run a forage-fed operation with about 80 cows on 500 acres. The herd consists of Lincoln Red, North Devon and Shaver Beef Blend that are grazed in […] Read more
Livestock Management
VIDEO: Overgrazing starts with a ‘fear of wasting grass’
Grazing consultant says management can ensure the best possible use of grass, whether it is being grazed, hayed or rested
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. — It wasn’t exactly a meeting of Overgrazers Anonymous, though grazing consultant Jim Gerrish called it that, tongue in cheek. In fact, those enrolled in a three-day grazing school are probably least likely to overgraze grassland and pasture by virtue of their attendance and what they learned. Gerrish had participants take what […] Read moreHealth issues change when managing senior horses
As horses age, their health needs change. Horses are considered senior citizens after the age of 20 or so. Here is my list of top five health concerns for horses in the golden years of their lives. Immunity — Life-long exposure to various infections and vaccinations should create a highly tuned army of immune cells. […] Read more
Check-off funded cattle research planned
Five research projects will receive funding this year using check-off money collected from Saskatchewan beef producers. The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association will invest more than $220,000 on the projects and expects to spend about $500,000 this year with the balance going to other research proposals that will be considered this fall. “When the SCA board reviews […] Read more
Cargill’s sustainable beef pilot program finds willing producers
LONDON, Ont. — Build it and they will come. That philosophy seems to be working for Cargill Meats’ sustainable beef program. Since last October, Cargill offered a per head payment to producers who are able to supply beef that went through an audited program with indictors established by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. A […] Read more
Trump’s agenda sends beef sector on rocky road
LONDON, Ont. — North American beef producers are feeling the bumps and bruises as trade talks linger. The Canadian, American and Mexican beef sectors generally agree that the North American Free Trade Agreement is a good deal and they don’t want to see it disappear. However, the trade polices of U.S. President Donald Trump are […] Read more
NAFTA dispute mechanism in jeopardy following U.S.-Mexico deal
Over the last three decades, the dispute resolution mechanism of the North American Free Trade Agreement has been used about 120 times. Of those cases, about 15 were related to the agri-food sector, including decisions on the trade of beef, pork, live swine, durum wheat and raspberries. The dispute resolution section of NAFTA, often called […] Read more
Trump: NAFTA threatened, Mexico deal made
(Reuters) – The United States and Mexico agreed on Monday to a sweeping trade deal that pressures Canada to accept the new terms on autos trade, dispute settlement and agriculture to keep a trilateral North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the White House is ready to notify the U.S. […] Read more
Manitoba cattle prices decent ahead of fall run
With cattle sales in Manitoba expecting to pick up in the next few weeks as the slow summer season turns into the fall run, prices are looking good. “(Prices are) pretty darn strong given feed costs are quite high and the dollar’s slowly creeping up, so you’ve got to keep an eye on that. But […] Read more
Alberta dairy farmers get slight quota increase for fall
Alberta dairy farmers will be allowed to slightly increase milk production this fall due to an expected uptick in demand. The one percent quota increase, approved by the Alberta Milk board last week, comes in time for back-to-school and the holiday season. The increase takes effect Sept. 1. “Kids will be needing more milk in […] Read more
