By Theopolis Waters CHICAGO, Feb 24 (Reuters) – The number of cattle placed into U.S. feedlots in January rose 11 percent from a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on Friday, the largest number in three years and nearly matching analysts’ average forecasts. Positive January profits for feedlots allowed them to buy more […] Read more
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U.S. Jan feedlot cattle placements notch three-year high
Profit-taking pressures cattle futures, boosts hogs
By Michael Hirtzer CHICAGO, Feb 24 (Reuters) – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were mostly lower on Friday while lean hog futures gained sharply as investors took profits in each livestock contract, traders and analysts said. Cattle fell after Thursday’s nearly four-week high and hogs rebounded from a roughly two-month low. “It’s just an […] Read more
Friday crop market wrap – May canola falls 1.6 pct on week
Canola and soybean futures closed Friday little changed as the market awaits new news to trade on. Chicago wheat was the weak man of the grains complex today, falling more than one percent, but spring wheat edged higher. Crop futures prices generally drifted lower over the week as expectations rose that South America will produce […] Read more
Controlled traffic project follows path to the end
After six years of staying on track, a unique farm research project has reached its final headland. Controlled Traffic Farming Alberta, known online as controlledtrafficfarming.org, will end its six year rotation of research this March with a final conference. With eight co-operating farms and multiple projects, the group has assembled a great deal of data […] Read more
Glacier FarmMedia launches podcast: Between The Rows
Glacier FarmMedia has launched a weekly podcast about Canadian agriculture called, “Between The Rows.” The show’s hosts and contributors are experienced agriculture reporters from the more than 20 print and online brands within Glacier FarmMedia, including The Western Producer. Keep up-to-date with the top stories and the latest developments in agriculture by subscribing to Between […] Read more
Unmonitored: pesticide residues in water
Sixty-five to 70 million acres of crop goes in the ground in Western Canada every spring. After seeding and into the summer, farmers apply tonnes of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides to control pests on those crops. In Alberta alone, data shows that 15.2 million kilograms of pesticide active ingredient were sold or shipped into the […] Read more
Women in agriculture
This is the second of a four-part series looking at the role women play in agriculture, how it has changed and what the future holds. In Alberta, a woman sets up a Facebook group to provide a forum for women working in agriculture and within two weeks the group has 2,000 participants. In Saskatchewan, a […] Read more
Pasture pigs bring home the bacon
GUELPH, Ont. — Ross Duffield’s farm-raised pragmatism led him to adopt confinement housing strategies in pastured-pig production systems at the Rodale Institute. Four years ago, Duffield was hired as farm manager at the Pennsylvania research farm. Two years ago, he led work to complete a 96-by-40-foot, fabric-covered housing facility surrounded by eight acres of pasture. […] Read more
Low-cost producers must vaccinate animals
The vaccination program at the Western Beef Development Centre costs about $25 per cow annually. Whether producers consider that a lot or a little, the costs of illnesses, lost productivity and potential spread of disease could be much more than $25. Kathy Larson, research scientist at the WBDC near Lanigan, Sask., said bovine viral diarrhea […] Read more
Nasal vaccines deliver solid infection protection
The best offense is a good defence, particularly when trying to protect young calves, says a scientist with VIDO
Intranasal vaccines offer the best protection against respiratory infection in calves, particularly when administered at branding and again at weaning, studies have found. Dr. Philip Griebel of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization in Saskatoon said bovine respiratory disease remains difficult to treat because it is so complex. Multiple viral and bacterial pathogens, combined with […] Read more
