Grand champion female | The ‘awesome’ cow family has good udders, good feet and bones and solid bodies, says owner
EDMONTON — A winning cow family kept on winning at Farmfair International. A black Simmental cow, owned by Rancier Farms and Westman Land and Cattle, won grand champion female at the Supreme Champions show. In 2008, the cow’s grandmother won the same competition and two years later the calf at its side went on to […] Read moreNews
Fall good time to buy fertilizer
Farmers are better off buying fertilizer in fall or winter rather than waiting until spring 90 percent of the time, according to Alberta Agriculture. The department has tracked urea, ammonia and phosphate prices for the past 10 years. “There has only been one year, and that was in 2008, that spring prices were lower than […] Read more
Environmental, health groups sue FDA over ractopamine
Opposed to feed additive | FDA says studies show the drug is safe but critics claim it causes pigs to suffer and may affect human health
CHICAGO, Ill. (Reuters) — Environmental and public health groups are suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in federal court over ractopamine. The groups want the court to set aside the FDA’s approvals for the feed additive, which is used to boost the weight of cattle and pigs. The beta-agonist additive has been used for […] Read moreTyphoon Haiyan survivors rebuild with crops, pigs
Years to rebound | Thirty-three million coconut trees were destroyed, leaving more than a million farmers without a source of income
BASEY, Philippines (Thomson Reuters Foundation) — Coconut farmer Pacalan Wenefredo has taken to growing rice. Fisherman Napoleon Caramol is planning to raise pigs. Housewife Felipa Balbuana, a mother of four, has signed up for her first job in years, sewing backpacks. Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan have had to adapt in a bid to rebuild their […] Read moreGM labelling push fails in Colorado, Oregon
(Reuters) — Voters in Colorado and Oregon rejected a measure to require labelling of foods made with genetically modified ingredients. The outcome at the polls came after corporate food and agriculture interests poured more than US$36 million into anti-labelling campaigns in the two states. The same group of companies, which include the biotech seed and […] Read more
Threat of PED continues to hang over industry
Close call in Alberta | Western Canadian hog industry funding health group to monitor disease issues
RED DEER —A positive porcine epidemic diarrhea sample in Alberta was a close call and has made the industry more vigilant. “Alberta herds are still PED free. We have had environmental positives, which remind us on a weekly basis that this bug is standing outside banging on the door,” Alberta Pork chair Frank Novak said […] Read moreDevelop farm succession plan to meet specific needs
There is no shortage of information available on farm succession plans, but many farm families are still confused and uncomfortable with the subject. Many are uncertain about what a succession plan looks like, and there are questions about what process to use and what to include in the plan so that it can meet their […] Read more
ABP considers mandatory levy
PONOKA, Alta. — Talking about an organization’s mandatory re-view is like doing taxes. It’s necessary, but you’re glad when it’s done. Alberta Beef Producers is required to review every five years its regulations and laws that govern its mandate and operations. Meetings this summer produced seven recommendations to change and improve the cattle organization, including […] Read more
Record book tracks calving
Sask. 21 Day Calving Challenge | The goal is to improve calving rates
The last few tough winters and poor quality forage have taken their toll on cows. “We see a lot of skinny cows in the spring, and they are not breeding back,” said Travis Peardon of Saskatchewan Agriculture. This year, Saskatchewan producers are being offered record books to help them monitor their calving season. The books […] Read moreMan. cattle producers gloomy about industry future
GRUNTHAL, Man. — An unusual air of frustration and pessimism hung over a Manitoba Beef Producers meeting here Nov. 7, considering that it’s a time of record high prices. Profits are good now, but farmers are scarred by years of suffering and provincial problems that have caused the herd to drop by almost 20 percent. […] Read more
