Indigenous communities have few ties to farming, but those in the business say it’s important to try to turn that around
This is part of an occasional series looking into the pools of human talent within Canada’s population that could help fill the growing labour shortage that is crippling many farms. LANGHAM, Sask. — Like a lot of young men in rural communities, Kobe Wolf Child is proud to be a ranch hand. It’s the perfect […] Read moreTag Archives Cattle
Alta. Farm Animal Care closes doors
AFAC has been hit hard in recent months, including by a lack of government funding
CALGARY — An organization that has promoted responsible care of livestock in Alberta since 1993 has been forced to shut down due to lack of funding. “This is by no means the conclusion we wished to see happen, but the board feels this is the responsible action to follow,” said a statement March 1 by […] Read more
Ranchers wary of scant feed supply
Prairie cattle producers are nervous heading into winter as grain harvest continues. Kyle Hebert, District 1 director for the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association and owner of Hebert Livestock Ventures, does custom silage work in the southeast corner of the province. He’s seen tonnage between three and nine tonnes per acre for barley silage this year. “We […] Read more
Profitability of cattle unlikely to spur expansion
Previously unimaginable, 550 to 600-pound steer calves seem destined to fetch more than $2,000 each during the fall calf run. Unfortunately, this newfound profitability in the beef sector is unlikely to reverse the steady erosion of cattle numbers in Western Canada. Even with heifer calf prices somewhat lower than steers, selling 300 calves this fall […] Read more
Bone dry on the range: U.S. ranchers in trouble
Cattle producers in Texas struggle to keep their animals fed and watered as they battle drought and extreme heat this year
TENNESSEE COLONY, Texas, (Reuters) — The brown and black cattle of Texas, beloved symbols of the Lone Star state, walk through desiccated grass and stand in shrunken watering holes while their ranchers struggle to get them enough food. For the second summer in a row, drought and extreme heat are stressing the health of cattle […] Read more
Heat, humidity kill hundreds of cattle in U.S. Midwest
CHICAGO (Reuters) — Hundreds of cattle died in Iowa from extreme heat and humidity in late July as the world recorded its hottest month ever. The deaths show the toll of severe weather on farm animals and food production. The losses further trim the U.S. cattle herd, which is already the smallest in decades after […] Read more
Heat, humidity kill hundreds of US cattle
CHICAGO (Reuters) – Hundreds of cattle died in Iowa from extreme heat and humidity in late July, the state and livestock producers said, as the world recorded its hottest month ever. The deaths show the toll of severe weather on farm animals and food production. The losses further trim the U.S. cattle herd, which is […] Read more
TB testing expands to wildlife
Testing wildlife for bovine tuberculosis will occur in Saskatchewan as part of the investigation into the recent positive cases. The environment ministry said it is working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and “reviewing options to conduct enhanced targeted surveillance for bovine tuberculosis in deer, elk and moose in the future.” The ministry said it […] Read more
Sask agency makes water, vacant land available for ag use
Saskatchewan’s Water Security Agency has announced it will make water and vacant land available to farmers and livestock producers during the drought. The agency owns and manages land across the province and those who live near these lands can contact it to see if under-used or vacant land is available. “With the well-below normal amounts […] Read more
Producers wait for EU food safety decision
The Canadian Cattle Association is giving Europe another chance to do what it calls “the right thing” on beef trade. Last year, Canadian government officials applied to the European Food Safety Authority to review the safety of peroxyacetic acid. The chemical is used at slaughter plants in Canada as a carcass wash to reduce the […] Read more
