Cattle graze in a dry pasture.

Drought management is about preparedness

Panellists at a recent conference say nothing helps cattle producers more than knowing what they will do if drought occurs

Southern Saskatchewan has been dealing with drought for nearly a decade now, and some cattle producers have sought alternative solutions.

Matt Makens of Makens Weather gives his detailed weather predictions for 2025 and beyond for beef producers at the Alberta Beef Conference in Calgary.

Transition to drought expected to be swifter this year

Fractions of a degree of change in ocean tempartures impacts weather patterns for ag producers in caring for their livestock and crops

Agriculture across the globe is closely linked to La Niña and El Niño when it comes to setting the weather stage for the next growing season.



Grain is dumped from a truck at a grain terminal.

Holes found in safety net

Failure of unlicensed companies, complaint deadline and insufficient security are seen as holes in Canada’s farm support

Hundreds of Canadian farmers have received delayed payments for their crops or not been paid at all as a growing number of grain-buying firms declare bankruptcy amid drought and low commodity prices.

Auctioneer Darren Lutz starts the bidding at the Medicine Hat Feeding Company’s bred sale late last year. Beef prices have hit new highs recently, creating renewed optimism in the industry. |  Alex McCuaig photo

Beef sector booms

Alberta’s cattle sector is like a locomotive leaving the station. It has built a full head of steam, the pressures of market forces have reached a boiling point, and it’s heading to a profitable destination in 2025. As the new year arrives, there is no shortage of optimism. “We’re walking into a historic time for […] Read more