Reuters — Eli Lilly + Co.’s Elanco Animal Health unit expects its initial public offering to raise up to US$1.45 billion, betting on increased appetite among investors for animal health companies. The IPO of 62.9 million shares is expected to be priced between $20-$23 per unit, with the company having a valuation of about $8 […] Read more
Lilly’s Elanco unit expects IPO to raise up to US$1.45 billion
‘Enthusiasm and happiness abound’ at Alberta Open Farm Days
Cute animals are a big draw but people ‘genuinely want to see what we’re doing,’ say farm hosts
Reading Time: 6 minutes The focus was on food and farming all over the province during Open Farm Days where Albertans showed they are interested in where their food comes from. More than 100 farms participated this year, including HGB Bison Ranch just south of Olds. It was a brand new experience for Heather and George Briggs, who were […] Read more
Elk testing at Suffield finds no bovine tuberculosis
Reading Time: < 1 minute Testing of elk at CFB Suffield during the 2017-18 hunting season is complete and all results were negative. After bovine tuberculosis (bTB) was found in one beef cow in southeastern Alberta in 2016, officials with the wildlife branch of Alberta Environment and Parks worked with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to develop a three-year testing […] Read more
Coop federee buys into Ontario feed sector
Fresh off its recent investment in the Prairie livestock feed business, Quebec ag co-operative giant La Coop federee is headed down a similar path in southwestern Ontario. The co-operative announced Monday it will pay an undisclosed sum for a 50 per cent stake in W-S Feed and Supply, based at Tavistock, Ont., about 30 km […] Read more
Second farm organization offering cash advances
Reading Time: < 1 minute Producers have another option when seeking a cash advance. Beginning Sept. 1, the Alberta Wheat Commission will provide cash advances through FarmCash under the federal government’s Advance Payments Program. The federal loan guarantee program provides low-interest cash advances up to $400,000, with the first $100,000 interest free. FarmCash will offer advances on 45 commodities, including […] Read more
Bison sector has learned how to make best use of bulls
Beef 911: Artificial insemination is rare so there’s been a lot of attention paid to breeding capacity
Reading Time: 4 minutes Since the beef industry adjusts breeding capacity based on libido, semen production, and length of breeding season, I thought it good to review breeding capacity of bison bulls. While longevity is longer than beef bulls, we rarely talk about breeding capacity. The bison industry does not utilize artificial insemination like the beef industry (although it […] Read more
Alberta Beef Producers looking for candidates
Nominations close August 31
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Beef Producers is currently accepting nominations for delegates to run in its 2018 fall elections. Producers in each of the nine geographic zones in the province can elect up to five delegates and one cattle feeder delegate to serve two-year terms. However, elections are staggered so this year, two producer delegate positions are open […] Read more
Quebec offers aid to lessen brunt of U.S. tariffs
Montreal | Reuters — The Quebec government on Wednesday said it would spend $863 million over five years to mitigate the impact of U.S. tariffs on companies and the province’s agriculture sector. The plan would provide direct financial aid to some companies affected by the tariffs and would support investments to improve productivity, worker training […] Read more
The situation is grim for many ranchers, ABP warns province
Provincial officials will need to quickly roll out assistance programs if drought continues, says Charlie Christie
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta’s main cattle group is warning the provincial government to stand ready as a severe feed shortage could soon lead to a major culling of herds. Many ranchers depleted their hay stocks after a cold spring delayed pasture growth, and have seen only meagre production this summer in the face of dry, hot conditions, said […] Read more
How is Alberta doing in terms of animal welfare?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Farm Animal Care is seeking input from livestock producers, their farm organizations, and others in the sector to assess the state of animal welfare in the province. “Livestock welfare is important to all industry stakeholders, as well as the bodies that regulate the sector, and practices continue to change and evolve,” said Annemarie Pedersen, […] Read more
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