Alberta’s confirmation that its restrictions on gatherings include all annual summer events has led organizers of the Calgary Stampede to cancel the event for the first time in 97 years. “As a community celebration, the cancellation of our annual event comes with our community and public health and safety front of mind,” Stampede president Dana […] Read more
Calgary Stampede cancelled for 2020
Province's limits on gatherings cover all major summer events
Cold spring weather expected for Prairies
MarketsFarm — Temperatures in the Prairie provinces are expected to be colder than average this spring. “There’s no indication that temperatures will be above normal,” said Bruce Burnett, director of markets and weather for MarketsFarm in Winnipeg. Low temperatures will likely cause issues for seeding in areas of the Prairies that have received late-spring snowstorms. […] Read more
Universities can adapt to COVID-19, UCVM dean says
As administrators and faculty modify the system, dean calls for renewed public focus on food production and distribution
As COVID-19 pushes universities to change the way they teach, carry out research and conduct clinical work, the dean of veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary is confident that they can adapt. The academic system “from coast to coast is very intact,” Dr. Baljit Singh said. “We will continue to develop new technologies. We […] Read more
Co-operation and nimbleness the order of the day in cattle sector
COVID-19: ‘Everyone is taking this very seriously and it’s showing,’ says CCA president Bob Lowe
Reading Time: 4 minutes The cattle industry has adopted new measures needed to work under COVID-19 — and so hope endures and business continues. “We’re working on trying to make sure that we keep plants open, keep borders open and keep cattle moving and supplies coming in,” said Rich Smith, executive director of Alberta Beef Producers. For the most […] Read more
Annual forages offer benefits, says forage specialist
Annual pastures allow you to properly rest their perennial cousins and can be used for silage or greenfeed
Reading Time: 2 minutes Annual forages offer a couple of advantages for producers, says a provincial forage and beef specialist. “By seeding annual pastures, producers can give stressed perennial pastures a rest,” said Karin Lindquist. “If those pastures are rested early in the spring and following rain, they can produce good amounts of growth later in the summer. However, […] Read more
Many pastures took a beating this winter, so scout early
Conduct plant counts as soon as pastures and hayfields start to green up, say forage experts
Reading Time: 4 minutes Cold, wet conditions through the fall and winter were the right recipe for winterkill in alfalfa pastures across the Prairies. “With climate change, the risk of forage stands being injured or killed by environmental stresses is predicted to increase,” said Bill Thomas, owner of BT Agronomy in Truro, Nova Scotia. “Just in the last month, […] Read more
COVID-19 strains already-battered Ontario beef industry
Limited processing capacity remains financial challenge for province's feedlot sector, despite recent increase in retail demand
Ontario’s beef industry was already in the midst of an economic crisis, but COVID-19 is worsening the financial toll on the province’s cattle feeders. Due to extremely limited processing plant capacity, an uncompetitive market and disruptions to trade and market access, Ontario’s beef industry was losing an average of more than $2 million per week […] Read more
Spring termination of hay land brings challenges
Fall is the better time as spring termination will delay seeding and will result in moisture loss
Reading Time: 2 minutes Producers should consider a number of factors before deciding to terminate hay land in the spring in order to seed an annual crop. “Traditionally, forage stands have been terminated in the fall by using one of three approaches — tillage only, herbicide application combined with tillage, and herbicide application followed by direct seeding into sod,” said […] Read more
‘We’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg’ when it comes to wireworms
Populations are growing and control methods shrinking, says provincial crop specialist
Reading Time: 3 minutes Wireworm damage to field crops is poised to escalate, says a provincial crop specialist. “For several decades, Lindane (Vitavax Dual, etc.) insecticide applied to crops on the Canadian Prairies kept wireworm numbers low,” said Neil Whatley, crop specialist at the Alberta Ag-Info Centre. “Since the ban of this organochlorine pesticide in 2004, wireworm damage in […] Read more
A+W starts move to all-grass-fed, all-Canadian beef
Suppliers lined up to begin transition this spring
Canadian burger chain A+W’s next move to distinguish its menu in a crowded quick-service market will be a connection to the regenerative ag movement, as it sets itself up with an all-Canadian and all-grass-fed beef supply. The Vancouver-based chain, which includes almost 1,000 restaurants across Canada, announced Monday it’s “making a commitment to exclusively source […] Read more