Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta’s Kelly Hall and Hugh Lynch-Staunton are among the ranchers featured in a new video on environmental sustainability from the Beef Cattle Research Council. “What beef producers need to know about environmental footprint” offers both a cinematic look at Canadian cattle production and the sector’s response to its critics. Hall, Lynch-Staunton, and three Ontario cattle […] Read more
Video offers ranchers’ side of the environmental story
Checking the dugout should be on the winter prep list
Provincial water specialist offers his inspection to-do list and tips for protecting water quality
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you haven’t already, now is a good time to inspect your dugouts, says a provincial water specialist. An inspection should start with a check of the area that feeds into the dugout, said Dan Benson. “Make sure that this area is free of debris that might flow into your dugout,” he said. “A properly […] Read more
Alberta harvest nears end, forage and feed reserves seen adequate
Alberta crop conditions as of October 31 (FINAL)
Reading Time: 2 minutes Harvest is virtually complete across the province, with 98.6 per cent of the crops now in the bin. While harvest in the Southern and Central Regions has been completed, good weather conditions over the last two weeks also allowed northern producers to make good harvest progress. About 98 per cent of the crops in the […] Read more
There may be slim pickins in the pasture
Water-stressed forages have more fibre and less protein, and that can reduce feed intake and body conditioning
Reading Time: 2 minutes A hot, dry summer hastened the maturity and dormancy of native and improved pastures in many parts of the province, reducing both quality and digestibility of forages. “Plants do not grow as tall as normal in dry conditions,” said beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. “Fibre levels increase faster and overall energy content of the […] Read more
Farm fuel to be exempt from Manitoba carbon tax
Farm fuel will be exempt from a carbon tax, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said in an interview Thursday on the eve of announcing his government’s Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan. “It does exempt some farm costs — farm fuel, for example,” he said. “I know we’ll get pushback from some industry groups that are not […] Read more
Communities rally around producers in wildfires’ wake
Ranchers, farmers and rural residents who suffered losses, injuries and more in recent wildfires in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan are seeing support from neighbours and beyond. Alongside a number of online campaigns launched in support of affected farmers and families, the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association on Monday launched a wildfire relief fund to help […] Read more
Harvest nearly complete in southern Alberta, weather slows northern producers
Alberta crop conditions as of October 17
Reading Time: 2 minutes Despite weather which was not ideal, producers were able to make good harvest progress this past week improving the harvest percentage in the province to 86 per cent completed, up 9 points on the week though lagging the 5 year average of 93 per cent. Harvest is virtually complete in the South and nearing completion in […] Read more
Alberta rancher, advocate James Hargrave, 34
A leader in southern Alberta’s cattle ranching community died in a vehicle crash while helping fight wildfires along the Alberta/Saskatchewan border on Tuesday night. Cypress County officials have identified the firefighter as James Hargrave, 34, a volunteer with the fire station at Walsh, Alta., about 50 km east of Medicine Hat. Alberta’s Agriculture Minister Oneil […] Read more
Alberta rancher, advocate James Hargrave, 34
WSGA vice-president dies in crash during wildfire firefighting effort
Reading Time: 3 minutes A leader in southern Alberta’s cattle ranching community died in a vehicle crash while helping fight wildfires along the Alberta/Saskatchewan border on Tuesday night. Cypress County officials have identified the firefighter as James Hargrave, 34, a volunteer with the fire station at Walsh, Alta., about 50 km east of Medicine Hat. Alberta’s Agriculture Minister Oneil […] Read more
Snow, killing frost puts brakes on harvest, crop quality better than expected so far
Alberta crop conditions as of October 3
Reading Time: 2 minutes Over the weekend, an intense and large system delivered cold, wet weather across the province which caused significant snowfall in some areas and brought killing frost to almost all areas across the province. The recently wet conditions also increased soil moisture levels, especially, in the Southern and Central Regions, pausing the harvest operations for a […] Read more