Reading Time: 3 minutes The good news is that beef prices are extremely strong, even in the face of record beef production in North America. “We have record-high wholesale beef prices right now,” CANFAX manager and senior analyst Brian Perillat said at the recent (and virtual) Canadian Beef Industry Conference. Unfortunately, cattle prices are just not responding. “That’s been […] Read more
Cattle producers struggle but beef suppliers are doing just fine
Wholesale beef prices at record levels but those strong prices haven’t made their way to producers
Backhaul gets the heave-ho in red-hot shipping container market
Container shipping in a mess, not expected to restore itself at least until 2022
Reading Time: 4 minutes The shipping container mess created by the pandemic will likely last until at least 2022, says the vice-president of a West Coast container transloading company. “Steamship lines across the globe are all playing catch-up with the import movements from across Asia and North America,” said Jordan Atkins, vice-president of WTC Group in New Westminster, B.C. […] Read more
It’s been anything but business as usual for pulse sector this year
It’s not just the drought hitting production — global demand is up, shipping disrupted and processing plants coming online
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s definitely unusual times for the Prairie pulse sector, and save for a lucky few, it’s a year most will be glad to see the back of. “It’s rare to see such a large cross-section of the industry impacted by drought, but that is very much the case here,” said Pulse Canada president Greg Cherewyk. […] Read more
Is the long-predicted boom for the hemp sector nearly here?
Hemp is versatile and has lots of boosters, but it’s never been more than a niche crop on the Prairies
Reading Time: 4 minutes The hemp industry on the Prairies is slowly making strides and many believe — once again — that the sector is poised to boom. “We believe there’s a strong case for hemp in the world,” said Andrew Potter, CEO of Blue Sky Hemp Ventures, a company incorporated in Calgary but based in Saskatoon. Potter, whose […] Read more
Relief money is coming soon, but the pain will be long lasting
Producers here are to receive $340 million, but many say it won’t be enough
Reading Time: 3 minutes The first drought relief payment of $94 per head should be in the hands of cattle producers soon. Alberta Beef Producers has been working with the provincial crop insurer to get the drought relief money out as quickly as possible, said general manager Brad Dubeau. “We’re continuing to work with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation very, […] Read more
Burp-busting feed additive for cattle still a few years from approval
Alberta research has found 3-NOP works, but the path to regulatory approval is long
Reading Time: 3 minutes A new feed additive can reduce methane emissions in beef and dairy cattle, but unfortunately, it’s not available in North America yet and won’t be for some time. The feed additive, called 3-nitrooxypropanol (or 3-NOP for short), is a methane-inhibiting compound created by Dutch company DSM Nutritional Products. “It’s quite well researched in dairy and beef […] Read more
Drought management is a very long game, says master grazier
Getting through a year like this one is at the heart of the management system Graeme Finn uses
Reading Time: 3 minutes Managing for a drought should start the day you begin ranching. That was the message from Graeme Finn of Southern Cross Livestock for attendees at a recent field tour put on by the West Central Forage Association. “This year is the wrong year to start thinking about drought management,” said the Aussie native who now […] Read more
Ottawa’s farm aid pledge didn’t come with the details
Last-minute announcement committed $500 million but program specifics have to be hashed out
Reading Time: 3 minutes They cut it close, but federal Liberals came through on their pledge to kick in their share of disaster funding for hard-hit livestock producers. However, the last-minute announcement means federal bureaucrats will have to work out the rules and procedures for emergency aid from the AgriRecovery program. Read more: Drought relief payments to start flowing […] Read more
Drought relief payments to start flowing in early September
Producers need an AFSC account and a record of ‘extraordinary' livestock feed expenses
Reading Time: 3 minutes The first drought relief payment of $94 per head should be in the hands of cattle producers early next month. In the meantime, producers need to make sure they have an account with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) and start putting together a record of “extraordinary” feed expenses because of the drought. “We’re working towards […] Read more
What’s the secret sauce for growing Alberta’s food sector?
The province says Made in Alberta labels can drive sales but business owners say that’s not enough
Reading Time: 4 minutes It’s not surprising that cookies and cupcakes were a hit for housebound Albertans during the pandemic. But it wasn’t just the real butter and chocolate chunks that fuelled both delivery orders and e-commerce sales for Confetti Sweets. It was also the fact that the company is located in Sherwood Park. “When they placed an order, […] Read more
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