Reading Time: 2 minutes Public trust is eroding in Canada, and farmers — along with others in the value chain — need to fight back, says the head of a new ag organization aimed at winning back confused consumers. “The whole industry needs to know a whole bunch more about consumers,” said Kim McConnell, an Okotoks-based marketing expert and […] Read more
‘Public trust’ conference aims to find ways to win back consumers
The popularity of campaigns attacking conventional agriculture shows that the industry needs to do more, says organizer
Where’s the beef? New food guide puts focus on ‘proteins’
Meat is being ‘merged’ with plant-based sources of protein in the revamp of Canada’s Food Guide
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada’s Food Guide is getting revamped for the first time in 10 years — and there’s lots of speculation, especially on social media, about whether meat is being given a thumbs down. “It’s not as harsh as that, really,” said Joyce Parslow, director of consumer relations with Canada Beef. One of the guiding principles of […] Read more
Canadian dairy farmers sign on to international sustainability agreement
The Rotterdam Declaration calls on dairy farmers to promote sustainable practices and combat climate change
Reading Time: 2 minutes Dairy farmers from across the country witnessed the signing of an international declaration at the recent Dairy Farmers of Canada annual general meeting. “Last October, we did make commitments as a billion-strong community, in terms of what we would do to push dairy forward, to listen to and help deliver those sustainable development goals,” said […] Read more
Getting (a digital) read on how animals are feeling
Sophisticated camera technology can pick up subtle signs of cows in heat, and may one day be able to ‘read’ emotions
Reading Time: 2 minutes What do “The Lord of the Rings” movies and a study on animal expressions have in common? Both used motion capture technology — albeit for very different reasons. “Generally, we found that we could detect when the cows were in heat by using motion capture,” said Mirjam Guesgen, who recently completed her post-doc studies at […] Read more
Put antimicrobials, traceability, and biosecurity on your to-do list
All three areas are undergoing changes that producers should be aware of, says the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
Reading Time: 2 minutes There are things that beef producers need to look out for in the coming months when it comes to herd health and biosecurity. “We do know that there are changes in play that will require all medically important antimicrobials to become prescription only,” said Rob McNabb, general manager of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Some medically […] Read more
It’s a great time to be a pulse grower
Five Alberta farmers attending the world’s biggest pulse event get an up-close look at the red-hot market for pulses
Reading Time: 3 minutes Caroline Sekulic just got back from the biggest pulse convention in the world — and she has a message for Alberta farmers. “We have to stay competitive and we have to keep on it with our market access initiatives,” said the Peace Country farmer, who was one of five Alberta pulse growers at the conference […] Read more
Count ’em up: Lots of positives for cattle sector
A price rebound, a good haying season, and a third packer are three things to be thankful for
Reading Time: 3 minutes Cattle producers have a lot to celebrate. “Our prices for feeder and fed cattle are holding up quite well right now,” said Jason Wood, provincial livestock market analyst with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. No one could have predicted that the market would go as high as it did, he said. “If we compare current prices […] Read more
Don’t worry about NAFTA talks, dairy farmers told
The free trade deal is being renegotiated but Ottawa is vowing to resist any move to undercut supply management
Reading Time: 2 minutes Don’t worry, we have your back. That was the message delivered behind closed doors to the nation’s dairy leaders at the recent annual general meeting of the Dairy Farmers of Canada. The AGM was held just as Washington was releasing its negotiating objectives on talks to revise the North American Free Trade Agreement, which will […] Read more
Chicken producers decry abuse shown in undercover video
Abuse on a B.C. broiler farm is an isolated incident but the poultry industry must ensure it doesn’t happen again, says Alberta Chicken Producers
Reading Time: 2 minutes Like its predecessors, the latest undercover video by Mercy for Animals showing abuse of animals on a farm has had a big impact. The 2-1/2-minute long video shows catchers from Elite Farm Services kicking, throwing, and simulating sexual acts with broiler chickens on a farm in B.C.’s Fraser Valley. Erna Ference, chair of the Alberta […] Read more
Cattle organizations still talking — but no checkoff deal in sight
One proposal to resolve contentious issue of non-refundable checkoffs shot down in May and a new one is still being ‘analyzed’
Reading Time: 3 minutes Despite years of talks, the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association and Alberta Beef Producers still appear to be far apart in making a non-refundable provincial checkoff a reality. A new proposal was put on the table late last month, but while the chair of Alberta Beef Producers describes it as a major step forward, his counterpart […] Read moreCyber-Savvy Farmer
