Reading Time: 2 minutes Want to know more about the feed efficiency and traits of your cattle? Interested in contributing to research that can make a difference in Canadian beef cattle production? Researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are looking for producers to send in samples from their herds for use in a genomic prediction trial. “This will potentially […] Read more
Scientists looking for producers to participate in beef genomic trial
The project is part of the effort to use genomics to select cattle with improved feed efficiency and other desirable traits
It’s been perfect conditions for clubroot
Wet conditions not only increase spore counts but may also favour development of strains able to overcome resistant varieties
Reading Time: 2 minutes This year’s wet conditions may leave a nasty legacy — more clubroot infestation and more strains of the pathogen able to overcome resistant varieties. “In the years where there is more wet weather, we expect to have more severe symptoms and more widespread infestation,” said Stephen Strelkov, a University of Alberta professor of plant pathology […] Read more
Extreme infestation may require extreme treatment
In really bad cases, putting a few acres into grass or forages may be the best way to contain clubroot pathogen
Reading Time: 2 minutes Growers with extreme clubroot infestation are being told that the best option might not be to just stop growing canola for a while, but all annual crops in parts of a field. Seeding patches of heavily infested ground to grass or forages is now on the list of clubroot management practices recommended by the Canola […] Read more
Trust your people, dare to be different, and know your numbers
Those are just three key tips from four innovative entrepreneurs who shared their methods for boosting productivity
Reading Time: 5 minutes Increasing productivity by 15 per cent by 2020 is one of the pillars of the National Beef Strategy, which was created by beef organizations across Canada and released in January 2015. During the recent Canadian Beef Industry Conference, four experts shared how they increase productivity on their operations. Darren Bevans Darren Bevans, general manager of […] Read more
Parasites could be costing you big bucks without you even realizing it
Infected cattle often look healthy, but their daily gain might be up to half a pound lower than it should be
Reading Time: 3 minutes Little is known about the impact of parasites on Canadian cattle production. But one thing is sure — resistance to the medication used to treat these parasites is growing. “There’s a lack of local information and a lack of information on parasites in Canada. That’s a problem,” John Gilleard, professor of parasitology in the University […] Read more
Weather woes not the only concern
The grain transportation system is far from fixed, poor quality will have continuing repercussions, and the world is awash in grain
Reading Time: 4 minutes All that rain and its effect on crop quality is top of mind for Alberta farm leaders, but lurking just behind is the prospect of the railways seizing up again in the face of a huge harvest. “It looks like there’s a lot of crop out there — I’ve heard estimates that this might be […] Read more
Deadly cattle condition called fog fever returns to the Prairies
Cases of fog fever, a type of pneumonia that causes severe cattle mortality, have been recently diagnosed in Alberta
Reading Time: 2 minutes Fog fever — a condition that causes cattle to suddenly drop dead — has returned to Alberta and Saskatchewan. “Fog fever isn’t extremely common” said Nathan Erickson, a veterinarian and assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan. “Some of these old diseases, we start forgetting about them because we’ve managed our way out of them. […] Read more
Sustainable beef is ‘an incredible opportunity’
Canada’s beef sector leads the world when it comes to sustainability and needs to tell that story, says Cameron Bruett
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s time for the beef industry to speak up and explain itself to its detractors and the people who don’t understand it. “I become very frustrated when I see media and activists attacking the global beef industry,” Cameron Bruett, head of corporate affairs and sustainability with JBS USA, said at last month’s Canadian Beef Industry […] Read more
It may not be a record but this year’s hail damage will be close
The great white combine has been decimating crops across most of the province and adjusters are struggling to keep up with claims
Reading Time: 3 minutes Increased hailstorms across Alberta have crushed many crops, and hail claims are soaring this year. “We’re trending to be similar to 2012, which was the record claim year,” said Nikki Booth, communications manager with the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation. “At this point in time, it’s looking like we will not be as high as 2012, […] Read more
Come together: Beef industry gathers under one roof at national conference
Inaugural conference shows there is an appetite for all parts of the beef industry to work together for the common good
Reading Time: 3 minutes They came from across Western Canada and as far away as New Brunswick. And all of them were passionate about beef. The inaugural Canadian Beef Industry Conference, held at the beginning of August, was more of a success than anyone anticipated. More than 650 people from all sectors of the beef industry came from across […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
