Reading Time: 3 minutes Canadian cattle prices are headed for a downturn and they’re going to stay on the low side for the next two years. “The wheels are coming off the bus,” said Anne Wasko, market analyst with Gateway Livestock. The downturn is partially due to the recent increase of the Canadian dollar. “This isn’t a slow progression […] Read more
Cattle markets take a downturn
U.S. herd expansion and a rising dollar mean the Canadian cattle market is taking a hit, says Anne Wasko
New mindset needed? Earls is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’
Consumers are starting to call the tune about how cattle are raised, and the sector needs to respond, say industry observers
Reading Time: 4 minutes Consumers are demanding sustainable beef and many want it sooner rather than later. That’s a key lesson from the Earls Restaurant controversy — and evidence producers need to change their thinking, say experts. “The first thing the cattle industry has to do is stop believing that there is no money to be made with niche […] Read more
Uncertain times prompt growers to take out more insurance
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s an uncertain world out there, especially in farming — and that has more Alberta producers taking out crop insurance. “We’re seeing more acres being insured by Alberta producers on crops — last year we were close to about 78 per cent of acres insured,” said Merle Jacobson, acting president of the Agricultural Financial Services […] Read more
Bid to boost beef checkoffs remains stalled
Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s no resolution in sight on the issue of checkoffs, even though beef industry groups say research and marketing will suffer if the levies aren’t increased. “We need to invest more in marketing, research, and issues management,” said Rich Smith, executive director of Alberta Beef Producers (ABP). “We simply believe we need a higher level […] Read more
Horses and pets not forgotten in Fort McMurray rescue effort
There was an overwhelming effort to rescue and care for horses and pets in the wake of the devastating fire
Reading Time: 4 minutes The outpouring of support for people displaced by the Fort McMurray wildfire was overwhelming — and so was the effort to rescue and care for horses from the area. Krista Critch was one of many volunteers who dropped everything to help save horses and pets at the height of the crisis. She had driven up […] Read more
Family living on the land makes it through ‘starvation month’
Reading Time: 2 minutes Back in the pioneer days, April was known as “starvation month” because this was when food stores started to run out, and the new growing season hadn’t started yet. This isn’t a concern for most people today, unless you’re living off the land, like the Ruzicka family. The Ruzickas have pledged to spend a year […] Read more
Hutterite colony creates first-of-its-kind farm safety program
The Viking Colony is partnering with a safety expert to create a program geared to Hutterite colonies and their diverse enterprises
Reading Time: 3 minutes Paul Wipf has a passion for safety and has always wanted to raise awareness about farm safety on his colony. That prompted the farm manager of Viking Colony to partner with a workplace health and safety consultant to develop a first-of-its-kind safety program specifically for Hutterite colonies. “This has been in my heart and mind […] Read more
The great divide: Earls controversy has larger implications for beef industry
A move to woo customers with ‘certified humane’ beef ignited a firestorm — and highlighted the gap between producers and consumers
Reading Time: 5 minutes The decision by Earls Restaurants to stop using Canadian beef and move to American “certified humane” proved short-lived, but the issue is much bigger than one restaurant’s choice of suppliers. Earls quickly reversed the decision that sent waves of displeasure through the beef industry. But the controversy has highlighted both consumers’ lack of knowledge about […] Read more
Expert suggestions for the best on-farm research
Here are some key considerations to get the best results from your on-farm trials
Reading Time: 2 minutes When it comes to on-farm research, the key things to remember are preparation, location, and repetition. “The rigour you have to use goes up considerably if you want to turn it into research,” said Dan Heaney, research and development vice-president with Farmers Edge. Long, narrow configurations work better than block configurations for check strips, Heaney […] Read more
Alberta honeybees are busy — but not well understood
Researcher says there’s a lot to learn about how honeybees could be used to further boost canola yields
Reading Time: 3 minutes Having bees around your canola field might be good for your yield, but the exact details of how and why are not known yet. That’s where people like Shelley Hoover, apiculture researcher with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry in Lethbridge, comes in. Hoover’s research deals with bee health, bee pollination, and the impacts bees have on […] Read more
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