Reading Time: 3 minutes When defending agriculture’s social licence to operate, stop making excuses and start raising the bar. “It amounts to excuses — the stories we tell ourselves,” said Mark Bosworth, a leadership consultant at KESA, an Alberta company with clients ranging from businesses and government agencies to NHL teams. He cited a number of common responses when […] Read more
When challenged by consumers, challenge yourself, says expert
Sure, producers should defend what they do when they’re in the right — but they should work to raise the bar when they’re not
Grain elevators reporting spike in heated canola
More heated canola is being reported so producers should check for heated seeds by coring bins or transferring their grain to another bin
Reading Time: 3 minutes Growers, check your bins — grain terminals across Alberta have reported a spike in heated canola, and your cereals may be in danger as well. “I did a sample of canola two or three weeks ago and it already had four per cent of heated in it, and canola can deteriorate very quickly,” Larry Michta […] Read more
Save feed costs by improving body condition scores, says expert
A body condition of 3 can boost pregnancy rates by a third and add 55 pounds to calf weaning weights
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you want to save some money feeding your cows this winter, maintain a good body condition score. “Prudent use of feed resources to maintain body condition on the cows to maximize efficiency reduces your feeding costs,” said provincial forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. The amount of fat a cow is carrying will influence how it […] Read more
Make the most of cheap feed grain this winter
Producers stand to make an additional $130 a head on their calves by supplementing their hay with barley this winter
Reading Time: 4 minutes There’s good news, bad news, and even worse news for cattle producers this winter. The good news is that there’s plenty of cheap feed grains in the market right now — but producers will need those savings to offset poor-quality feed (the bad news) and part of the sharp drop in calf prices (the even […] Read more
Tips for managing market volatility in 2017
Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s too soon to say exactly how market volatility in 2017 is going to play out, but Errol Anderson has some tips to manage whatever the markets throw at you in the coming year. Strong Futures-Strong Basis What should you do? “Price it. It’s tough to do because, at that point, everybody is bullish. But […] Read more
The future looks dangerous, says market watcher
Central banks have created an economic bubble and when it bursts, demand for everything will screech to a halt
Reading Time: 5 minutes Errol Anderson’s opinion on the global economic downturn isn’t one you’ll read in too many newspapers. “I’m going to make a bold statement: We are at the end of an 80-year capitalistic cycle that has already been prolonged 10 years by central bank manipulation. It has to be refreshed, and it will be,” said Anderson, […] Read more
Take these tips to the bank the next time you need a loan
When deciding whether to approve financing, lenders will look at the four Ms — money, markets, materials, and management
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you want to build a bad relationship with your banker, buy your combine on your credit card. “They hate that,” deadpanned Trish Booy, agriculture business development manager at BMO. “There’s a very big difference between short-term financing and long-term financing. Depending on where you are and what you’re going through, your financing needs are […] Read more
A new way to pass on the farm that may let you sleep easier
An intercorporate loan can protect retirement income, give the successor more control, and take care of non-farming children
Reading Time: 4 minutes [Updated: Dec. 12, 2016] – Merle Good has a new piece of estate planning advice for Canadian producers: “Create a damn shareholder’s loan.” “This isn’t a new idea, but it isn’t done as frequently as it should be,” said the farm business management expert. “This strategy allows us to do a lot of neat things […] Read more
Good times gone in a flash for cattle sector
Cash-to-cash basis is one of the lone bright spots, but that too could vanish if Trump White House brings back COOL
Reading Time: 4 minutes Anne Wasko has had a knot in her stomach since Donald Trump’s unexpected victory in the U.S. presidential election. “I’m certainly hopeful, but the one thing that makes me nervous at any time is uncertainty,” said Wasko, marketing analyst with Gateway Livestock Marketing. “It’s way too early to jump to conclusions, but the fact is, […] Read more
Fababeans get a reality check
Fabas were on a tear until this year, but experts expect the crop to have a solid, but modest, future in Alberta
Reading Time: 4 minutes With the sharp drop in Alberta fababean acres in 2016, has the clock struck midnight for last year’s Cinderella crop? Maybe, maybe not, says a provincial pulse expert. “I just can’t see them going away,” said Mark Olson, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s pulse crops unit head. “I don’t think the acres are going to go […] Read more
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