The biggest driver affecting profitability last year was feed costs.

Dairy sector could see ‘return to normal’ in 2024

Stresses from borrowing and feed costs should ease: FCC

Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – A recent outlook released by Farm Credit Canada says there’s room for optimism in the dairy sector. “It has been a volatile few years for dairy producers, but 2024 is shaping up to be calmer — a return to a more normal environment, if you will,” FCC senior economist Graeme Crosbie said […] Read more



“The real intent here was to create discussion; to put methane efficiency and feed efficiency as it relates to methane emissions on the radar for dairy farmers.” – Brian Van Doormal.

Methane breeding tool’s developers look to long-term

Uptake has been slow among producers, but the discussion on methane efficiency has begun

Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Uptake by Canadian dairy producers of a new breeding tool aimed at decreasing their herd’s methane emissions hasn’t been overwhelming, representatives of Semex Alliance admitted recently. However, given the potential long-term interest, neither Semex nor the organization with which it partnered on developing the tool is concerned. Semex, which markets semen as […] Read more

Aric Wilson of Leading Edge Equipment(left) discusses the Finnish-made, front-mounted Agronic rake during the Ontario Forage Expo.

Europeans take aim at North American rake market

Speed of operation is a key selling point for forage producers, company says

Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Large fields and gentle terrain are the norm in forage-producing areas of North America. Now some European companies aim to have their forage equipment, developed with the typical European farmer in mind, adapted for widespread use on this side of the Atlantic. Two companies in particular hope to gain traction with North […] Read more


Researchers want to know how technology, such as artificial intelligence, can help improve animal care

New research will look at dairy welfare and technology

The use of artificial intelligence to help farmers improve dairy animal care will be studied on Ontario and Quebec farms

Reading Time: 2 minutes A new research collaboration at McGill University and the University of Quebec in Montreal will explore the role of artificial intelligence in promoting dairy cattle welfare. The project aims to create “a digital living lab to link animal welfare and dairy farms’ profitability.” The creation of the Research and Innovation Chair in Animal Welfare and […] Read more

The 20th anniversary of BSE: So much has changed

Border closures captured the headlines but BSE reshaped the cattle sector in profound ways

Reading Time: 4 minutes The dates are seared in Dennis Laycraft’s brain. May 20, 2003, when the first positive test of a cow with BSE was confirmed; Aug. 10, 2003, when the U.S. and Mexico restored import access for Canadian boneless beef from animals under 30 months of age; July 14, 2005, when the U.S. reopened full access for […] Read more


The Enogen corn hybrid line was originally developed for the U.S. ethanol industry.

Syngenta’s transgenic corn touted for cattle feed efficiency

Originally developed for the ethanol industry, the variety has an enzyme that breaks down starch

Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – A transgenic corn variety originally developed for the U.S. ethanol industry is being officially launched by Syngenta in Canada in 2023 for cattle feed. The Enogen line of hybrids contains a bacteria-derived transgene that produces alpha amylase, a naturally occurring enzyme that speeds the breakdown of starch. Since its introduction in the […] Read more

At a field day last month, Mike Groot explains how he set up the livestock water and fencing for his 24-acre series of test plots at his family’s farm for the Living Labs soil health research initiative.

Test plot measures the benefits of grazing in crop rotation

Researchers studying impact of including pasture in a cash crop rotation at Ontario farm

Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – They’ve been dubbed “crazy strips,” but there’s a method to Mike Groot’s patchwork of perennial pasture stands within a larger plot trial. The Ontario farmer is a participant in a project being conducted under the Living Labs initiative, a federal program that tests innovative practices and technologies on farms. Groot is hoping the […] Read more