Beef checkoff plebiscite coming in fall

Reading Time: < 1 minute A plebiscite on a non-refundable cattle checkoff will be held this fall and the leadership of Alberta Beef Producers is urging its members to get out and vote. Currently, the provincial portion of the checkoff is voluntary and ABP refunds about $2.4 million yearly (mostly to feeders). If the checkoff is made non-refundable, most of […] Read more

Dry conditions this summer have seen water in many dugouts go unreplenished.

Have you been affected by drought?

Reading Time: < 1 minute Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is currently collecting information on conditions and impact of the drought in Western Canada. It’s asking producers to take an online survey, which takes about three minutes to complete. “This information helps justify and document the necessity for programs such as Livestock Tax Deferral,” it said, adding the results will be […] Read more


Alberta Beef Producers looking for candidates

Alberta Beef Producers looking for candidates

Nominations close August 31

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Beef Producers is currently accepting nominations for delegates to run in its 2018 fall elections. Producers in each of the nine geographic zones in the province can elect up to five delegates and one cattle feeder delegate to serve two-year terms. However, elections are staggered so this year, two producer delegate positions are open […] Read more

The situation is grim for many ranchers, ABP warns province

The situation is grim for many ranchers, ABP warns province

Provincial officials will need to quickly roll out assistance programs if drought continues, says Charlie Christie

Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta’s main cattle group is warning the provincial government to stand ready as a severe feed shortage could soon lead to a major culling of herds. Many ranchers depleted their hay stocks after a cold spring delayed pasture growth, and have seen only meagre production this summer in the face of dry, hot conditions, said […] Read more


This is part of a publication on hormones put out by Alberta Beef Producers. It says, for example, that the amount of estrogen in a serving of beef is slightly less than the same-size serving of chicken or pork — and much less than a glass of beer or milk. But the message isn’t getting through to many consumers.

Even in Feedlot Alley, consumers don’t trust hormone use

The beef sector has long said hormone implants are safe, but most Lethbridge residents aren’t convinced

Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s a pretty disheartening finding: Nearly two-thirds of residents of Lethbridge — located in Feedlot Alley — oppose the use of growth hormones in cattle, according to a recent survey. “I would suspect that a lot of people don’t understand,” said Roland Cailliau, a cow-calf producer from Valleyview. “They don’t read and they don’t understand […] Read more

Glenbow Ranch, located between Cochrane and Calgary, became a provincial park after the Harvie family sold more than 3,200 acres to the province in 2006 for less than market value.

Learning about grasslands at Glenbow Ranch

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Beef Producers has partnered with the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation on a program that gives school kids a chance to learn about native grasslands and the role cattle play in these threatened ecosystems. The Explore Grasslands Program is open to elementary and high school classes, and includes a half-day program for Grade 4 students […] Read more


steaks on hot grill

Only Alberta beef at Calgary Co-op stores

Reading Time: < 1 minute All of Calgary Co-op’s food stores will be exclusively stocking and selling fresh Alberta beef. The “Only Alberta Beef” commitment marks the first time a major grocery retailer in the Calgary area is promising only locally produced fresh beef to its members. The co-op is partnering with JBS Canada in Brooks to ensure all of […] Read more

ABP’s Young Guns Contest now open

ABP’s Young Guns Contest now open

Deadline for entries is June 1

Reading Time: < 1 minute Are you between the ages of eight and 21, and involved in Beef 4-H, junior cattle shows or beef production? This is your opportunity to win one of three prizes in the ABP Young Guns Contest. This year we want to know what connects you to the land in Alberta where we produce the best […] Read more


Nominations sought for environmental stewardship award

Nominations sought for environmental stewardship award

Deadline for nominations is July 15

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Beef Producers is seeking nominations for the 2019 Environmental Stewardship Award. The award recognizes producers whose stewardship practices contribute to the environment and enhance productivity and profitability. The nomination form can be found at the Alberta Beef Producers’ website, or by contacting the ABP office (403-275-4400) or your local delegate. The winner will […] Read more

Number of beef cows in Alberta by region (comparing 2001 to 2016).

The long decline is over as cow herd finally stabilizes

A lot has changed in the past decade and a half — but what comes next for Alberta’s cattle sector?

Reading Time: 5 minutes The big shrink seems to be over — but Alberta’s cow herd is considerably changed from the pre-BSE era. The latest Census of Agriculture found 1.57 million head in the province in 2016, a very slight increase (of 13,500 animals) compared to five years earlier. The herd is not only much smaller than prior to […] Read more