Chicago | Reuters — Ranchers in July placed 2.7 per cent more cattle in U.S. feedlots than a year ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on Friday, which fell short of average analysts’ forecasts. Dwindling profits for feedyards, after being paid less for their cattle by packers, discouraged them from buying calves for fattening […] Read more
U.S. July feedlot cattle placements smaller than expected
Look for beef producers at big-city events this year
Alberta Beef has already signed deals with the Eskimos and the Stampeders
Reading Time: 3 minutes Get ready, beef producers, you’ll soon see yourself on a Jumbotron near you. Alberta Beef Producers unveiled a new marketing campaign and new marketing and education manager Brad Dubeau at its semi-annual meeting. “The problem for marketing to solve is how to ensure consumer and producer confidence for beef production in Alberta to 2020 and […] Read more
Market to the people who already love your beef, says expert
Beef hedonists, ranching romantics, and true patriots are the biggest fans of Canadian beef
Reading Time: 2 minutes Why would you try pursuing someone who doesn’t like you? That’s the key to romance — and to marketing beef. “As an industry, we have been starting with the logic perspective for a very long time,” James Bradbury, Canada Beef’s brand officer, said at the Alberta Beef Industry Conference. “We need to start coming across […] Read more
U.S. December feedlot cattle placements hit six-year high
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. feedlots brought in 18 per cent more cattle in December than the year-earlier month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday, which topped forecasts and reached a six-year high for that month. Higher prices for slaughter-ready, or cash, cattle last month improved profit for feedlots. That allowed them to […] Read more
Business training funds available
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Business Management Skills Development Program, has recently undergone a few minor changes, including a revised application form. The program helps producers, agri-processing companies, and agricultural organizations, and improves their business management skills. Funding is available for courses or programs that are focused on business management skills and training — including marketing, productivity, financial management, […] Read more
Margins are tight — will you be able to squeeze out a profit this year?
Management specialist Dean Dyck says have a break-even budget, buy inputs early, and forget about machinery purchases
Reading Time: 3 minutes The weak Canadian dollar and a drop in prices are going to make it tough for crop producers to make a profit this year. Tough, but not impossible, says a provincial farm business management specialist. “You can make a profit this year,” said Dean Dyck. “I took a look at the four major crops in […] Read more
Get the lowdown on marketing your farm products
Workshop takes place in Fort Saskatchewan, register by January 13
Reading Time: < 1 minute Want to sell farm products to the public? The Marketing Made Easy workshop on Jan. 20 in Fort Saskatchewan “examines selling products at farmers’ markets and beyond,” said provincial marketing specialist Karen Goad. “It’s a chance to uncover strategies for creating a lasting first impression, clearly identify your target clients and make them choose you. […] Read more
From the kitchen to the marketplace
Here are the key steps to consider if you want to sell a product you produce on your farm
Reading Time: 2 minutes What does it take to get a new product from your workshop or kitchen into a buyer’s hands? “Lots of time, patience and attention to detail,” says a provincial new-venture specialist. The first step is to do a self-assessment, said Elaine Stenbraaten. “Are you an entrepreneur? Understand that with a business you start, you assume […] Read more
Just how much is that roast beef worth?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has a new fact sheet on pricing meat products. “When you sell direct to market, there is a lot more involved than production,” said new-venture specialist Kathy Bosse. You also have to manage processing, packaging and delivery and think about consumer demand. “The new Pricing Meat Products: An Introduction fact sheet covers […] Read more
Wide range of speakers coming to canola meetings
Alberta Canola Producers Commission meetings will run from Nov. 17 to Dec. 1
Reading Time: < 1 minute Agronomy, marketing, and farm business management will be in the spotlight at Alberta Canola Producers Commission growing meetings next month. The commission has lined up 18 speakers, with four of them giving presentations at each of the dozen meetings being run from Nov. 17 to Dec. 1. ‘Creditor proofing,’ price protection strategies, global demand for […] Read more
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