It all started in France. One farmer was complaining to another that he was losing as much as 30 percent of his silage due to pests. In this case, the second farmer did more than just sympathize, he started to ponder solutions, and eventually a product was created and a company was born. The company… Read more »
Category: Livestock
Trade, climate change, and election strategy – just another day for CFA’s Ron Bonnett
It’s difficult to know where to start when you talk with Rob Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). Bonnett always has a full plate, and the closing weeks of November are no different as his organization tends a hot stove stoked with issues ranging from trade to climate change and a coming… Read more »
Prairie producers have new payment option for WLPIP
The Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) has been around for more than four years, and this year they’ve added a feature to help producers cover the premium. New this year, the premium paid can be put on account – subject to interest. Ranchers then have until the expiration of their policy to pay their… Read more »
Canada commits to double agriculture trade to China by 2025
The federal government has made it very clear that it expects Canadian agriculture to grow, scale-up, and increase production — for both domestic and international markets. China is a key destination for several Canadian commodities, and a trade mission this week is yielding some very positive results. Last week, Canada sent four high-level ministers to… Read more »
Focus on ram management for out-of-season breeding success
In order for Canada to best meet the domestic demand for lamb, sheep farmers have to manage the sheep flock to lamb out-of-season. It’s very possible with careful management of ewes, certainly, but many farmers may be surprised to learn that ram management can have a significant impact on out-of-season success. For those aiming for… Read more »
Building pasture capacity with sheep following cattle
If you’re looking to build soil nutrient levels in pasture, do you order fertilizer or do you buy sheep? If you’re Mike Swidersky and family, you buy sheep as a complement to raising cattle. How does it work? You run the sheep after the cattle (they utilize pasture differently and aren’t susceptible to the other… Read more »
Start-up businesses get leg up through Agropur dairy innovation program
Five businesses in North America will be given the opportunity to reinvent and reinvigorate the dairy sector. Agropur has launched a new accelerator program for the business side of dairy dubbed Inno Accel. The program, which launched last month, will bring together a team of two mentors (one entrepreneur and one Agropur executive) to be… Read more »
Canadian beef yield grade scale moves to align with U.S. system
The way Canadian beef will be graded for yield will be different starting at the beginning of next year. The change from three classes to five is being made to align the Canadian yield grading system with the U.S. The Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA) says this move “will unite the industry and allow for alignment… Read more »
Ontario Sheep Farmers names new chair
Ontario Sheep Farmers held its convention and annual general meeting last week near Cookstown, Ont. It was Rob Scott’s final meeting as a board member, having served the last two years as chair. Scott had announced ahead of this meeting that he would be stepping down as chair and as provincial director for his district…. Read more »
Canadian beef sector has reasons to be optimistic of increased exports
Late last month, Canada became the fifth country to ratify the CPTPP. Australia then ratified shortly thereafter, triggering the 60-day countdown to this international trade deal moving to implementation. CPTPP has huge potential for Canada’s beef industry, says John Masswohl, director of government and international relations for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. “The clouds have parted and we… Read more »
Three options for high DON corn
By Peter Johnson, RealAgriculture agronomist It has been one TOUGH harvest. Constant showers, have led to very wet condition, and now record levels of deoxynivalenol (DON, produced by gibberella) in the corn crop has stress running high in the countryside. Coffee shop rumours abound. The urgent questions though, are: Do I harvest this corn at… Read more »
How willing are Canadians to trade meat for plant-based protein?
Many of us are full-fledged carnivores, but fewer and fewer Canadians are cutting into a barbecued steak. That’s the conclusion of a new Dalhousie University study looking at Canadian attitudes toward plant-based protein alternatives. According to the study, 6.4 million Canadians say they are limiting the amount of meat they eat, and the number will likely… Read more »
Federal government expands area eligible for drought-related tax deferral
In mid September, the federal government announced the list of prescribed regions eligible for drought-related livestock tax deferral. The break was welcomed, however ranchers and producer groups criticized the government’s approach, saying it left out too many drought-affected producers. Announced October 31st, the federal government says it is taking steps to answer some of that… Read more »
Saputo purchases two U.S. dairy processing facilities
Montreal-based Saputo has announced its plan to acquire the activities of F&A Dairy Products, Inc., a dairy processing company with two sites in the United States, for US$85 million. Located in New Mexico and Wisconsin, F&A Dairy employs approximately 170 people. The purchase price will be paid in cash from cash on hand and available credit… Read more »
Crop insurance will have to grind through this brutal Ontario corn harvest
“Brutal” is just one word being used to describe some of the corn coming off in Ontario. While yields are good, a perfect storm of disease-inducing conditions at and following pollination has left a chunk of the 2018 corn crop riddled with myctoxins, most notably vomitoxin. “There is still lots of good corn in Ontario,”… Read more »