As November approaches quickly, many are asking where cattle producers are at with fall run, and what the market is looking like this year. Anne Wasko of the Gateway Livestock Exchange explains in our latest Beef Market Update that in order to understand where the market is with cows coming to town, we need to… Read More
Statistics Canada (StatsCan) has released its gross domestic product (GDP) by industry numbers for August 2021, and it is no surprise that a lack of precipitation caused a significant drop in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting sector. The category dropped 5.7 per cent, following a 5.5 per cent decrease in July. StatsCan says the record-setting heat… Read More
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its October 1 Cattle on Feed Report October 22. Cattle and calves on feed in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totalled 11.6 million head, down one per cent year-over-year. This is the second highest October 1 inventory since the series began in 1996…. Read More
Despite major concerns from farmers, the European Union’s proposed Farm to Fork strategy received a show of support from members of the European Parliament last week. The policy, which the European Commission says is aimed at making the EU’s food systems “fair, healthy and environmentally-friendly,” would introduce significant restrictions to the amount of pesticides, fertilizers,… Read More
Drought by definition, we can likely agree on. But take it on a case by case scenario, and you quickly realize it can mean a million different things. Everyone has a different perspective of dry, and that perception can change depending what year of drought it is. On a grain and oilseed farm, there is… Read More
Widespread drought across the Prairies (and Northern Great Plains) has pushed many livestock producers to source resources for the upcoming winter from elsewhere. But as feed resources move across the country, both in Canada and the U.S., extension specialists warn that noxious weeds might be on the move too, and that livestock producers should be… Read More
Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) has committed $640,000 to a collaborative research project with the Canadian Beef Improvement Network (CBIN) to develop a unified, standardized, and producer-accessible beef cattle genetics data platform. Eight Canadian beef cattle breed associations have committed to participate in the development of CBIN to date, under the leadership of the Canadian… Read More
The governments of Canada and Ontario will deliver $3 million over three initiatives to enhance biosecurity and support the provincial pork sector’s African swine fever (ASF) prevention and emergency preparedness efforts, the province says. Starting November 5, 2021, and under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, processors and other agri-businesses can access an intake to support training,… Read More
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) has announced new partnerships with Tree Canada, Cleanfarms, and Ducks Unlimited Canada. “DFC and our farmers are committed to finding innovative new ways to foster sustainability in dairy farming,” says Pierre Lampron, president of DFC. “We are excited to work with these exceptional organizations to improve farming productivity, reduce waste, plant trees… Read More
Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C), along with its 10 provincial members, has launched a teaching guide with interactive resources for “Guardians of the Grasslands,” a documentary that explores the role that cattle play in the survival of Canada’s grasslands ecosystem. Guardians of the Grasslands in the Classroom will complement the 12-minute documentary through viewing and reflection questions,… Read More
Wild pigs pose ecological and agricultural problems across Canada and into the United States. Every year, this rapidly reproducing, non-native species expands its territory, most recently being discovered in Alberta’s Elk Island National Park. Originally brought into the country to help diversification efforts in agriculture in the late 80s and early 90s, the invasive species, cross-bred… Read More
There’s a lot happening in the cattle markets as we hit mid-October (?!) already. Anne Wasko of the Gateway Livestock Exchange says the markets south of the border have held mostly steady, at around $124 for live cattle in the south, and $124-$125 in the north, while noting the cutout drop-off we are still seeing…. Read More
Olymel’s management has announced the sudden passing of its president and CEO, Réjean Nadeau. Nadeau, 71, succumbed to a sudden and virulent cancer. He passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 14, surrounded by his loved ones at his home in Rougemont, the company says. The date and location of a memorial are soon to be… Read More
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) have both made contributions to the Hay West 2021 initiative to help cover shipping costs to send hay to drought-stricken farmers in the Prairie provinces. The 2021 Hay West initiative, organized by Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), is moving hay from eastern Canada to the… Read More
The Canadian Dairy XPO (CDX) is planning to return to Stratford, Ontario, for a live dairy industry showcase on April 6 and 7, 2022. CDX has not run its traditional tradeshow since 2019 — the event was cancelled in 2020 and a virtual program was presented in 2021. “Things will look different,” says CDX founder and… Read More