Forage and hay production this year has been challenging, and livestock producers in much of the Northern Great Plains and the western half of North America are looking for alternative forage resources and feeding strategies. Zach Carlson, extension beef specialist at North Dakota State University, is looking at options for producers who might have canola… Read More
The federal government has approved $500 million for drought and wildfire relief programs under the AgriRecovery framework, just hours before the launch of the federal election campaign on Sunday. The total includes the previously-announced $100 million. “We thank Minister Bibeau for attaining further funding to help beef farmers and ranchers dealing with widespread severe drought… Read More
It’s often noted that soybean yield is made with rain in August, but moisture has been scarce throughout the entire growing season for soybeans on the Prairies this year. While there are areas that have received more moisture, many fields in Manitoba are showing tell-tale signs of drought stress as they move through the critical… Read More
The Ontario government says it will deliver immediate assistance to livestock farmers impacted by drought in northwestern Ontario by committing provincial funding for AgriRecovery. The province is committing up to $5 million in funding for the 40 per cent provincial cost share. The federal government recently announced $100 million for AgriRecover across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba,… Read More
The Government of Alberta is making $136 million available under the AgriRecovery program, a joint program between the governments of Alberta and Canada, and has asked the federal government to provide an additional $204 million for a total relief package of $340 million. Earlier in the day, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie Claude Bibeau… Read More
The federal government says it has committed $100 million through the AgriRecovery disaster relief framework to helping farmers affected by drought in Western Canada and parts of Ontario. The government says it’s still working with provincial governments of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario to finalize the details of how payments will work, but sources… Read More
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) has released a document to help beef producers and neighbouring crop farmers develop grazing agreements. Due to drought and wildfires, feed supplies are scarce, and the CCA wants to encourage beef producers and grain farming neighbours to work together to find creative solutions. Stubble grazing, or grazing crops that are… Read More
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) says it is taking action to support livestock producers, by releasing the contents of a drought-survival proposal submitted to the provincial and federal governments this week. “We greatly appreciate the measures Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have implemented especially, the triggering of AgriRecovery assessments,” says Kelcy… Read More
As the drought continues across the Prairies, ranchers and grain farmers are navigating baling and grazing drought-affected crop. There are insurance considerations when offering field crops as grazing, but there are also several considerations for livestock producers when determining the suitability of a field as feed. Shannon Argent, business manager with VBP+, says that ranchers… Read More
The Government of Ontario has announced up to $2 million to assist with emergency measures for feed, water, and basic needs for livestock in the Rainy River and Kenora Districts. The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) will administer up to $800,000 of the Northwestern Livestock Emergency Assistance Initiative to help deal with the immediate feed shortages on… Read More
Drought is having a substantial effect on grain farming and ranching on the Prairies, and recently Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) made changes to how disaster-affected crops can be diverted to help ranchers with their grazing needs. “The dry conditions are certainly having an impact, and I’d say it’s primarily on the west side of… Read More
As drought ravages grassland, pasture, hay fields, and grain crops, ranchers are working hard to find immediate feed sources and source feed for the winter. Grazing or haying drought-affected fields requires navigating the issues of fencing, crop insurance considerations, payment, and more, but there’s also feed quality to consider. For some ranchers, sourcing feed low… Read More
Following a tour of the drought-stricken Interlake region in Manitoba on Thursday (July 22), the federal agriculture minister announced several measures designed to provide support to producers across the country affected by drought. Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau was accompanied by other government officials, including Conservative MP James Bezan, and representatives from Manitoba Beef Producers, the Canadian… Read More
In the early 2000s, Canadian farmers from the east helped out those in the west with hay supplies, after the drought of 2002 left very little for feed. Dubbed Hay West, the grassroots movement was revived 10 years later, when western Canadian farmers returned the favour for many farmers in Ontario’s Ottawa Valley with Hay… Read More
If you farm across the southern prairies, you are unfortunately no stranger to the lack of moisture in 2021. High market prices at the start of the year caused many to eliminate some risk on their farm by locking in some grain for the end of the season. However, Mother Nature has taken her toll,… Read More