Twelve youth gathered at the Calgary Stampede’s OH Ranch this fall for Steer Selection Day, the official kickoff to the Calgary Stampede’s 2025–26 OH Ranch Branded Beef Youth Ambassador Program. The day brought together this year’s ambassadors and their families for orientation, hands-on learning, and the key event: selecting the steer each youth will raise…
The Great Twine Round-Up contest is back for 2026, encouraging Alberta producers and youth to recycle plastic baler twine while supporting local communities and agricultural charities. The initiative is part of the Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It! pilot project. Alberta-based 4-H clubs, district members, and independent entrants are invited to collect and recycle used plastic baler…
4-H Alberta has named Isabella Sweet of Lacombe as the 2026 Premier’s Award recipient, recognizing her outstanding leadership and commitment to the 4-H program. The Premier’s Award, first presented in 1964, is 4-H Alberta’s highest honour, given annually to an Ambassador who exemplifies leadership, dedication, and service. “Having experienced 4-H provincially, regionally, and at the…
Unauthorized construction at confined feeding operations is on the rise The Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) is seeing a significant increase in unauthorized construction at confined feeding operations across Alberta. Compared to 2024, complaints related to unauthorized construction are up approximately 32 per cent, while enforcement actions have increased by about 125 per cent. This…
It’s not your average deck of cards. There are no kings or queens and the game involves as much talking as it does thinking. It can be played alone like solitaire, in pairs, as a family or with a team. Conversation cards they are called — and there are thousands of these decks found in…
From a supply perspective, fed calf supplies are declining while yearling volumes are increasing. As more summer-placed yearlings enter the slaughter mix, carcass weights have started to seasonally decline. Last week, the Canfax average fed steer and heifer price closed around $301.50/cwt live, $4/cwt higher than the previous week. Since late November, fed prices have…
Choosing traits that pay off Improving the genetics of your beef herd starts with knowing which traits you can change through genetics and which traits respond better to management practices. Because cattle have a long generation interval, every bull or replacement heifer you choose affects your herd for years. That’s why understanding heritability, and how…
One of the costs when selling cattle is shrink — pounds lost when cattle are stressed and emptying their bladders and digestive tract. The body weight of individuals may vary. Morning weights, when cattle are relatively empty, are less than mid-day or evening weights when the gut is full, unless they were held off feed…
Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is saddened to learn of the passing of Rick Burton of Claresholm, a past Chair of ABP and a long-time advocate for Alberta’s cattle industry. A third-generation rancher from the Porcupine Hills west of Claresholm, Burton devoted his life to raising cattle, stewarding the land and speaking up for producers. He served the…
ABP is pleased to welcome Samuel Vriend, who joins the organization as Wildlife Policy Advisor starting in January 2026. In this role, Vriend will advance beef producers’ priorities related to wildlife policy, working closely with ABP’s Government Relations & Policy and Beef Production & Extension teams. Samuel Vriend will represent ABP on key industry and…
Alberta fed cattle prices have been on an upward swing since mid-December. Weighted average prices were around $3.00/cwt stronger than mid-December, when prices were last published. Dressed sales were ranging from $497.00–500.50/cwt FOB the feedlot, with immediate to first half of February delivery. Buying interest was noted from all Western Canadian packers. Since the first…
4-H Canada has announced the appointment of Christina Franc as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective later this month. Franc joins 4-H Canada after more than 15 years in senior leadership roles with national nonprofit organizations, most recently at United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC). During her time at UWCC, she worked closely with community partners…