Business Tools

New Alberta research will test how virtual fencing performs with cow–calf pairs and yearlings under working ranch conditions. Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) is supporting trials of Halter’s virtual fencing technology led by the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. The research will examine how the collars perform…

Producers will have more time to enter or update an animal’s birth date in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) before a flag appears on the record. Effective October 1, 2026, the birth date flag threshold will increase from nine months to 12 months (365 days). The change follows industry feedback and is intended to…

Alberta cattle producers who missed the spring AgriStability enrolment deadline have until Oct. 1, 2026 to apply for late participation. The federal and provincial governments reopened enrolment for the 2026 program year in response to excessive moisture affecting farms and ranches. AgriStability helps producers manage large declines in farm income caused by production losses, increased…

Fall run is one of the busiest times of year for Canadian cattle producers. Before your sell your calf crop, here’s a quick refreshed on how the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off applies to your sale. The basics Every time you sell cattle in Canada, a mandatory levy or check-off is deducted which is a combination…

If your confined feeding operation (CFO) was operating before January 1, 2002, and you do not have a permit from the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) that states your livestock type and livestock capacity, now is a good time to request a formal grandfathering determination from the NRCB. A grandfathering determination provides official documentation of…

A new national survey of Canadian feedlots is providing the first comprehensive benchmark of management practices across the cattle feeding sector, offering valuable insight into how operations compare on feed, receiving protocols and growth-enhancing technologies. The survey, which collected responses from 87 feedlots across seven provinces, was led by researchers from the University of Saskatchewan,…

Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is encouraged by the progress federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture have made toward strengthening Business Risk Management programs, including AgriStability, while welcoming the broader priorities outlined in the Halifax Statement that align with the needs of Alberta’s cattle producers.  Released following the annual conference of FPT Ministers of…

Feed represents one of the largest input costs in beef production. Without an accurate understanding of its nutritional value, both feed planning and ration formulation becomes largely speculative, increasing the risk of under- or over-supplying key nutrients. Laboratory feed analysis provides a precise assessment of nutrient availability, allowing producers to optimize feed utilization and improve…

Canfax is inviting Canadian beef producers and industry stakeholders to share their perspectives through a stakeholder survey designed to help guide the future of its market information services. As a membership-funded, not-for-profit organization, Canfax provides voluntary price reporting and cattle market information to the Canadian cattle industry. Members receive access to publications, data services and…

Alberta producers play an important role in maintaining grasslands and wildlife habitat, according to new research highlighted by the Beef Cattle Research Council. In a recent article, BCRC Science Director Dr. Reynold Bergen examined how continued conversion of pasture and forage land to crop production could impact biodiversity and landscape connectivity across Alberta. The article draws on research…