Business Tools

Is the vigor of your cattle herd waning? The genetic vigor, that is.  It might be time to dig deeper than hide color to discover the actual genetic makeup, and then to refresh, the heterosis of your herd.  The what?  ‘Heterosis’ is the science term for the Hybrid Vigor factor, and while its known benefits…

As the days of summer fade away and we face the briskness of fall it is time to carefully consider livestock marketing plans for the farm and ranch. Traditionally, this time of year is referred to as ‘the fall run’ as most of the calves, yearlings and cull cows are offered for sale and the…

October 19, 2021 (Edmonton, Alberta) – Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) has invested $640,000 in a collaborative research project with the Canadian Beef Improvement Network (CBIN) to springboard the development of a unified, standardized, and producer-accessible beef cattle genetics data platform. Through this platform, CBIN will provide commercial cattle producers and the entire beef production chain…

The National Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) has released its updated Compliance and Enforcement Policy for confined feeding operations in Alberta. The policy outlines the compliance process, emphasizes education and prevention, and provides direction on appropriate enforcement actions. It is founded on three pillars: collaborative problem solving, risk-based compliance, and fair complaint response. For more information,…

Managing herd genetics is difficult without the right tools, and even harder when you produce crossbred cattle. Optimizing herd genetics The first part to optimizing herd genetics is selecting sires/dams with the best genes. This can be achieved by purchasing breeding stock that have the best estimated progeny differences (EPDs). However, EPDs can have low…

The 2020 results for the Canadian Cost of Production (COP) Network are in, and the next round is open for those interested in participating. The Canadian Cost of Production (COP) Network is a national effort to benchmark cow-calf production systems across Canada. The results from the first 28 farm systems are available now. Grouped by…

*Update: A $50.00 gift card will be given to the first 10 participants.* Researchers from the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are recruiting cow-calf producers to develop an estimate on the cost of an assisted calving for producers. Data collected will be kept confidential, and participating producers will be given a summary of…

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is launching a relief program to work with farmers across the country to move hay to drought-stricken livestock producers in the west. The initiative, called Hay West 2021, is operating on a break-even basis. Hay supplied through the program will be sold to selected applicants at $0.10 per pound….

Alberta’s initial AgriRecovery payment through the 2021 Canada-Alberta Livestock Feed Assistance (CALFA) initiative is now open for applications. The initiative will help cover feed and water access costs for breeding female livestock in the province. According to the Government of Alberta, those who are approved, and have signed up for direct deposit will see payments…

The51 Ventures is now fundraising for its Food & AgTech Fund, specific to women-led and diverse businesses in agriculture, food and aquaculture technology sectors. Inspired by disproportionate investments in women-founded teams, and a need for more diverse representation in ag, The51 is seeking investors, and entrepreneurs. The organization says championing women and diverse founders offers…