Checking in with ABP

Emergencies that involve livestock are complex and can progress quickly, putting people and animals at risk. Natural disasters, such as fires and floods, can pose a severe threat to a farm. Farmers are familiar with what natural hazards exist in their area and should adjust their emergency plans accordingly. For example, a farm located in…

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is hosting a series of four webinars from November through March. The webinars will cover a variety of topics, including backgrounding, record keeping, and grazing planning. Registrants will receive reminders to attend the live event, additional resources, and a link to access the webinars at any time after they’re…

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s (CCA) Public and Stakeholder Engagement team is announcing a new and improved Beef Advocacy Canada (BAC) program. BAC is an online learning program designed to empower, equip, and connect beef advocates. Through a series of five self-guided courses, participants learn about the key concerns consumers have about beef and be equipped…

There’s an app for everything these days…and that includes traceability. Meet the CLTS MOBO APP! The CLTS MOBO APP is essentially the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database at your fingertips. We’ve taken the entirety of a national traceability system and made it available on your Android and iPhone devices. You may not be familiar…

By Reynold Bergen, BCRC, for Canadian Cattlemen The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) projects featured in this column are funded by the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off. When the check-off increased a few years ago, the BCRC’s budget rose from around 15 cents to 67 cents per head marketed. This allowed us to start some new…

No doubt 2020 saw some changes in how we, as farmers and agricultural organizations, were able to interact with our local government. Usually, we would gather at a dinner, at meetings, or on our farms to celebrate those accomplishments, and discuss further visions and goals for our dynamic Alberta beef industry. Last year, in lieu…

AITC-C launches Guardians of the Grasslands in the Classroom  Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C), along with its 10 provincial members, is excited to launch 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 vanishing grasslands ecosystem.  Through a funding partnership with…

We are all in this together Farming and ranching have long been one of the more stressful and dangerous occupations. In addition to the physical demands in the field, there is something we don’t talk about enough and that is the emotional labour and demands of our industry. The constant worry about the animals in our…

After 18 months of video calling and alternative forms of communication, it has been refreshing to be able to attend events and have face-to-face contact once again. Here’s an update on where we’ve been so far this summer: Calgary Stampede – July 9-18, 2021 While I attended a small number of bull sales and events…

Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) held two virtual meetings on Thursday, September 30, 2021. The ABP Semi-Annual Meeting gathered delegates for program and financial updates, and to provide input on strategic direction for the organization. The delegate body reviewed and passed the 2021-22 ABP Strategic Plan. A Town Hall followed the Semi-AGM with an update from…