Issues & Insights

Bob Weber, The Canadian Press One of the most destructive and rapidly spreading invasive species on the continent has been found for the first time in a Canadian national park. Wild pigs, which tear up landscapes and eat everything from roots to bird eggs to deer, are regularly present in Elk Island National Park —…

By Doug Ferguson, Western Producer Industry leaders say beef production plays an important role in carbon sequestration that is not well known by consumers Consumers concerned about the environmental impact of greenhouse gases from Canada’s beef industry aren’t looking at the full picture, a recent webinar at the University of Calgary was told. “We really need…

On Wednesday, the Government of Alberta declared a state of public health emergency, and Minister of Health Tyler Shandro announced new measures to reduce transmission of COVID-19. The measures range from private to social settings, and include retail, entertainment, and recreation facilities. With fall auctions, expos, and conferences on the horizon, we thought it would…

Four U.S. Senators announced the American Beef Labeling (ABL) Act on Wednesday, that would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling (mCOOL) for beef. Senators John Thune, Mike Rounds, Jon Tester, and Cory Booker will formally introduce the legislation next week. It would require the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to…

Hay illegally baled from an Alberta park and seized by RCMP and then stolen reflects desperation of livestock producers as historic drought threatens the Prairies. By: Doug Ferguson, Western Producer Theft of about $10,000 in hay bales gathered without a permit from a provincial park in Alberta, and then stolen before they could be donated to…

Dr. Renate Weller says veterinarians have important role to play in solving ‘big, global challenges’ By Jennifer Allford, for Faculty of Veterinary Medicine So far this week, Dr. Renate Weller, DVM, PhD, has moved into her new office at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, greeted first-year students at the Foothills campus, met with…

By Alexis Kienlen, Alberta Farmer Express The first drought relief payment of $94 per head should be in the hands of cattle producers soon. Alberta Beef Producers has been working with the provincial crop insurer to get the drought relief money out as quickly as possible, said general manager Brad Dubeau. “We’re continuing to work with Agriculture Financial Services…

Updated September 2, 2021 to reflect a change in one of the panelists, and new details on how to watch the debate. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is once again hosting a National Ag Leaders Debate, this time in the run up to Canada’s 43 federal election. Event Details: The debate will take place…

By Dr. Silke Nebel, Vice-President – Science and Conservation, Birds Canada Climate change and loss of biodiversity and are two challenges threatening the future of humanity. They are referred as “twin crises” because the factors driving them – and the potential solutions – are tightly linked. Trying to address one without addressing the other may…

By RealAgriculture Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) executive vice president Dennis Laycraft’s recent trip to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) convention in Nashville was a busy week. To start, Laycraft met with new leaders of organizations that frequent the convention, who were really appreciative that CCA made the effort to get down there. On Laycraft’s…