Issues & Insights

If you have thoughts on the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), now’s your chance to share them, and help shape the direction of the next federal-provincial-territorial agreement. This week, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) launched the consultation process for CAP’s successor — the Next Agricultural Policy Framework (NPF). Moving from CAP to NPF CAP is a…

If you work in agriculture, you’re passionate about land-use planning, and the future of agriculture lands, you’ll want to engage with the Edmonton Metropolitan Region (EMR) on the development of a Regional Agriculture Master Plan (RAMP). What is Edmonton Metropolitan Region? Edmonton Metropolitan Region is a nearly 9,500 square-kilometer region around Edmonton. Spread over four…

ABP Collaborative Study Gives Insights to Improving Pre-weaning Health and Performance By Elizabeth R. Homerosky, DVM, MSc., DABVP Partner Veterinarian, Veterinary Agri-Health Services For many of us that grew up on a ranch or work in agriculture, “branding” has a much deeper meaning than the roar of branding pot and a hot iron. It symbolizes…

Alberta usually exports cattle but a quarter of a million U.S. cows a year are coming to Western Canada By Jennifer Blair, Alberta Farmer Express Alberta feeder cattle imports have exploded, reaching highs not seen since the early 2000s. But feedlot operators are still struggling to turn a profit, and adding to their woes, the…

By Roy Lewis, DVM, Western Producer Nothing frustrates me more than when big bulls are unnecessarily injured. This happens a lot when bulls are introduced or reintroduced to one another. It also happens when bulls are transported together in trailers. Bull pens must be big enough to allow bulls to escape from one another. Every…

By Krista Baliko, for the University of Regina’s Discourse Research Magazine “When I had my daughter 15 years ago, I experienced postpartum depression and realized I was all alone,” says Cynthia Beck, speaking from her farm south of Regina.  “Mental-health services in rural Saskatchewan are not that accessible, and doctors don’t stay long before they…

By Temur Durrani, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Winnipeg Free Press Who’s got a beef with COVID-19? Turns out, most Canadians. Even the spiralling sticker shocks of rising meat prices and trending plant-based diets during the coronavirus pandemic did not hinder people from their love of sirloin, ribeye or porterhouse steaks. As barbecue season begins across the…

Undeterred by the global pandemic, Canadians — and Albertans especially — are continuing to enjoy eating beef. According to a survey findings from Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University (in partnership with Angus Reid), a whopping 92% of Canadians are beef eaters, with 65% eating beef at least once per week. Alberta boasts the highest rate of…

By Dr. Ron Clarke, Canadian Cattlemen – The Beef Magazine Plant poisoning is a common problem throughout North America, causing significant losses from sudden death, reproductive failure, poor growth rates, tainting of animal products (milk, meat) and physical damage. Recognizing toxic plants and understanding the effects of toxins on animals is an important aspect of good…

This spring, the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA), in association with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry announced the release of a new documentary. Raised With Care: Stewards of the Land looks at the issue of antimicrobial resistance, and the importance of stewardship from producers, farmers, government, and veterinarians. “Antimicrobial resistance can or will impact all of…