Issues & Insights

Today the Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced $185 million for the Agricultural Climate Solutions program which includes the Living Laboratories initiative. This program is intended to assist the Government of Canada in achieving its greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets. Canada’s beef industry is well positioned to be a partner in reaching…

Canadian Cattlemen by Piper Whelan When Bob Lowe was elected president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) in March 2020, he couldn’t have anticipated everything the year ahead had in store. Mere days after CCA’s annual general meeting, Canada was in lockdown due to the pandemic, changing the trajectory of everyone’s year and presenting numerous…

The Western Producer by Barb Glen Consumers paid more for beef, processors and retailers increased their profits and feedlot owners lost millions in 2020 because of COVID-19. A paper published through the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, written by project co-ordinator Karen Spencer, indicates feedlots lost an estimated $379 million in gross revenues…

The Government of Alberta has announced plans for public engagement on coal policy development. The government webpage states that they have heard concern’s regarding their approach to coal development and Albertans will have the opportunity provide input. Public consultations are set to begin on March 29. Those interested in providing feedback on the government’s long-term…

Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit Climate science is clear that to a close approximation, the eventual extent of global warming is proportional to the total amount of carbon dioxide that human activities add to the atmosphere. So, in order to stabilise climate change, CO2 emissions need to fall to zero. The longer it takes to do so, the…

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) is helping to lead the conversation and improve consumer confidence in the cattle industry. Burger King™ Back on Track In July 2020, Burger King™ launched a campaign announcing an open-source solution to methane emissions from cows. Unfortunately, the video focused on bovine flatulence instead of belching. CCA’s Public and Stakeholder…

And today, it also lends credibility to the value of the calf for the cattle feeder and to the packer as a carcass. The end product is always beef and in the future advanced genetic improvements may also be predictable and palatable to the plate. Phenotype or the visibly physical characteristics of the bull were…

Since December 1, 2018, a prescription has been required to purchase any medically important antibiotic for use in cattle. This meant that some medications, such as tetracycline, were no longer available over the counter at local farm supply stores. As with any new regulation change, this has caused some confusion in various situations for producers….

Successful Farming by Laurie Bedord There is no question 2020 will go down in the history books as one of the most challenging years for agriculture. It also highlighted a number of issues facing the livestock industry. During a Precision Livestock Farming session at the virtual Animal AgTech Innovation Summit, industry experts look back on the…

Climate change and a growing world population require efficient use of natural resources. Water is a crucial component in food production, and water management strategies are needed to support worldwide changes in food consumption and dietary patterns. Agricultural production and food manufacturing account for a third of water usage in the U.S. Water use fluctuates with weather…