Issues & Insights

Ranchers are receiving recognition for their role in managing Alberta’s Crown rangelands with the creation of a new grazing framework. The Rangeland Grazing Framework, announced Wednesday, outlines the standards for sustainable use and management of Alberta’s Crown rangelands, highlighting the contributions of grazing disposition holders in the stewardship of these public lands. “The framework recognizes…

Many beef and dairy producers in Alberta protect livestock feed by covering it with special plastic film widely used in agriculture today. Whether it’s silage bags or tubes, large tarps that cover the top of the silage piles, or plastic stretch film used to wrap hay bales, once the plastic is removed and no longer…

By Sheri Hathaway, The Western Producer In 1951, the world was recovering from the Second World War, financially and emotionally. People looked for new ways to get ahead. Willi Bruntjen, a 29-year-old farm worker, left his homeland of Germany on Oct. 15 and came to Canada seeking a new life. He wore his only clothes,…

Recycling agricultural plastic pesticide and fertilizer containers 23L and under – a familiar practice to many Alberta farmers – is being updated. At the request of the Agricultural Service Boards (ASB) that have been offering jug collection services in Alberta, Cleanfarms is moving recycling collection locations from municipalities to local ag retailers. The process is…

By Robert Arnason, The Western Producer When Martin Unrau was president of the Canadian Cattle Association about a decade ago, he frequently delivered the same message to politicians and bureaucrats in Ottawa. It was simple: government shouldn’t favour one sector within agriculture over other sectors. Most of the time, whoever was listening would nod and…

The Canadian beef industry breathed a collective sigh of relief to learn a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank is on the horizon. As part of the 2023 Federal Budget, $57.5 million over five years was designated to create the FMD vaccine bank within the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and to develop an emergency response plan….

After twenty years of trade restrictions, the last barrier to Canadian beef exports to Japan has been removed. The federal government announced Monday the opening of processed beef into Japan, removing the country’s last BSE-era restriction against Canadian beef and fully restoring Canada’s access into this market. “Cattle producers are grateful for the removal of…

The wise King Solomon suggested “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity…” The Byrds song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” in the 1960s famously alluded to Solomon’s words as a way to draw attention to switching mindsets from focusing on war to focusing on peace. Within Solomon’s verses are also the phrases:…

Origin labelling claims on meat and poultry products are once again up for discussion in the U.S. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officially submitted a proposed amendment to the voluntary “Product of the USA” labelling regulations. This amendment would only allow products from livestock born, raised, harvested, and processed in the U.S….

This is the second article in a two-part series. The first part is available here. <*link to first article once published> Sustainability and affordability aren’t the only consumer demands that Canada’s food system stakeholders need to be mindful of. According to Nourish Food Marketing’s 2023 Trend Report, customers are looking for individualized wellness options, shared…