The Environmental Stewardship Award (ESA) is an annual award presented by Alberta Beef Producers to recognize farms and ranchland managers across the province whose natural resource stewardship practices contribute to the environment and enhance productivity and profitability. The award has been presented since 1992 and has since become one of the most prestigious in the…
The United States Department of Agriculture (UDSA) has officially changed its voluntary “Product of the USA” labeling regulations, as of March 11, 2024. The rule states that to qualify for the label meat must be derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S. The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) says they are disappointed…
Alberta fed price last week had a strong performance, up $2-10/cwt on the rail. But the cash-to-futures basis remains $8/cwt weaker than the five-year average. Western Canadian steer carcass weight were 60 pounds heavier than the five-year average. Canadian fed cattle and cow exports to the U.S. have been running above year-ago level since the…
Clinics that help B.C. farmers and ranchers care for their animals will have extra sets of skilled hands in their offices through a new program that covers summer placement costs for both veterinary and veterinary technologist students. The $300,000 pilot program offers up to $6,000 per placement to help with wages and travel costs, and…
The Government of Canada has announced funding of up to $1,697,850 to Animal Health Canada to support their role in foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness efforts in Canada, including for African swine fever (ASF) and Food and Mouth Disease (FMD). Animal Health Canada brings together the agriculture industry, and federal, provincial, and territorial partners…
Worldwide, it is estimated that approximately 60 per cent of infectious diseases are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted between animals and people. There are a number of different ways zoonoses can be spread between humans and animals, including direct and indirect contact, foodborne, inhalation, and vector borne. You may be familiar with some of…
Following years of drought and a record-breaking wildfire season, pastures across Alberta are in poor condition. We asked rangeland ecologist Cameron Carlyle to bring us up to speed on the situation and provide some recommendations on how to help pastures recover. Across Alberta, wildfires and drought reduced available grazing acres in 2023, resulting in heavy…
Valuable wheat research across the country will receive crucial funding through the newly announced Canadian National Wheat Cluster, worth more than $20 million over five years. Administered by the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC), the Wheat Cluster will fund research projects that advance wheat genetics, agronomy and sustainability for the benefit of Canadian farmers. Jake…
Canadian Cattle Young Leaders is pleased to highlight the industry-leading mentors who are kindly investing their expertise and time to lend a helping hand to the next generation of the Canadian beef industry. The 2023-2024 program year pairings have strong roots in the Alberta cattle industry, including [now previous] Alberta Beef Producers Vice Chair, Sheila…
Through Alberta’s Broadband Strategy, the Alberta government is investing $390 million over five years in rural broadband service so Albertans can stay connected, improve digital literacy, support their livelihoods and improve access to education, health care, and the global marketplace. The initiative builds upon an existing agreement between the two levels of government. Back on…
All living creatures and plants contain protein. Plants take in nitrogen to produce protein. Some animals, including cattle, consume plant material. During digestion of the forage, the plant protein is broken down into amino acids. Rumen bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses rebuild the amino acids into proteins that are required by the animal. Microbes that…
This article was originally posted on the Beef Cattle Research Council’s website on February 29, 2024. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly infectious virus that has disastrous consequences on the livestock industry and the population of beef cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals worldwide. Fortunately, Canada has achieved FMD-free status, but everyone must stay vigilant…