By Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada There is more to a cow pat than meets the eye. In Canada, an estimated 110 million dung pats (the weight of over 13,000 combines!) are deposited by cows every day. But what do we know about the community of insects, bacteria and other organisms that inhabit them? These critters are essential…
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan and Lakeland College are looking for cow-calf producers in Western Canada to provide their thoughts on the use of swathgrazing and spring residue cleanup. Producers don’t have to be currently swathgrazing to participate in the survey, as the researchers want to learn from adopters, non-adopters and dis-adopters of this…
This is the seventh in a series of articles highlighting a selection of ABP-supported research projects that were featured at our Research Showcase in February 2023. Find the previous articles here. When it comes to studying the rumen microbiome of cattle, University of Alberta researchers are old hands. “We have done research to look at…
The Western Canadian fed market still has wind in its sails, whereas this has not necessarily been the case for Ontario and the U.S., as both of these markets have either traded steady or lower. Trading $5.50/cwt higher, Western Canadian fed prices averaged over $237/cwt. With higher prices and stronger basis levels, producers did end…
The Province of Alberta has released emergency grazing options to support producers who have evacuated their livestock due to the ongoing wildfires. The guidelines from the provincial government are as follows: Under the provincial state of emergency, grazing disposition holders with grazing capacity can accept livestock from other producers subject to the following conditions: The…
Producers add pain medication to their routines and benefit their herds By the Beef Cattle Research Council Pain management for beef cattle has evolved significantly in the past two decades. Scientists have gained a greater understanding of what pain looks like in an animal and how reducing pain can affect an animal’s well-being. The beef…
For several years, Prairie farmers have been keenly participating in Cleanfarms’ seed, pesticide, and inoculant (SPI) bag recycling pilot project in search of more environmentally friendly alternatives for managing these items once empty. Starting in 2023, Cleanfarms is pleased to announce that SPI bag recycling is launching across the prairies as a full-time permanent program…
By Tonya Lwiwski, Riparian Specialist at Cows and Fish Springtime. Returning birdsong marks the morning hours, the lengthening daylight and the melting snow are all welcome signs of the end of winter. While this season of rejuvenation makes us want to get outside, spring is also a sensitive time for riparian areas. Before turning those…
The Canfax fed steer and heifer price closed the week at around $230.75/cwt, mostly steady with the previous week. Fed cattle prices contnue to trade at record high levels. Fed calf supplies continue to be light and many producers were indicating calves need more days on feed before they are marketed. Last week, dressed sales…
By It’s Good Canada “Welcome to The Stew, a podcast from It’s Good Canada that brings you valuable insights and information on Canada’s ever-growing and innovating food system. “With so much information out there, it can be challenging to know what’s credible and who to trust when it comes to feeding ourselves and our families….
Farm Credit Canada’s annual report on regional land value trends shows that farmland across Canada continues to steadily rise in value. According to the 2022 Farmland Values Report, “the average value of cultivated Canadian farmland increased by 12.8% in 2022. This is the highest increase recorded since 2014 and follows gains of 8.3% in 2021…
Are you interested in applying for the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP)? Part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, this program offers funding to producers wishing to implement projects with the goal of enhancing their operation’s environmental resiliency. A PDF with frequently asked questions about RALP is available to download here: For more information on…