Despite growing awareness of mental health in the agriculture community, stigma is still a barrier to finding support. The 2019 Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food found that 45 per cent of Canadian farmers were experiencing high levels of stress. However, 45 per cent stated that even if they needed help they…
With the many issues the cattle industry is currently facing, the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association (ACFA) is shining a light on a positive aspect of the Alberta feedlot sector – the economic impact. ACFA hired Serecon Inc. to quantify the economic impact of the cattle feeding sector in Alberta. The project was completed in early…
The start of a new year is a great time to look ahead. If you’re planning to build new or expand existing facilities at your confined feeding operation be sure to check with a Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) approval officer first to find out whether you need a permit. Do you need a permit…
Responding to a need brought forward by industry and under the direction of the Board of Directors, Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) has just launched an initiative that links non-approved Ultra High Frequency Technology (UHF) secondary tags to approved CCIA tags in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database. This new feature allows UHF users…
The Canfax fed steer price closed the week at around $189.75/cwt, fully steady with the previous week. Last week, dressed sales were reported from $315-318.50/cwt FOB the lot. Cattle were being scheduled anywhere from mid-February to early March delivery. All reported cash sales traded locally, and U.S. packer interest was quiet. On a cash-to-cash basis,…
The Province of Alberta is in the process of tackling current barriers to reliable rural internet. The Alberta Broadband Strategy, an ambitious four-year project, has set out to provide quality high-speed internet access to Alberta’s rural, remote and Indigenous communities, with a goal of reaching 100 per cent connectivity by 2027. “We all know that…
Every year, Alberta Beef Producers has the distinct privilege of celebrating producers who exemplify environmentally sustainable cattle production, through the Environmental Stewardship Award. We thought it would be fun to go through our archives and highlight some ESA alumni. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll consider nominating someone for the 2023 ESA. Bar None South Ranches,…
The cancellation of AFSC’s Satellite Yield Insurance program is among the corporation’s changes to its insurance products for 2023. AFSC announced on January 18 that due to technical challenges it would no longer be offering Satellite Yield Insurance, and that producers who have used this coverage in the past would be able to move easily…
Google the total amount of grasslands in Canada, and you’ll find vague, differing numbers. While agriculture and conservation groups agree on the necessity of protecting Canada’s grasslands, efforts to do so are hindered by not having a precise accounting of these lands. The creation of the National Grassland Inventory Project, led by the Canadian Forage…
Protecting Canada from the threat of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) requires constant vigilance. For the livestock sector, this threat is serious and would have devastating consequences on the Canadian beef industry and our economy. FMD is a highly contagious viral infection of cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, pigs, and sheep. Canada remains FMD free, but…
Alberta direct cattle sales saw moderate volume trade last week, with weighted average steer prices firming $3/cwt higher than the previous week. The bulk of sales were reported dressed from $315-317/cwt delivered. Local live trade was also reported comparable with rail sales at $187.75/cwt. A significant portion of last week’s cash offering traded south at…
The assessment process required to hire temporary foreign workers in Canada is moving online this spring. Canadian employers hiring under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program are required to first submit an Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application to Service Canada. As of April 3, 2023, this application process will be available online only. Employers applying…