It’s difficult to know where to start when you talk with Rob Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA). Bonnett always has a full plate, and the closing weeks of November are no different as his organization tends a hot stove stoked with issues ranging from trade to climate change and a coming... Read More
Category: Livestock
The Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) has been around for more than four years, and this year they've added a feature to help producers cover the premium. New this year, the premium paid can be put on account – subject to interest. Ranchers then have until the expiration of their policy to pay their... Read More
The federal government has made it very clear that it expects Canadian agriculture to grow, scale-up, and increase production — for both domestic and international markets. China is a key destination for several Canadian commodities, and a trade mission this week is yielding some very positive results. Last week, Canada sent four high-level ministers to... Read More
In order for Canada to best meet the domestic demand for lamb, sheep farmers have to manage the sheep flock to lamb out-of-season. It's very possible with careful management of ewes, certainly, but many farmers may be surprised to learn that ram management can have a significant impact on out-of-season success. For those aiming for... Read More
If you're looking to build soil nutrient levels in pasture, do you order fertilizer or do you buy sheep? If you're Mike Swidersky and family, you buy sheep as a complement to raising cattle. How does it work? You run the sheep after the cattle (they utilize pasture differently and aren't susceptible to the other... Read More
Five businesses in North America will be given the opportunity to reinvent and reinvigorate the dairy sector. Agropur has launched a new accelerator program for the business side of dairy dubbed Inno Accel. The program, which launched last month, will bring together a team of two mentors (one entrepreneur and one Agropur executive) to be... Read More
The way Canadian beef will be graded for yield will be different starting at the beginning of next year. The change from three classes to five is being made to align the Canadian yield grading system with the U.S. The Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA) says this move "will unite the industry and allow for... Read More
Ontario Sheep Farmers held its convention and annual general meeting last week near Cookstown, Ont. It was Rob Scott's final meeting as a board member, having served the last two years as chair. Scott had announced ahead of this meeting that he would be stepping down as chair and as provincial director for his district.... Read More
Late last month, Canada became the fifth country to ratify the CPTPP. Australia then ratified shortly thereafter, triggering the 60-day countdown to this international trade deal moving to implementation. CPTPP has huge potential for Canada's beef industry, says John Masswohl, director of government and international relations for the Canadian Cattlemen's Association. "The clouds have parted... Read More
By Peter Johnson, RealAgriculture agronomist It has been one TOUGH harvest. Constant showers, have led to very wet condition, and now record levels of deoxynivalenol (DON, produced by gibberella) in the corn crop has stress running high in the countryside. Coffee shop rumours abound. The urgent questions though, are: Do I harvest this corn at... Read More