Dairy farm expansion typically focuses on adding more cows to increase production. That’s certainly the case for Monkton, Ontario-based producers Rick and Theresa Portena, but the Portenas also want a better opportunity to milk cows themselves. In this inaugural episode of Real Agriculture’s Dairy School, the Portenas’ share the strategy on why they invested in... Read More
Category: Livestock
You go out to check the cows, and you see a calf with scours — what do you do? For many producers, the first course of action involves a bolus gun. But, it's actions like this that have led Franklyn Garry, professor at Colorado State University, to unabashedly assert that "we grossly overuse antibiotics." Neonatal... Read More
As of October 1, 2016, Mexico will fully re-open its border to Canadian beef, ending one of the few trade restrictions that still remain from the initial discovery of a case of BSE in Canada in May 2003. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement in Ottawa on... Read More
It's been an interesting week for market analysts. According to Gateway Livestock's Anne Wasko, cattle prices had a tough week leading up to Friday, then "Brexit — the 'leave' victory — sort of sent markets into an upheaval." Commodity Analysts, Traders and Media React to Brexit Decision The news that the United Kingdom had voted... Read More
Are carcass weights too high? Are we not putting enough emphasis on quality feet and legs? These are questions Temple Grandin, well-known cattle handling expert, had ranchers and reporters asking themselves as they filed out of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association's 103rd annual general meeting and convention. As part of her presentation, Grandin described a... Read More
Verified Beef Production (VBP) took a highly anticipated step today, with the official launch of Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+). The refreshed program now includes training and auditing for animal care, biosecurity and environmental stewardship as well as the original on-farm food safety practices, in both the cow-calf and feedlot sectors. “VBP+ is a straightforward,... Read More
A new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chickens and Turkeys was released today, replacing a 2003 version published by the Canadian Agri-Food Research Council. "The Code of Practice supports the sustainability of Canadian poultry industries and the success of farmers," said Vernon Froese, poultry farmer and chair of... Read More
The last five years I have been very fortunate to moderate the Saskatchewan Stock Growers annual meeting. Over the years I have heard some great presentations and have gained a very strong connection with the ranching roots of the organization. In my time hosting the meeting I have seen freakish snow storms in the Cypress... Read More
If you have been to an agricultural meeting in the last seven years you have likely heard a presentation on advocacy. In both the US and Canada, advocacy has become a call to action for farmers, ranchers, dairymen, etc. Organizations like Ag More Than Ever were founded to focus on advocacy and enabling producers to... Read More
What’s it like to have 2,000 consumers show up for breakfast at your farm? It’s not that big of a deal if you’re organized and have plenty of volunteers, says cash cropper and dairy farmer Evert Veldhuizen. He and his brother, Jan, hosted the latest Ontario ‘Breakfast on the Farm’ event Saturday morning at their... Read More