One of my favourite things to do at a farm show is check out some of the cool new inventions that people have come up with. Most of the time the inventions really have limited scope and will provide little value to the greater farming community except for a few neighbours. But once in awhile... Read More
Category: Livestock
Many times when we compare agriculture in Canada versus the United States we tend to focus on the differences. When in reality there are more similarities between the two countries. This week I went to Indianapolis with Dow Agro Sciences to learn about the things that the company is working on. Before we went to... Read More
This year will be remembered as the year of expecting the unexpected. Whether you are farming, cattle feeding or ranching the weather and the market has been very wicked and harsh at times. This week on the Beef Market Update with Anne Dunford, we discuss the fact the yearling run is over but we are... Read More
Earlier in the week Anne Dunford brought up a great question during the Beef Market Update. Will ranchers be holding back more heifers to restock the cow herd or cash in on some higher values and run? With the trend definitely pointing to a continued herd reduction, what will stop it? Is it inevitable that... Read More
Every equation has a set of variables that impact the outcome. All variables have different levels of sensitivities and betas. The current fall run is shaping up to be a very interesting one. All the variables seem to be up in the air and creating a real sense of uncertainty. The interesting fact is that... Read More
By Megan Oleksyn Peas, barley and corn, oh my! Here in Western Canada, there are many different forage crops that can be cost-effectively turned into silage for cattle. High River area rancher, Phil Rowland, comments that silage is €œthe easiest way to put up a consistent quality forage crop in Alberta€™s variable climate conditions.€ And... Read More
There is never a shortage of issues in the cattle business. Since 2003 we have dealt a rising currency, export bans and struggles with boxed beef demand. On the bright side the supply equation looks to be bullish and demand for middle meat appears to be recovering. On the political side there has been some... Read More
It always amazes me how two weeks can make such a difference in the outlook for an industry. Two weeks ago Anne and I talked about the nervousness of the cattle market based on a high dollar, high feed and price plateau. Now the dollar is lower and the US fat prices spiked $5 last... Read More
By Megan Oleksyn Recently I attended the Western Stock Growers€™ Association€™s (WSGA) summer meeting, this year held in Donalda, AB. Why Donalda, you ask? I asked the same question after I got out my google map and found out just where Donalda was. The answer to €˜why Donalda?€™ really intrigued me. In this small Alberta... Read More
To say that Travis Toews is willing to take on challenges is putting things mildly. In fact if I was him I would say goodbye to my cows back home and get the frequent flyer program revved up, especially if his reign as President of CCA is anything like his predecessors. Travis is the new... Read More