U.S. immigration raid of Omaha meat plant cuts staff, fuels food production worries

U.S. immigration raid of Omaha meat plant cuts staff, fuels food production worries

Chicago cattle futures come under pressure as traders express nervousness around labour shorages

After meat processor Glenn Valley Foods was raided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, livestock traders and market analysts expressed concerns that the potential deportation of undocumented workers from such raids could disrupt U.S. food production.



Father and daughter riding through an autumn landscape in Quebec. Farm and ranch families should try to create a sense of shared ownership that goes beyond legal documents, says succession expert Annessa Good-Hassard.

Ranch succession part 2: Preparing for the unexpected

When illness, addiction or dementia strikes, bringing in a team of professionals and remaining compassionate can help the family remain resilient

In the complex world of ranch succession, unexpected yet common realities can disrupt the most meticulously planned transitions. It’s a safe assumption that all of us have known someone affected by mental or physical impairment, such as disease, dementia or addiction. However, when one of these realities occurs on a working family ranch, it can […] Read more



The Parliament of Canada in winter - Ottawa

Cattle producers need a voice in Ottawa

CCA Reports, from the January 2025 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

These update columns have generally been about what the CCA is doing to optimize markets, regulations, legislation and the overall industry conditions for beef cattle producers. I thought a bit more of the “how” we do those things would be of interest. A good portion of our policy work focuses on Ottawa. New or up-for-renewal […] Read more


Comment: Answering challenges in the cattle industry

Comment: Answering challenges in the cattle industry

I recently chatted with a colleague who has been proofing and copy-editing farm magazines, including this one, for several years. We discussed how things have changed in the industry since the ’80s — mainly the roles of women in farming and ranching, and the related professions. I think women have always been vital to this […] Read more

closeup of a cow's head in a feedlot of cattle

When it comes to microbiomes in cattle, the little things may mean a lot

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

A “microbiome” is all the microbes (bacteria, fungi, viruses and their genes) living in a specific environment, and how they all interact with each other. Animals have several microbiomes. There’s an oral microbiome (the mouth and all the microbes in it), as well as nasal, respiratory, rumen, intestinal, vaginal, rectal and skin microbiomes. The various […] Read more


tool taking an ear tissue sample for DNA testing

DNA samples at calving could be new norm

Alberta cattle producer says it’s time for the beef industry to catch up

For seed stock producers, taking DNA samples from newborn calves is becoming more common. Most seed stock herds calve in the winter when the temperature can dip to around -30 C or beyond, snow sparkling under a harsh winter sun. At that time of year, there is already so much to do, and adding another […] Read more

cow standing on a snowy pasture with mountains in the background

Questions surround 2024 cattle market

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

Feeder and fed cattle traded at historical highs over the past year. I’ve received many calls and emails from cattle producers asking questions regarding the market fundamentals moving forward. Can producers expect prices to stay at higher levels or is the market vulnerable to downside potential? During August and September 2024, there were fears that […] Read more