After years of drought, many are working to revitalize their pastures. Knowing the ins and outs of perennials can help.

Why post-drought pasture management matters for beef farmers

Knowing how perennial plants function can help producers make better decisions

Pasture management is always important, but it is especially important following a drought. During these challenging periods, pastures may suffer and degrade, resulting in the loss of valuable forage, soil erosion and diminished fertility. Drought effects linger, affecting land and plant life productivity even after the rains return. Effective management strategies are essential to support […] Read more


A group of young Richardson’s ground squirrels, commonly known as gophers. Weather in previous years has led to a population boom of the rodents, but conditions may be less favourable in 2025.

How farmers and ranchers can manage a gopher boom

Ranchers and farmers have fewer options for controlling gophers, but encouraging predators and managing the environment may help

The Richardson’s ground squirrel has been a challenge for prairie farmers for over a hundred years. Records of gopher bounties and provincial holidays for gopher hunting go back to 1917, but a lot of research has gone into the effectiveness of predatory mammals and birds. Foxes, weasels, snakes and badgers are efficient rodent hunters, said […] Read more

cattle on a very dry-looking pasture during a drought

Drought preparation is better than reaction

News Roundup from the June 2025 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Glacier FarmMedia – When it comes to drought, imagining the worst may be the best way to start planning for it. Wayne Knight, executive director for Holistic Management International, is originally from South Africa, a country known for drought and dry conditions. Because of his background, he’s learned to always be prepared for drought. “I […] Read more


A helicopter dumps water on a forest fire in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia.

Comment: Trying to keep ahead of the fire

Back in May 2002, a guy was running a log skidder in some bush pasture on the north side of Turtle Lake, Sask. It was hot and dry, one of those days when the temperature was higher than the humidity. I’m not sure exactly what happened. Perhaps it was just a spark from the log […] Read more

two people conducting a prescribed burn of grasses

Reintroducing fire to Saskatchewan pastures

Prescribed burns can be effective at 
revitalizing native grasslands when done right

Pastures evolve over time. Woody plants and shrubs, which cattle can’t eat, may encroach on natural grasses. Invasive species, such as Kentucky bluegrass, may also move in, cutting into native grass productivity. One way of managing this is through fire. At the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference, Eric Lamb and Renny Grilz presented recent research regarding […] Read more


Getting your cattle to the right place, at the right time, for the right length of time and for the right reasons can optimize both animal and plant performance.

VIDEO: Doing the math on cattle grazing

Depth of Field with Kelly Sidoryk

An integral component of good grazing management is tracking yield or production. It is how we project carrying capacity and adjust for drier or wetter conditions. It’s also an important part of the planning process. When we switch to a more intensive grazing approach, with multiple paddocks and grazing periods based on plant recovery, tracking […] Read more

Wild lupine plants near the shore of South Bar, Nova Scotia

A case study of lupines and crooked beef calves

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

Jim called one night concerned that his Holstein milk cow could not deliver a calf. The cow, a seven-year-old female bred by artificial insemination, had never had problems. But a trip to the Maritimes two summers ago was an unexpected catalyst for a new issue. Nova Scotia offered an array of “new things” for Jim […] Read more


a cow wearing a virtual fencing collar

Virtual fencing for beef cattle gains momentum in Canada

With virtual fencing companies gaining steam, it is important to know the work that is being done in Canada

With virtual fencing companies gaining steam, it is important 
to know the work that is being done in Canada

Virtual fencing is growing rapidly as more companies are sprouting up with variations of the technology and more trials are happening across the country. For producers interested in adopting virtual fencing, understanding the differences between technologies, Canadian research and associated costs is crucial. Vence In 2022, the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association were looking for a […] Read more