Despite some delays, spring planting in Alberta remained well ahead of the five-average, according to the May 23 report from the province's agriculture department.
Alberta spring planting slows, but remains ahead of average
Good levels of soil moisture provincewide
Manitoba seeding 12 points ahead of pace
Most spring wheat in the ground
Manitoba farmers pushed their spring planting to 57 per cent complete as of May 21, up 24 points from a week ago, the province's agriculture department reported.
Comment: Canada needs a clear vision for agricultural exports
We spend a lot of time talking about the effect of agriculture on climate, when we should be talking about the effect of climate on agriculture, Al Mussell says. Now, I know farmers and ranchers spend a lot of time thinking about the effect of weather, and climate, on their operations (whether or not they […] Read more
Benchmarks indicate healthy calves
Preparing a calf for a healthy life begins before calving
With calving season in full swing, ensuring calves are primed to thrive is top of mind. When refreshing themselves on indicators of good health in calves, producers are encouraged to remember to trust in their knowledge of their own herd and to stay vigilant in monitoring them. “Early detection is always going to be key […] Read more
Farmer incorporates cattle into grain operation to boost soil health
Jerry Baerg focuses on sustainability through the five soil health principles
When Jerry Baerg first came to the Western Canada Conference on Soil Health and Grazing years ago, he was just starting to think about regenerative agriculture and sustainable practices. Now, he is well-known in the industry for his work in this sphere. At the Western Canada Conference on Soil Health and Grazing in Edmonton, Alta., […] Read more
Comment: Working within your circle of influence
What a time to be editing a monthly print magazine focused on the beef industry. By the time our April 2025 issue comes out, we may be, again, in the midst of more tariff threats, or even escalating tariffs. Perhaps President Trump will have modified or switched tactics by then. Who knows? I sure don’t. […] Read more
The sky’s the limit with Ducks Unlimited drone seeding program
Seeding forages into marginal areas has benefits for the farmer, the land and local wildlife
When seeding forages in marginal areas, there might be a new way to do things — from the air. Many producers have marginal land on their operations that have poor yields and are uneconomical. For years, Ducks Unlimited Canada has urged seeding those areas to perennial forages. A recent project with drones could make that […] Read more
Range Rider program helps B.C. ranchers threatened by wildfires
As more wildfires flare up in B.C., ranchers are forced to evacuate their cattle, and help their neighbours do the same
When the Shetland Creek wildfire started in the summer of 2024, T.J. Walkem waited and watched smoke smudge the sky. Dry, hot and windy conditions fed the fire, and overnight, it doubled in size. Walkem and his father rushed to evacuate their cattle, surrounded by walls of flames. “We’ve had a few (wildfires) the last […] Read more
Forage research a necessity in the face of decreased acres
Drought tolerance and productivity increases are targets of research programs
Canada has seen a two million-acre decrease in forage land in the last five years. “In over a decade, we are losing about three million acres, and they’re taken over by wheat and canola. It’s a serious concern for us,” Dr. Hari Poudel, forage and breeding research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Lethbridge […] Read more
Preparing for calving season
Veterinary Case Study: Dr. Clarke coaches a beef producer who has purchased 50 first-calf heifers right before calving season
Jim came into the clinic one day. He’d even called ahead to say he needed a few minutes of my time to talk about the 50 new heifers he bought and what they might need to help them through calving season without problems. Jim had become an astute cattleman through the years, always trying to […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
