Brett McRae and his wife Chantel on the farm in southwestern Manitoba.

Mentorship program leads Manitoba producer to regenerative ag

After participating in the Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program, Brett McRae rejigged his mixed farm to abide by the five principles of soil health

Brett McRae is a fifth-generation rancher in southwest Manitoba, near Brandon, but not the fifth generation on the same ranch. “I was born and raised here and my parents are still actively farming. I farm next to them; we farm separately but share equipment, labour, facilities and ideas. It’s the best of both worlds; we […] Read more


Hereford genetics were introduced to Mongolia’s Bulgan and Selenge provinces from Russia in the 1950s. The breed did well, but the cattle industry declined after the Soviet Union fell and state-run farms closed.

Canadian producer builds pasture-to-plate beef business in Mongolia

Blending modern feedlot practices with tradition is opening new doors for a small feedlot in Mongolia

When Jeremy and Roxy Thiessen first served their home-finished beef to friends, their guests declared they’d never tasted anything like it. While this is often how stories of direct-marketing success begin, the Thiessens had a distinct advantage based on their location and market demands, providing a unique opportunity for this family. At first glance, the […] Read more

Separating heifers from mature cows reduces competition at the bunk and allows producers to formulate a diet specific to the needs of growing heifers.

Nutrition 101 for replacement heifers

Six tips to create a nutrition plan to give replacement heifers the best start possible in your herd

Setting clear benchmarks is an ideal place to begin when creating your heifer development program. This is where Kristin Thompson, ruminant nutritionist for New Life Mills, begins when she works with cow-calf producers to develop nutrition programs for replacement females. Monitoring your heifers’ growth begins with knowing how much they need to gain by the […] Read more



Steve Kenyon has five principles he follows that make up his regenerative grazing strategy.

Regenerating grain land

From the Ground Up with Steve Kenyon

I am not a grain farmer, and as many of you know, I do not like monocultures. I also don’t like tillage, or the use of synthetic fertilizer, or the overuse of chemicals. Some say that I am against grain farming. I would like to set the record straight. Our mission statement at Greener Pastures […] Read more



(Video screengrab from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry via YouTube)

Federal fund, Alberta government back irrigation upgrades

Infrastructure Bank lends cash for system improvements

Eight irrigation districts in Alberta are set to tap into the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s new $1.5 billion pool of funding earmarked for irrigation, to receive loans worth about $407.5 million. The Alberta and federal governments on Friday announced a total investment of $815 million — including repayable CIB funds, provincial support and irrigation district contributions […] Read more


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Second Seeds Canada merger vote to proceed sans CSGA

Seed Growers membership had voted against amalgamation deal

A proposal to combine Canada’s seed industry groups into a single organization, to be dubbed Seeds Canada, will be subject to a new vote, this time with one less group on board. The Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA), Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA); Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada (CSAAC) and Canadian Seed Institute announced […] Read more

Terryn Drieling of Faith Family & Beef uses her feedyard and cow-calf experience to engage in conversations about ranch life and producing beef.

Connecting farms, facts and feelings through storytelling

Two producers share tips for engaging an audience through video and social media platforms

Many beef producers spend their days doing chores, caring for cattle, and managing feed and pastures. Lately, farmers are being encouraged to add one more thing to their list — engage the public through storytelling. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram or Facebook feature thousands of farm accounts, many of which post production facts […] Read more