
Pasture

U.S. lifts federal protections for gray wolf
Reuters — The Trump administration in the U.S. said Thursday said it will lift Endangered Species Act protections for the gray wolf, arguing the species had been brought back successfully from the brink of extinction. The move gives states in the continuous United States the authority to manage their local wolf populations, including by allowing […] Read more

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

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

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

Alberta gives oil and gas drillers municipal tax break
Reuters — Struggling oil and gas companies in Alberta will get a three-year break on municipal property taxes for land where they are drilling wells or building pipelines, the provincial government said on Monday. The Alberta government said it would also lower property tax assessments on less-productive wells and eliminate a provincial tax on drills. […] Read more

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

Growth-promoting implants – the choice for cattle widens
Nutrition with John McKinnon
This article is destined for press in late September and as such will coincide with the 2020 fall run for both calves and yearlings. For those of you backgrounding or finishing, it is a time where you need to make decisions regarding the health and productivity of incoming cattle. In my last column, I looked […] Read more

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

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

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