Calf contract numbers were down in Alberta and Saskatchewan and up in British Columbia and Manitoba in 2016.

Calf price insurance: The tale of two years

Premiums were low relative to rising cattle prices last year during the February-to-May window to buy Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) calf contracts. When market prices fell last fall, WLPIP paid out significant amounts. It did exactly what it was designed to do — protect producers against an unexpected drop in cattle prices, says […] Read more



Family members joined Miles and Sheri Anderson in accepting the Environmental Stewardship Award for Saskatchewan (l. to r.): Abel Goodwin, Rick Goodwin, Carlee Goodwin, Tori Knudson, Quinn Folk, Sheri Anderson, Anderson Goodwin and Miles Anderson. Missing are Kacy Lee Anderson, Keith Folk and Dallas Knudson.

Ambassadors for Greater sage-grouse

Environment: News Roundup from the August 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Miles and Sheri Anderson and family of Fir Mountain, Sask., are the recipients of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) for Saskatchewan presented dur­ing the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association’s convention at Regina. Robin Bloom, a wildlife biologist with Environment Canada who oversees federal support for Species at Risk projects supported the Andersons’ nomination, acknowledging the family not only […] Read more

The city of Prince Albert, which has closed its water intake from the North Saskatchewan River, is again supplying its rural water utility, but from a different source. (CityPA.ca)

Livestock water supplies still a concern after oil spill

While cleanup and water testing continue on the North Saskatchewan River, livestock producers with river access are still advised to find alternate water sources. Jenifer Heyden, livestock specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture in North Battleford, said ministry staffers and Husky Energy did work with a few producers who were having trouble accessing alternate water sources, to […] Read more


(Dow.com)

EU regulators to investigate Dow, DuPont merger

Brussels | Reuters –– EU antitrust regulators have opened a full investigation into Dow Chemical and DuPont’s proposed US$130 billion merger, saying the deal may reduce competition in crop protection, seeds and some petrochemicals. The European Commission said the deal, which would create the world’s largest integrated crop protection and seeds company, may also hurt […] Read more



A healthy balance of cattle and crops isn’t just better for the balance sheet, say father Jim and Ryan Boyd, it’s better for the soil too, which will pay long-term dividends.

A strategy for regenerative agriculture

Ryan Boyd believes he has the right strategy to get him off the expansion treadmill

About 10 years ago, Ryan Boyd came to his father Jim with some new ideas, and Jim knew it was time to listen. Ryan talked about a new strategy, adopting regenerative and sustainable approaches in order to enhance their productivity. “Dad was more than willing to try something else,” Ryan says. “He’d always believed the […] Read more

Alfalfa and chicory helped carry the cattle through the dry pasture conditions.

When rain comes to pastures at the right time

A sudden turn in moisture conditions made all the difference

I am back up on 4 Clover Ranch near Rocky Mountain House, Alta., having arrived a week ago and getting our custom grazing operation going with cow-calf pairs trucked in as this is written. Meanwhile back at our Alcheringa Pastoral (Australia), Helen happily reported that our steer sale in late May had gone well. We […] Read more


Erwin Northoff (r), chief of media for FAO, presents the Star Prize to Laura Rance at the 2016 IFAJ Congress in Bonn, Germany. (IFAJ.org)

FBC editorial chief wins major international awards

Laura Rance, editorial director of Farm Business Communications and editor of the Manitoba Co-operator, has won two major international awards for her work on African agriculture. Rance won the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Star Prize for ‘Africa’s Hunger Games,’ published in the Winnipeg Free Press in April 2015. The same piece was awarded […] Read more

Saskatchewan orders drainage into Quill Lakes stopped

Saskatchewan property owners draining land into the overflowing Quill Lakes in the east-central part of the province without prior approvals are being ordered to close those drains. The provincial government’s Water Security Agency (WSA) on Thursday said it would invoke new drainage regulations passed last fall and require all unapproved drainage works flowing into the […] Read more