When you read the phrase “great leader,” what pops into your head? I didn’t get to know Reg Schellenberg very well before he passed away last December. But those who did know him often use words such as quiet leadership, gentle demeanour, firm, confident and a good listener when describing his leadership style. It’s fitting […] Read more
Comment: Jody Wilson-Raybould on leadership
Comment: Beware Trojan cows
You’ve probably read the story of the Siege of Troy, or at least watched the movie with Brad Pitt. If not, here is a summary: Queen Helen of Sparta absconded with or was abducted by Paris. They sailed back to his hometown of Troy. Her husband, King Menelaus, was displeased and roped his friends Odysseus […] Read more
Comment: Resilience
On July 5, a young man named Lane from Alberta called into The Ramsey Show, a personal finance podcast and radio show founded by a southern Baptist named Dave Ramsey, who issues fiery sermons against personal debt. Asked by the show’s hosts how he was doing, Lane said: “Pretty good, pretty good, can’t complain.” Lane […] Read more
Comment: Canadian Cattlemen celebrates 85 years
It was 85 years ago this month that Kenneth Coppock launched this magazine. Coppock first conceived of the idea in March 1938, when he decided the industry needed a publication that would capture the experiences of the industry pioneers, while also developing an “industry-consciousness.” Three months later, Canadian Cattlemen was born. “It was launched at […] Read more
Plan for drought to minimize the effect on your herd
News Roundup from the May 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Anyone farming and ranching in the Great Plains is going to have to deal with drought, so it’s best to be as prepared as possible. That was the message from Anneliese Walker at the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association conference last fall. Walker is a Princeton, Minnesota producer who also works for Maia Grazing, which […] Read more
Comment: Unpacking the report on packers
The beef processing industry has been under scrutiny on both sides of the border. Low cattle prices coupled with high beef costs elicited a general feeling that cattle producers were getting the short end of the supply chain. But the question, as always, is what are we going to do about it? There’s little appetite […] Read more
Comment: John McKinnon on mentorship
When the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame announced its 2023 inductees earlier this year, I was pleased to see long-time Canadian Cattlemen contributor Dr. John McKinnon on the list. McKinnon’s research career has focused on feed utilization, especially byproduct feeds, but he’s also dedicated a good deal of time to extension. McKinnon was the first […] Read more
Comment: Is Canada ready for a foot-and-mouth outbreak?
Last column I outlined a brief history of the 1951- 52 foot-and-mouth outbreak around Regina, Sask. We haven’t had a foot-and-mouth outbreak in this country since, but it remains a global threat. The World Organization for Animal Health estimates that it affects 77 per cent of the global livestock population, circulating in Africa, the Middle […] Read more
Restoring native prairie in Saskatchewan through reverse auction
Tom Harrison is on a mission to reverse the tide of native prairie being converted to cropland in Saskatchewan. It’s not an easy task. Several factors are working against efforts to conserve, let alone restore, native prairie. Economics favour farming over ranching. Government programs and policies have encouraged farmers to cultivate the land since settlement […] Read more
Comment: A look back at foot-and-mouth in Canada
Foot-and-mouth disease has been a nagging worry for many in our beef industry. The proposed Canadian vaccine bank is regularly on the agenda at industry conferences and the animal health committee meeting during the Canadian Cattle Association AGM (and will likely be again next month in Ottawa). The prospect of a foot-and-mouth outbreak in this […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
