David Kleiman’s first visit to a ranch in the southern Alberta foothills was an awe-inspiring experience he’ll never forget. Nature and conservation have been life-long passions for Kleiman, a Calgary-based science teacher. After meeting Kimberly Wachtler of Burke Creek Ranch at a farmers market, Kleiman was eager to learn more about how cattle are raised […] Read more
How to win fans and influence consumers
Three people share how they changed their minds about beef, becoming advocates for beef production
Canada’s first national agri-food sustainability index in the works
Agri-food stakeholders collaborating to position Canada as a sustainability leader, create market access opportunities
As people around the world demand proof that their food is sustainably produced, Canadian agri-food stakeholders are taking advantage of this opportunity to back up their sustainability claims together. The National Index of Agri-Food Performance, Canada’s first sustainability index that encompasses the entire agri-food sector, arose from the need to build greater trust with consumers […] Read more
New film features grazing as wildfire prevention tool
"Too Close to Home" highlights potential role of cattle in wildfire mitigation in B.C.
The team behind Guardians of the Grasslands is back with a new film highlighting the role cattle can play in managing wildfire risk. Too Close to Home, the second short documentary produced by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association’s Public and Stakeholder Engagement team and their partners, aims to share the benefit of targeted grazing as a […] Read more
Union Forage rising
Thinking outside the box, customer consultation key to Union Forage’s success
In the Union Forage warehouse, general manager Geoff Barker explains the process of creating custom forage seed blends for clients, his voice denoting his Australian roots. Towering shelves lining the south Calgary warehouse are stacked with pallets and large totes of seed, neatly labelled for traceability purposes. On the wall, a large promotional poster states […] Read more
Taking the guesswork out of selecting a data management program for your cattle herd
A recent Maritime Beef Council project analyzed various data management software from the producer’s perspective
When it came to determining the best data management software program for her herd, like many beef producers, Amy Higgins found the possibilities a tad overwhelming. “It was almost like analysis paralysis,” says Higgins, who runs the Maritime Beef Council and raises cattle at Quispamsis, New Brunswick. “There were four or five different options. I […] Read more
Respect at the heart of successful producer meetings
Past Alberta Beef Producers delegate and this year’s AGM co-chair Cecilie Fleming talks about the human side of industry association meetings
To kick off the 2022 Alberta Beef Producers annual general meeting, Cecilie Fleming encouraged delegates to be hard on the issues but soft on people. Fleming co-chaired the association’s in-person event at Red Deer, Alta, in early March, along with Howard Bekkering. She knows that open, honest discussion and considering the entire issue are key […] Read more
A rangeland up in flames
Another record-breaking summer of wildfires in B.C. suggests the need for a new approach to fire prevention and management
The wildfires that upended Chris Haywood-Farmer’s world last summer are likely still smouldering this winter, deep in the roots of the charred rangeland. For safety reasons, parts of this vast Crown range were closed for public recreation throughout the fall, a reminder of what the fourth-generation rancher and his family faced earlier that year. “We […] Read more
Eye drop vaccine for pink eye in cattle under development
Researchers hope ocular vaccine will elicit a greater local immune response
University of Saskatchewan researchers have their sights set on an innovative solution for a costly cattle disease. Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis, or pink eye, remains an unpredictable, highly contagious disease that can lead to large outbreaks within herds, and current treatment options are inadequate. This prompted researchers at the university’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), […] Read more
Curbing methane emissions will take a team effort
The beef industry has made big strides in reducing its contributions, but there is more work to do
When Karen Beauchemin began researching ruminant nutrition more than two decades ago, the conversation around greenhouse gas emissions was just beginning. Dr. Beauchemin, a research scientist at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, felt early on there was an environmental angle to her work in addition to improving animal nutrition, productivity […] Read more
Working with fire for grassland conservation
Prescribed fire can be a useful management tool but must be handled carefully, says Canada’s first prescribed fire exchange group
The implications of a grass fire are rightfully terrifying in most situations. When it’s started purposefully, however, with meticulous planning and high safety standards, fire can act as a beneficial conservation and pasture management practice. “I think we need to relook at how we perceive fire and look at fire not as a destructive force […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
