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
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
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
Agriclimat project preparing Quebec farmers for changing climate
Quebec forage producers a part of developing farmer-focused climate change adaptation plans
Heatwaves are anticipated to become more frequent in Quebec’s Montérégie region, spelling potential trouble for future forage production. Climate change data for this agricultural region predicts an increase in days with night temperatures above 20 C, which could negatively impact the respiration of plants that rely on cooler nights to survive hot summers. Using regional […] Read more
Check-off refunds top the agenda for upcoming Alberta Beef Producers meetings
Along with the check-off shortfall, veterinarian shortage to be discussed at ABP meetings
This is the second in a two-part series on the issues currently of interest to Alberta Beef Producers ahead of its producer meetings. Read the first story here. The number of cattle producers in Alberta choosing to keep the refundable portion of their check-off has put Alberta Beef Producers in a difficult spot financially. As a result, the organization has […] Read more
Alberta Beef Producers zero in on risk management ahead of producer meetings
More responsive programs would make a difference for drought-stricken producers, says ABP chair
This is the first in a two-part series on the issues currently of interest to Alberta Beef Producers ahead of its producer meetings. Read the second story here. With much of Alberta plagued by drought conditions in 2021, Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) is prioritizing the creation of more effective business risk management options. The organization is discussing improvements to […] Read more
On with the show
The new director of Edmonton’s Farmfair International looks to the future after the much-loved cattle show’s relaunch
When Leah Jones took the opportunity to lead the revitalization of one of Canada’s top livestock shows, she returned to an institution that played an earlier role in her impressive career. In addition to previously working as the agriculture director for Edmonton’s Northlands, Jones was a dedicated volunteer with the organization for many years and […] Read more
Highway 21 Feeders turns up the bull power to drive feedlot performance
Custom feedlot develops bull program and new sale to bridge the gap between seedstock and feeder sectors
At Highway 21 Feeders, the Miller family knows exactly the type of calves they want in their pens. In their quest to source higher-performing feeder cattle, improving feed efficiency at the seedstock level is moving them towards this target. “The goal has always been to try and help drive a better product to come into […] Read more
