Fawn Jackson knows firsthand the power of mentorship in helping youth in agriculture succeed. She speaks warmly of the people who made a difference along her career path, and she’s an advocate for taking advantage of opportunities to learn from others at every stage of the game. “For me, mentorship has been such a key […] Read more
The beef industry’s voice in Ottawa
In representing producers on the national and global stage, Fawn Jackson has blended her passion for agriculture and politics into a rewarding career. She credits mentorship for a big part of her success
Moving towards a career with purpose
Young Leader Spotlight: Discovering an interest in range management has broadened Jourdyn Sammons' educational opportunities
When Jourdyn Sammons joined the University of Saskatchewan’s Range Team in her third year of undergraduate studies, it led to an exciting field of study that’s positively shaped her educational experience. “We talk about varying topics like ecology and grazing practices and multiple-use relationships, like how people can utilize rangeland for its facilities,” says Sammons, who grew up on a cow-calf and grain farm near Gleichen, Alta. “The […] Read more
Producer-driven conservation pays off
Two case studies illustrate the value of putting producers in the driver’s seat of conservation projects
Updated June 1, 2021 In the sweeping, ancient prairie of southern Saskatchewan’s Grasslands National Park, local ranchers are helping to ensure at-risk species continue to call this land home. In 2018, the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) partnered with Parks Canada to establish a grass bank pilot project in the park’s East Block, which hadn’t […] Read more
Cellular protein not yet a feasible meat alternative, researcher says
With global protein consumption expected to increase significantly by 2050, Tim McAllister sees room in the marketplace for all forms of protein production to meet this demand. However, McAllister, principal research scientist in ruminant nutrition and microbiology at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, anticipates it will be some time before cellular […] Read more
Managing soil salinity for the long haul
Establishing perennial forages is one of the top recommended methods to manage saline soils for the long term
Growing up on a mixed farm in southern Alberta, Alan Iwaasa was no stranger to the costly headaches that saline soils could create. “There were certain land bases that just were poor,” Iwaasa recalls. “For a period of time, there was a lot of effort that was looking at levelling your land and putting in […] Read more
The struggle to restore native prairie
Though grassland reclamation can take decades and has many challenges, efforts are underway to renew native prairie ecosystems
On the Northern Great Plains, it’s estimated that one acre of native grass is lost every minute. Though recently there has been increased awareness about this ecosystem being the world’s most endangered, pressures to convert this irreplaceable landscape remain strong. “Unfortunately, there’s always this push and pull between different land uses and intensification of agriculture […] Read more
Grazing binary forage mixtures during the summer slump
A University of Saskatchewan study evaluates new grass and legume varieties at two different soil zones in the province
Grazing grass and legume mixtures in late summer and fall has the potential for promising gains, research conducted in south and central Saskatchewan shows. There are proven benefits to including a legume in a mixture to improve grass pastures. But researchers at the University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) saw an […] Read more
A wider vision for grassland conservation
A new collaborative effort across North America is focusing efforts to protect the fast-disappearing Prairie ecosystem
For many who call the Canadian Prairies home, it would be impossible to imagine springtime without the cheerful song of the western meadowlark. That distinct, flute-like call, along with the other songs of grassland birds returning north, is a defining part of this landscape. But as grasslands across North America continue to disappear, the meadowlark’s […] Read more
Nuffield Canada scholarship expands horizons for Manitoba producer
Ryan Boyd shares how he’s applying the insights from his international travel on his family’s cow-calf operation
A mindset of continual improvement led Ryan Boyd on an international adventure with benefits for his family’s farm upon returning home. Boyd runs South Glanton Farms at Forrest, Man., with his wife, Sarah, and his parents, Jim and Joanne. He is passionate about implementing the principles of regenerative agriculture and the soil health movement, including […] Read more
Healthy range key to preventing new invasive plants
Range agrologists urge producers to watch for changes on the landscape and be mindful of how invasive species spread
If your grasslands are in good health, you’re already on your way to preventing an infestation of an invasive grass species. Without proper range management, grasslands in poor condition will be less resistant to an unwanted species establishing, says Sheryl Wurtz, invasive plant specialist with the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources. In […] Read more
