Bob Lowe and Carley Henniger talk to Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, in Ottawa in December 2021. The former CYL mentor/mentee pair asked the minister questions about trade and the status of business risk management programs.

Cattlemen’s Young Leaders help young and older hone their skills

A mentor and mentee in the CYL program look back on years of friendship and how it helped them both

What happens when a young person with an enthusiastic but fledgling interest in the beef industry meets a multigenerational cattle producer with decades of experience under his belt? No, it’s not a pitch for a rural reboot of The Odd Couple. But if you’d like to think of it that way, the “plot” features a […] Read more

A handful of corn silage. The feeder simulation program gave 4-H members a chance to learn about backgrounding rations, as well as purchasing and marketing cattle.

Risky Business — Feeder simulation program teaches youth ups and downs of the cattle market

During the simulation, participants ‘bought’ feeders, figured out the feeding costs and logistics and sold them into the spring grasser market

Farm simulator games are popular but recently, young members of the Nomads 4-H Club near Kyle, Sask., had the opportunity to try a realistic cattle version when they joined a simulated feeder pilot project. Buying and selling feeder calves on a large scale can be a challenge, with many factors affecting profit. To address the […] Read more


Cattle in the sales ring at Calgary Stockyards, Strathmore.

Auction marts grapple with a shrinking herd and changing industry

A shift to online selling and fewer cattle to market are two trends challenging the auction mart industry

The air is tense during an auction at the Calgary Stockyards. In the sales ring, cattle bunch together, snorting. But they can barely be heard over the auctioneer’s quick chant, designed to entice buyers while moving things along. Unless you’re a seasoned pro, listening to the rhythmic patter can be like listening to a different […] Read more

A meat display at a grocery store.

Show us the money, Part 1: What does the producer share of the retail beef dollar mean?

When looking at the farmer share of the retail dollar, we must recognize that U.S. prices still dominate the price structures of both our cow-calf and feedlot sectors

A common concern in agricultural circles is what proportion or percentage of the price of a litre of milk, a loaf of bread or a beef steak makes its way back to the producer. I have written and spoken about this before, but I cannot do so again without first admitting that I have sometimes […] Read more


Longview-area rancher Alex Robertson serves on the three-person committee that helps manage the 7U Brown Memorial Brown Trust Fund.

Memorial trust fund leaves legacy for needy ranchers

Fund continues to grow, but faces lack of qualified applicants

Betty Lou Thompson is like many seniors, living in an assisted living lodge and drawing a monthly pension. However, the cowgirl originally from Sheridan, Wyoming, says the $140 she receives monthly from the 7U Brown Memorial Trust fund is her favourite. She started receiving the pension after she met its qualifications. The trust stipulates the […] Read more

Andrea Brocklebank, her husband Brad Kilpatrick and young sons Blake and Colin represent the fourth and fifth generations to operate the Brocklebank farm.

Talking and teamwork ease farm transition

Building a solid foundation helped one family keep their footing when the unexpected happened

Shifting a farm or ranch from one generation to the next is a popular topic at farm events, in the local coffee shop and even in country music ballads. While there are many ideas on how to work toward succession, it takes a willing attitude, some give and take, and a lot of communication. Have […] Read more


Accrued financial statements contain information on gross margins, contribution margins, operating income and net income.

Taking care of beef business

Whether you’re thinking about incorporating or wondering if you should switch to accrual-based accounting, here are a few things to consider

Beef producers can be more profitable by controlling costs and, if the circumstances are right, incorporating their operations. Two virtual presentations by BDO Canada representatives on Beef Day at the Grey-Bruce Farmers’ Week earlier this year provided participants with tips and advice on how to optimize their bottom lines. Maggie Van Camp moderated the presentations […] Read more

Damage in a hay field caused by wild pigs rooting.

Hog wild — Canada’s feral pig problem worsens

Even as Alberta steps up tactics to control wild pigs and Canada develops a national strategy to control them, hope dims of eradicating invasive swine from the landscape

Whenever the wild pig problem facing Woodlands County makes the news, Dawn Fortin receives numerous phone calls, all promising the same thing. “Every time we get a media event that occurs, we are inundated with calls from expert hunters that want to come and fix our problem,” says Fortin, the agriculture services manager for this […] Read more


Beef producers know to expect the unexpected when cattle are involved.

Choosing safe days to graze

Using the VBP+ Record of Herbicide or Pesticide Use on Pasture or Harvested Feed to maintain food safety

Pesticides are important tools available to control undesirable species on pasture and cropland. Herbicides, fungicides and insecticides can boost forage or crop yields and reduce toxic or unpalatable weeds in a stand. However, producers must pay attention to pesticide labels to avoid risks to food safety and animal health and performance. (see pesticide record sample […] Read more

There’s no need to power your whole farm, says one Alberta rancher. Only electrify the pasture fences the cattle currently use to save time.

Time-saving tips for electric fences

Whether you’re setting up or troubleshooting an electric fence, these tips can make your life easier

Rotational grazing generally makes better use of pastures than season-long grazing, allowing plants time to recover and produce more forage. Temporary electric fencing makes rotation quick and easy, but it’s not without its problems. Steve Kenyon, a rancher near Busby, Alta., has been rotational grazing for a long time and bale grazing for more than […] Read more