Church suggests the new Mavic Mini drone as a training drone. It retails for less than $500 and has a range of four kilometres. It also weighs less than 250 grams, so it doesn’t require a license from Transport Canada to fly it.

What to know before investing in a drone

Flight safety, training and stockmanship will help you get the most out of adding a drone to your operation

With many agricultural uses, drones are becoming one of the top new tools to catch the attention of beef producers. If you’re unsure where to begin, there are several areas to consider before investing in a drone of your own. Dr. John Church, associate professor in the faculty of science at Thompson Rivers University, works […] Read more

The real issue around the red meat study is scientific credibility

The real issue around the red meat study is scientific credibility

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

Dr. Bradley Johnston, an associate professor of community health and epidemiology at Dalhousie University, escalated the protein war when he published a report contradicting existing nutritional guidelines related to red meat consumption. According to Johnston, “Most adults shouldn’t worry about how much red or processed meat they eat. This is not just another study of […] Read more


Landscape in the Qu’Appelle Valley, about 30 km. north of Regina, Sask. Consider location and logistics when deciding where to purchase land.

Don’t fall into a ditch when expanding your land base

Affordability, planning and flexibility are all key factors to consider before moving onto new pasture

For most beef producers — especially those grazing cattle on pasture — land is your gold. And chances are that at some point you’re going to want more of it. The problem is demand for land today is arguably higher than ever. Precision farming has enabled grain and oilseed producers to crop on pasture-worthy marginal […] Read more

Distal mid-piece defect, often caused by stress, heat or genetics.

Factors that affect bull fertility

Everything from winter shelter to genetics can affect a bull’s fertility

Some bulls are more fertile than others, due to genetics, scrotal size or structure. But poor management can also reduce a bull’s fertility. Since the average bull is expected to breed 25 to 30 cows in a natural breeding situation, his fertility is very important. Dr. John P. Kastelic, professor of cattle reproductive health at […] Read more


Crocuses peeking through the last year’s grasses in a southwestern Saskatchewan pasture. Land must be in continuous grass cover for 10 years to be eligible for the pilot.


Registry accepts first Canadian grassland carbon offset protocol

Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association leads project to build public trust and reward producers for conserving grasslands

A new pilot project aims to reward Canadian producers for sequestering carbon in grasslands, highlighting the value of agriculture on these landscapes to the public. Climate Action Reserve, a U.S.-based carbon offset registry, has accepted the first grassland carbon offset protocol for Canadian agriculture producers. The Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association (CFGA), which led the […] Read more

Linking mental health and animal welfare

Linking mental health and animal welfare

As a veterinary social worker, Erin Wasson sees the effects of mental health struggles on people and their animals

Erin Wasson’s social work career started out fairly conventionally, as she worked with children, youth, the elderly and people with disabilities. But a decision to upgrade her education led her to a new field, working with people who care for animals. While completing a graduate degree, Wasson met the deans from the Western College of […] Read more


Controlling disease will become more difficult as new diseases constantly emerge, and novel environmental, social and financial pressures across the globe change the face of disease control.

Addressing zoonotic diseases on a global scale

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

In March 2019, the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Organization for Animal Health launched a guide for countries using a One Health approach to control zoonotic diseases. The guide became available internationally in multiple languages in October 2019. Zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza, rabies, […] Read more

Charlebois suggests marrying beef with foods that are growing in popularity.

Flipping the script on environment and nutrition

Two experts discuss public perceptions and misinformation around beef production, and what the industry can do about it

Environmental impact and nutrition are two major public trust issues facing beef production, with misconceptions and false information widely promoted. An expert in each field spoke at the 2019 Alberta Beef Industry Conference about opportunities for the Canadian beef industry in these challenges. Environment Dr. Frank Mitloehner knows well how animal rights activists cite climate […] Read more


‘It is not about adding fertility, it is about building biology.’ – Steve Kenyon.

Building biology

From the Ground Up with Steve Kenyon

I was asked to speak at a nutrient management conference last month and once again, I was the odd man out. It was not unexpected, I usually am. Regenerative agriculture has a long way to go in our big business world of industrial agriculture. The majority of the speakers there had letters behind their names […] Read more

Calving date shifting in Ontario

Calving date shifting in Ontario

The onset of calving season often depends on the individual operation, says an Ontario cow-calf producer

The vast majority of Ontario producers calve their cows either in the barn or very close to it early in the year, but the current trend is toward later calving dates on grass, according to Craig McLaughlin, a Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) board director and cow-calf producer in Renfrew County. A survey conducted in […] Read more