Cow-Calf
AUDIO: Spring droughts – and floods – favour toxic plants
At the end of April, the government of Canada’s Canadian Drought Outlook had listed most areas in the Prairies as experiencing abnormally dry conditions, or moderate to extreme drought conditions. By the end of May, this had changed, with the drought lifting or improving in many areas of Saskatchewan. The Weather Network predicts areas in […] Read more
Farm Credit Canada offers incentives to its CRSB-certified customers
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has announced an incentive program for producers who are certified through the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB). “How it works is if you are an FCC customer, and you are already certified, you’re eligible for the FCC incentive payment,” says Curtis Grainger, director of lending products and sustainability programs with […] Read more
Sask Stock Growers combat conservation easement hesitancy among ranchers through education
With the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) and the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation (SSGF) working on offering term conservation easements, producers’ hesitancy for perpetual easements has become apparent. “The percentage of producers that are interested in perpetual is pretty minimal,” says Chad MacPherson, general manager of the SSGA. “But there was 30 per cent or […] Read more
Cattle and environmental groups bringing voluntary term conservation easements to Western Canada
When Tom Harrison, project manager for the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation, began looking into conservation easements in Saskatchewan, he mainly heard skepticism from producers. “We’ve been talking to producers in southwest Saskatchewan about easements. And what we’re finding is that there’s probably hardly any interest whatsoever in producers signing perpetual conservation easements on their land,” […] Read more
AUDIO: How to quit smart or push through using ‘the dip’
Change isn't easy, but just knowing that the dip exists can help you get through tough spots
Most beef producers have been there. You’ve made a major management decision and at some point, it just doesn’t seem to be working out. You’re at a crossroads: do you quit while you’re ahead or do you power through, possibly throwing good money after bad? Famed management guru Seth Godin has a name for this […] Read more
Lupines and crooked calves
If you’ve seen birth defects such as fused joints, crooked legs or cleft palates in your newborn calves, toxic plants could be the culprits
Lupine calves” or “crooked calves” are an example of what can happen when various plant toxins are ingested by a pregnant cow at a certain stage of pregnancy. Lupines, also known as bluebonnets, are legumes. As legumes, they can enrich nitrogen-poor soil. In Canada, at least 28 species have been recognized, mostly in Western Canada. […] Read more
Colorado lows hammer Manitoba producers through calving season
While some cow-calf producers may make changes to their calving seasons, others plan to stay the course and hope for no repeats of this spring's weather
When Theresa Zuk, a rancher based out of Arborg, Man., heard about the first Colorado low that swept through the province in the middle of April at the start of their calving season, she was nervous but knew they could handle it. The storm brought 29 centimetres of snow to Winnipeg, strong winds, and freezing […] Read more
AUDIO: Pandemic woes push beef industry to collaborate
Bob Lowe reflects on his two-year term as president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, which began just as the country was locked down due to COVID.
Bob Lowe was elected president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) on March 13, 2020. Coincidentally, that was a Friday, and if you’re at all superstitious, you might see that as foreshadowing. By the next week, the country was in lockdown in an effort to slow COVID. Over the next two years, the beef industry […] Read more
Articles to get through a cold calving season
It’s been an unpleasant spring, to say the least, and for young calves, spring blizzards and cold temperatures can be downright dangerous. Whether you’re dealing with frostbite or dehydration linked to hypothermia, we’ve got you covered with the following articles. Calf 911: How to spot dehydration in young or scouring calves: Dehydration may not be […] 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