The grazier’s magic bullet

The grazier’s magic bullet

Grazing with Steve Kenyon

We live in a world of band-aid solutions, symptom solvers and we are all looking for that next magic bullet. Agriculture has become dependent on these quick fixes to address symptoms. If there is an issue in agriculture, such as a pest, a weed, or a parasite, then somewhere in agriculture we have developed a band-aid solution to address the […] Read more




(Gloria Solano-Aguilar photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Bargain buying, short-covering lift CME hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures settled higher on Friday, with support from bargain buying and short-covering heading into the weekend, said traders. CME June hog futures led gainers after investors bought that contract and simultaneously sold deferred months in a trading strategy known as bull spreads, they said. June hogs closed […] Read more


Even the best cow could use a little help to maximize the potential of her bull calf by weaning.

Supplementing young bull calves before weaning pays off

Testes development, fertility greatly impacted by being well-fed

Young bulls need to be fed adequately for proper growth and development, and future fertility, but we are still learning about the best way to feed them, according to John Kastelic, a professor of theriogenology and head of the department of production animal health, in the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine. “In beef […] Read more

(Deyana Robova photo/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. livestock: Profit-taking, trade war fears upend CME hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures closed lower on Thursday, rocked by profit-taking amid worries that pork could suffer from retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., traders said. June hogs closed 0.7 cents/lb. lower at 76.625 cents (all figures US$). July ended 2.075 cents lower at 78.05 cents. Mexico threatened to reciprocate with […] Read more


SODCAP provides an annual payment if the habitat targets for specific species are met.

Ranchers rewarded for preserving species at risk on native range

Sask. producers find balance between beef production and nature

Beef producers in southwestern Sask­atchewan are being rewarded for ensuring that species at risk have a home on native pastures. Tom Harrison is a rancher and executive director of the South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc. (SODCAP), an organization founded in 2014 to create and maintain habitat for species at risk on native […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle limit up on short-covering

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Wednesday settled up its three-cent-per-pound daily price limit, driven by short-covering and fund buying, traders said. They said CME live cattle garnered more support from higher wholesale beef values and future’s discount to early-week prices for market-ready, or cash, cattle. June and August live cattle […] Read more


(CanadianBison.ca)

Bison prices rise with market access

CNS Canada — Prices for Canadian bison are slowly gaining ground as the industry continues to try and expand its global footprint. While the U.S. remains Canada’s largest export market, efforts have been made to increase access to Mexico, Europe and some parts of Asia. Last year, roughly 11,500 animals were slaughtered domestically while 17,600 […] Read more