(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. grains: Soybeans weighed down by big harvest prospects

Reuters — U.S. soybeans and grains dipped on Wednesday, weighed down by abundant harvest prospects in key countries. Soybeans led the way lower, as the closely watched four-day Pro Farmer U.S. Midwest Crop Tour scouted impressive crops in central Illinois, following its observation a day earlier of above-average soybean pod counts in Nebraska and Indiana. […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Canada presses China on science in canola trade spat

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada is urging the Chinese government to stick to scientific facts in decisions on trade as Beijing plans to toughen its standard on Canadian canola shipments, federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay said Thursday. China’s quarantine authority, AQSIQ, notified the Canadian Food Inspection Agency last month that it would allow no more […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Elections Canada)

Election shifts attention to trade deal as race narrows

Ottawa | Reuters –– Trailing in second place with two weeks left before Canada’s election, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a new trade deal Monday that largely protects the key agricultural voting bloc, putting pressure on opponents who had hoped to have more to attack. Harper touted the Trans-Pacific Partnership as a good deal […] Read more

Skim milk powder. (PelchGroup.com)

Canada says TPP offers limited access to dairy market

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada said on Monday that a major trade deal agreed by 12 Pacific nations would only allow limited access to protected Canadian domestic dairy and poultry markets, a politically sensitive issue ahead of the Oct. 19 election. Officials said the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would offer up just 3.25 per cent of […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

COOL saga winding down, but not over yet

CNS Canada –– The seven-year saga of U.S. country of origin labelling (COOL) rules and their adverse impact on Canada’s livestock sector may be nearing its final chapter, but the conclusion still needs to be written. After numerous complaints and appeals with the World Trade Organization, the COOL regulations in place since 2008 have been […] Read more

cattleman on a horse

CCA Report: North American producers stand firm on COOL

From the September 2015 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) held a busy and productive semi-annual meeting in Winnipeg, Man. in August. Much of the discussion and debate around the board table focused on addressing factors that may be preventing some producers from expanding their herds to take advantage of current market opportunities. While drought and extreme dry conditions remain […] Read more


Prepping for the politicians

Prepping for the politicians

A few notes from the CCA’s semi-annual meeting

Late last month the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association published a political wish list on behalf of the beef industry for candidates running in the federal election. You can find it on the CCA website. The week before that document came out I had a chance to hear some of the background discussions that went into setting […] Read more

History: Wolves

History: Wolves

By H.A. Riviere, Pincher Creek, Alta. Reprinted from the October 1949 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

I will relate some facts about range conditions way back in 1884. Although the calves and colts in the Cypress Hills Country were never weaned and the buffalo on which the wolf packs fed were no more, I have no recollection of any damage done to stock by wolves on my range at that time. […] Read more