File photo of a storm cloud from the southwestern end of Lake Winnipeg at Matlock, Man. (IanChrisGraham/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

More than half of world’s large lakes drying up, study finds

Gains in Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg come from runoff, rainfall

London | Reuters — More than half of the world’s large lakes and reservoirs have shrunk since the early 1990s, chiefly because of climate change, intensifying concerns about water for agriculture, hydropower and human consumption, a study published on Thursday found. A team of international researchers reported that some of the world’s most important freshwater […] Read more

A professor at UC Davis in California says proper ranching and proper livestock handling can intensify soil carbon sequestration by adding manure to the soil.

Another take on livestock GHGs

UC Davis professor says the source of methane is carbon that was already in the atmosphere

A professor and air quality specialist in co-operative extension in the department of animal science at UC Davis in California says the topic of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and how they affect climate is not always well understood. Dr. Frank Mitloehner took on the topic in his opening address to the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association’s […] Read more


Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in degrees Celsius over the tropical Pacific Ocean for the week centred on April 12, 2023. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

World could face record temperatures in 2023 as El Nino returns

New record highs 'more likely than not'

Brussels | Reuters — The world could breach a new average temperature record in 2023 or 2024, fuelled by climate change and the anticipated return of the El Nino weather phenomenon, climate scientists say. Climate models suggest that after three years of the La Nina weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean, which generally lowers global […] Read more

The minister is on the case: federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau checks out the cab of a new Case IH Magnum tractor during her visit to the Ag in Motion show on July 20, 2022. (Greg Berg photo)

Federal report shows farmer concerns remain regarding emissions targets

AAFC report polled farmers, industry for thoughts on fertilizer emissions policy

A new Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) report shows farmers remain concerned about federal emissions reduction targets — and whether those targets remain voluntary. The “What We Heard” Report, released Wednesday, is the result of consultations between AAFC and the agricultural sector to gather feedback on how best to support farmers and producers to achieve […] Read more


A drone photo from the Sampona commune of Madagascar on Feb. 11, 2022, shows Zebu cattle drinking water from a large puddle created from Cyclone Batsirai. The island nation’s south has been experiencing severe drought for the past four years, putting it in danger of what the World Food Programme calls “the world’s first climate change famine.” (Photo: Reuters/Alkis Konstantinidis)

Last year tied as world’s fifth-warmest on record, U.S. scientists say

Global CO2 emissions continue to rise

Brussels | Reuters — Last year was the world’s joint fifth-warmest on record and the last nine years were the nine warmest since pre-industrial times, putting the 2015 Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5 C in serious jeopardy, U.S. scientists said on Thursday. Last year tied with 2015 as the fifth-warmest year […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feds open up consultations for sustainable ag strategy

Producer groups to have reps on advisory committee

The federal government has enlisted farm groups on the ground floor of consultations toward development of a long-term strategy to “amplify” the adoption and use of sustainable practices in agriculture over the next year. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Dec. 12 announced the launch of public consultations on strategy development, running from now through March […] Read more


The SWOT spacecraft is moved into a transport container inside the Astrotech facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base on Nov. 18, 2022. (Photo: USSF 30th Space Wing/Chris Okula)

NASA to conduct first global water survey from space

Data would bolster weather and climate forecasts

Los Angeles | Reuters — A NASA-led international satellite mission was set for blastoff from southern California early on Thursday on a major Earth science project to conduct a comprehensive survey of the world’s oceans, lakes and rivers for the first time. Dubbed SWOT, short for Surface Water and Ocean Topography, the advanced radar satellite […] Read more

Calvin Gavelin discusses his poly-crop seed blend with representatives from A&W Canada and Cana- dian Geographic Magazine. Gavelin’s farm is one of the Living Labs sites.

Agriculture Canada launches new Living Lab project at Saskatchewan’s South of the Divide

The producer-centred project will look at how land managers can mitigate climate change on the Prairies, as well as promote biodiversity and provide other benefits

There is a group of ranchers in southwest Saskatchewan that is very active in maintaining the native rangelands. Over the years these ranchers, who are part of the South of the Divide Conservation Action Program, have aimed to maintain their conservation plan, benefiting the environment in their community in the southwest. The South of the […] Read more


As primary producers, we are entrusted to care for the land and our animals.

CCA reports: Joining the global conversation on climate change

From the November 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Conversations about the effects of climate change and the environment are happening all around us, in Canada and in every region of the world. We know that weather patterns have become more unpredictable — we live it every day. Canadian cattle ranchers and farmers must be part of these conversations to share our perspectives, experiences […] Read more

The 2030 Canadian Beef Goals Panel from the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Pentiction, B.C. Brenna Grant is third from left.

2030 Canadian Beef Goals highlight carbon emissions

Unpacking the carbon emission goals, the ongoing research and what it all means for Canada’s beef producers

On a stage with the lights dimmed, Brenna Grant sits with several other industry professionals, looking out on a room full of people. From all over the country, they’ve met in Penticton, B.C., to discuss the future of their industry at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference. One of those possible futures is encompassed in the […] Read more