The number of cows in the provincial herd is not necessarily the best measure of a successful industry, yet that is the focus of public policy, says the Sask. Stock Growers Assoc.
Tag Archives drought
Importance placed on cow herd size questioned
Some in the cattle sector don’t think policy should focus on expanding herd; others say fewer cows limit check-off revenue
‘Amber waves of grain’ recede in America’s heartland as wheat farmers struggle
Midwestern farmers abandoning wheat crops as profits recede, weather challenges
The Great Plains have long been celebrated for the “amber waves of grain” in the popular hymn “America the Beautiful.” The region’s states produce most of the U.S.-grown crop of hard red winter wheat, favored by bakers for bread. But with prices hovering around $5 (C$6.86) per bushel, U.S. wheat farmers have reached an inflection point, with many forced to either lose money, feed wheat to cattle or kill off the crop.
Barren fields, dry wells: after war, drought ravages Syrian farms
Digging wells adds costs as harvests fail; many farmers have heavy debts, want assistance
Syrian farmers hoped for some reprieve after Islamist rebels ended Assad' 24 years of autocratic rule in December, but a devastating drought and continued water theft mean their crops are still dying, their pears and plums withering on the branch.
Drought developing in northern Saskatchewan agricultural region
Almost no rain has fallen since April 1 in Nipawin and Prince Albert
In the 30 days of April, Nipawin received one millimetre of precipitation. In the first 27 days of May, the Environment Canada weather station in Nipawin recorded 1.5 mm of rain and snow.
Transition to drought expected to be swifter this year
Fractions of a degree of change in ocean tempartures impacts weather patterns for ag producers in caring for their livestock and crops
Agriculture across the globe is closely linked to La Niña and El Niño when it comes to setting the weather stage for the next growing season.
Forage research a necessity in the face of decreased acres
Drought tolerance and productivity increases are targets of research programs
Canada has seen a two million-acre decrease in forage land in the last five years. “In over a decade, we are losing about three million acres, and they’re taken over by wheat and canola. It’s a serious concern for us,” Dr. Hari Poudel, forage and breeding research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Lethbridge […] Read more
Drought may be new normal for beef producers
Producers talk shop on how they’ve been getting through years of drought
The 2020s did come in with a roar, but not the kind people hoped for, as drought has plagued much of Western Canada since 2021. The pastures were dry across the Prairies, the grass brittle, more brown than green. Dugouts ran dry and in some areas, hay production was about a quarter of normal. Water […] Read more
Flexibility key to surviving drought
Long-time rancher discusses how he adjusts his grazing and feeding plans based on conditions
Grazing and its likely availability is at the heart of every management decision at Jim and Barb Bauer’s Anchor J Ranch near Acme, in central Alberta. Even after 40 years of grazing on that land Jim still makes a grazing plan, usually in February. “I don’t want two groups of cattle sharing a dugout,” he […] Read more
Return of US drought delays cattle-herd rebuilding, hurting Tyson Foods
The return of drought in U.S. cattle-producing areas is delaying ranchers' plans to expand production after the nation's herd shrank to its smallest level in seven decades, farmers and analysts said.
Ranchers share lessons learned from drought
Despite experiencing a million-dollar rain, beef producers are still asking how they can prepare for drought
Despite experiencing a million-dollar rain, beef producers are still asking how they can prepare for drought
Drought” is a word beef producers on the Prairies know well. For years, many areas in Western Canada have struggled through a prolonged drought. Although a “million-dollar rain” fell in many areas this past June, producers are still pondering lessons learned from previous years of drought, dealing with the lingering effects of several dry years, […] Read moreCanadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
