Southwestern Ontario MP Lianne Rood will be the federal Conservatives’ new agriculture critic. (Video screengrab from LianneRood.ca)

Conservatives look to southern Ontario for new ag critic

O'Toole promotes deputy critic Lianne Rood to first chair

The federal Conservatives’ new leader has gone to the other side of Toronto to find his new critic for agriculture and agri-food. Lianne Rood, the rookie MP for the riding of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, was named Tuesday by fellow southern Ontario MP Erin O’Toole to replace southwestern Alberta MP John Barlow as the Conservatives’ shadow minister for

UQAR rector Jean-Pierre Ouellet, regional development minister Marie-Eve Proulx, UdeM rector Daniel Jutras, Dr. Christine Theoret, UdeM dean of veterinary medicine and provincial ag minister André Lamontagne (l-r) announced the funding Sept. 3, 2020 for the feasibility study. (UQAR photo by Stephane Lizotte)

Montreal’s veterinary college to study eastward expansion

Province backs feasibility study for Rimouski-based program

With a eye on expanding livestock veterinary services in the Lower St-Lawrence and Gaspesie, the Quebec government is backing a feasibility study to bring veterinary studies to the region. The province on Thursday announced assistance of $627,946 for 2019-20 for a feasibility study making a business case to offer the Universite de Montreal’s veterinary medicine


Laminitis has been found to be closely related to cresty necks in horses, and can even be predicted by the condition of the neck fat.

The ‘cresty’-necked horse

Horse Health: Neck fat is a valuable barometer of horse health

The observance of a cresty neck in a horse indicates some level of metabolic sickness and reflects more than just a fat horse. Although the fat or obese horse is burdened with a form of metabolic illness, the appearance of a cresty neck signals further metabolic complications along the continuum of diseases associated with obesity.

Horses on the Martin farm display the results of the family's Clydesdale program.

Clydesdales: Keeping up with the family tradition

Four generations of Martins have been producing Boulder Bluff Clydesdale horses

When George Martin purchased the east half of 1-16-22 in the Strathclair district in 1931, and began his small breeding operation of Clydesdale horses, he probably had no notion the farm and descendants of those horses would still be in the family nearly nine decades and four generations later. “When you can say you are


A healthy foal starts with a healthy mare and minerals are an important part of ensuring her health.

Minerals and the broodmare

Horse Health: For a healthy and well-nourished foal, start with a healthy and nourished mare

The physical demands placed upon the body of the broodmare are extraordinary, especially as the number of offspring she is expected to bear increases. These demands and expectations easily position the broodmare as a top performance horse in the horse industry. The broodmare relies on body reserves and nutritional resources to fund a smooth breeding cycle, gestation and lactation — a

(Pierre-Olivier Valiquette/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. court finds for California’s work with Quebec on carbon market

Washington | Reuters — A U.S. federal district court has ruled that California’s co-ordination with Quebec in a cap-and-trade carbon emissions market is constitutional, a blow to the Trump administration made public in a filing late on Friday. In October, the Trump administration sued California for entering a climate agreement with Quebec, saying the state


(Dave Bedard photo)

Prairie livestock vet named B.C.’s chief veterinarian

Rayna Gunvaldsen replaces Jane Pritchard

A Saskatchewan vet with a resume in emergency preparedness and managing livestock disease outbreaks has been named British Columbia’s new chief veterinarian. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham announced Rayna Gunvaldsen’s appointment Friday, replacing Jane Pritchard. Gunvaldsen trained at the University of Saskatchewan with an emphasis on herd health and regulatory medicine, worked as a herd health



Canada/U.S. border signage in downtown Detroit. (RiverNorthPhotography/Getty Images)

CUSMA pact takes effect under cloud of disputes, COVID-19

Deal appears to assure continuity of trade for agriculture

Washington/Mexico City/Ottawa | Reuters — A modernized U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact took effect on Wednesday, ensuring continuity for manufacturers and agriculture, but the threat of disputes is exposing cracks in what was meant to be a stronger North American fortress of competitiveness. As the deal kicks in, the Trump administration is threatening Canada with new aluminum

Paige Swain, a 14-year-old student, chalks up barrel racing as her favourite event.

Horsemanship brings life lessons to Shoal Lake student

From competition to leisurely trail rides, Paige Swain cherishes cowgirl lifestyle

The cowgirl lifestyle is building responsibility and dedication for one Shoal Lake student. “As a person the rodeo lifestyle has taught me so much,” said Paige Swain, who will soon graduate Grade 9. “It has taught me how to interact with all types of people, responsibility and dedication to not only my wants but also