Teams of livestock and government officials are quickly creating plans and policies to keep the sector functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic, says the executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. “Our primary objective obviously is to insure there is stable beef production and trade that can continue under the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dennis
Beef sector mobilizes against supply disruptions
Keeping border open, meeting demand for beef are top priorities
Ahead of any emergency, plan for the worst
Disaster planning is not a pleasant task but it's vital that producers have a plan, expert says
Identify your resources and review your plan, says an expert in emergency planning for livestock. The COVID-19 pandemic is a very different type of emergency, said Rebecca Husted, a teacher of technical large animal emergency rescue. “Most disasters like fires and floods have people moving around, but in COVID-19, people are not supposed to move
Take extra steps to keep farm workers safe during COVID-19
Add biosecurity practices, or ramp up the ones you already employ
Farmers concerned about the spread of COVID-19 can learn from the hog sector on the matter of protecting themselves and their workers, says a leading expert on biosecurity in the pork industry. “This is the world of biosecurity that the swine industry deals with on a daily basis,” said Dr. Egan Brockhoff, veterinarian counsellor for
Call your vet before you go to clinic during COVID-19
Different vet clinics have adopted different protocols
Animal welfare is paramount during COVID-19 — but so is human health. That’s why Darrell Dalton, registrar of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, recommends you call ahead before you go to your vet. “Different practices have taken different measures and different steps,” he said. “Some of the small practices are limiting the number of people
Uncertainty drags on Canadian cattle markets
Beef demand is strong but cattle prices are under pressure, Canfax says
Cattle markets have tumbled as a result of COVID-19, according to the senior analyst at Canfax. “Feeder markets are off pretty hard, some of them are off 15 to 20 cents a pound, this week,” Brian Perillat said Tuesday. “They have been depressed over the last month. Feedlots too. Fed price is at the low
Livestock auction marts to decide on next steps
Livestock Marketing Association of Canada pondering next move in face of pandemic
You may want to call first to see if it’s open, but many auction marts in Alberta were still having sales on Tuesday morning. The Livestock Marketing Association of Canada has a conference call set for this evening to discuss COVID-19 safety measures for staff, customers and buyers, said Chance Martin, an LMAC director and
One year after China canola ban, there is still no resolution
No easy resolution to China/Canada trade dispute, says Canola Council of Canada president
March 6, 2020 marked a sombre anniversary for Canada’s canola industry. It’s been a year since China banned the majority of imports of Canadian canola, and an end to the ban is nowhere in sight. “It’s a very frustrating situation for producers and the industry,” said Jim Everson, president of the Canola Council of Canada.
National cattle checkoff on its way up this spring
The national levy used to fund marketing and research is going up by $1.50 — the first increase since 2002
Come spring, more than the grass will be rising — the national cattle levy is going up $1.50 per head on April 1. “The impetus for us was the national beef strategy,” said Rich Smith, executive director of Alberta Beef Producers. “The national beef strategy is a plan for us for the next five years
Start succession planning with a conversation — and then keep talking
Trent Clark has heard many succession ‘horror stories’ and is making sure that everyone in his family is on the same page
Working on your farm management skills is like exercising… it pays big benefits, but it’s easy to push it off for another day. Only one-third of producers use business advisers or risk management tools, and fewer still do HR, succession, or strategic planning. To help make your farm more profitable (and your life more enjoyable),
‘Change’ is the watchword in a warming world, says researcher
Longer summers and milder winters sound nice, but even the pluses come with some negatives
How will the Canadian cattle industry fare if global temperatures continue to rise? Count a reduced feed demand, a longer grazing season, and higher forage production among the benefits — but also expect more extreme weather, pests, and transport headaches, according to University of Manitoba research scientist Kim Ominski. “We know the future of our
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
