Glacier FarmMedia – The fed cattle sector couldn’t catch a break in 2022 and it wasn’t any one thing that created the problem. “This has been going on for sure since February/March,” said Jacob Bueckert, who operates Driland Feeders near Warner, Alta. and is chair of the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association. “I don’t know if
Backlog weighs on cattle feeders
The COVID hangover, more cattle on feed, and lots of labour woes all contributed to a year to forget
Renewable diesel demand expected to soar in next two years
Canola production poised to jump as new facilities come on stream in next two years, says processors association
Glacier FarmMedia – Renewable diesel production is poised to take off in the next five years and the coming boom is great news for canola growers, says the Canadian Oilseeds Processors Association. “For canola crush, in terms of possible capacity growth in the years to come, we could see almost six million tonnes of increased
Trial examines plant growth regulators in wheat
There was a reduction in lodging but PGR effectiveness depends on the product, variety and location
Glacier FarmMedia – Do plant growth regulators reduce lodging in wheat? They had an impact, but not a huge one, in an on-farm field trial done this year. “What we’ve seen is that they are not a silver bullet when it comes to lodging,” said Jeremy Boychyn, agronomy research extension manager for Alberta Barley and
The quest for drought-tolerant wheat heats up
A hotter, drier future looms but breeding for drought tolerance is a complicated business
Glacier FarmMedia – The push to breed drought-resistant wheat has taken on new urgency as dry times become more common and more severe. “Drought is big on everybody’s minds these days,” said Harpinder Randhawa, a wheat breeder with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge research centre. “Especially in Western Canada, we rely heavily on the natural water availability of rainfall.” Droughts are forecast to
CETA’s trail of broken promises
It’s been five years of frustration with the EU trade deal as Europe keeps doors largely closed to Canadian beef
Glacier FarmMedia – Dan Darling remembers the tough slog of negotiations in free-trade talks with Europe — and the hope that they would end with major gains for Canadian beef. But five years after the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) with Europe, talks continue and potential benefits remain unrealized. “When we were
Comment: The path to reconciliation can start by reading some good books
There is some excellent fiction and non-fiction that opens the door to history — and understanding
September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is meant to honour the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Many people never learned the history of residential schools. It was not taught in schools until recently and it was
A tale of two numbers for sustainable beef
In less than four years, one in five producers has been certified sustainable but market penetration is still low
Glacier FarmMedia – When it comes to making Canada a leader in the certified sustainable beef movement, two numbers stand out – one very large and the other (in relative terms) very small. As of June 30, nearly one-fifth of the country’s beef cattle were raised on farms certified under the standards of the Canadian
Cattle crunch: Tug of war on herd rebuilding prospects
Better prices mean a better outlook for the cattle sector, but will that be enough for producers who feel like they’ve had enough?
It was a tough spring, coming off a tough winter, coming off an even tougher drought year in 2021, but there is finally pay off in the sales ring for cattle producers. Tyler Fulton, president of the Manitoba Beef Producers, estimates that local calf prices are 30 to 50 cents per pound higher than at
New ag policy framework gets mostly thumbs-up
Change in the AgriStability reference margin from 70 to 80 per cent may encourage more participation
The new national business risk management plan is getting a generally positive reception from farm organization leaders. The new framework, titled the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, was announced by federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers following their annual meeting at the end of July. Grain Growers of Canada chair Andre Harpe said he was glad the ministers were able to reach a decision,
STICKER SHOCK: Plant 2022 has been unlike any other, say farmers
The sky-high prices are bad enough, but availability issues also raise stress levels
They’re calling it the most expensive crop that Prairie farmers have ever planted. But the skyrocketing price of fertilizer, fuel, herbicides and other inputs isn’t the only worry. Lately it’s often been about getting your hands on products you’ve paid an arm and a leg for. Clint Jacula thought he had the bases covered. He
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