Manitoba Beef Producers president Tom Teichroeb addressed worries on Agricultural Crown Land changes, and what MBP will do about them, during a packed lease holders' meeting in Ste. Rose du Lac Oct. 2, 2019.

Year in Review: Crown lands saga continues

Crown land changes were a hot-button topic for northern ranchers in 2019, but with promised rule changes still incoming, it's not over yet

The province’s agricultural Crown lands overhaul went from a simmer to a boil in late 2019 — and northern ranchers are still roiling. Crown lands were gridlocked to start off the year. The province froze all new lease agreements or unit transfers as of fall 2018, after changes to the Crown Lands Act got royal

Tom Noffsinger introduces the basics of low-stress cattle handling during a talk in Brandon Oct. 16.  

Workshops pitch less stress for cattle and farmer

Talks and workshops cover the basics of low-stress cattle handling

It’s time to start thinking like cattle when it comes to moving animals. That’s the message Tom Noffsinger had for cattle producers during a string of low-stress cattle-handling workshops and talks near Brandon through the end of October. Three events were put on through Merck Animal Health, including a public talk Oct. 16 and field


American Country farm

Families are the core of corporate farming

Corporate farming is an alarming term to some, but the truth is 
almost all ‘corporate’ farms are still family-owned

North Dakota voters recently reaffirmed the state’s ban on corporate ownership of farms, something that farmers there say limits their ability to structure their businesses. What do you notice when you look at an apple? Perhaps it’s the colour or variety. How do you choose which to buy at the market? Pink Lady? Gala? Granny

Brandon-area farmer, Brett McRae recently began trialling an intensive grazing plan.

Cattle producers implement new grazing options

Using forage to finish cattle takes a strong focus on everything from cattle genetics to forage quality

Ryan Boyd would rather be searching for newborn calves in waist-high grass than snowdrifts. The western Manitoba grain and cattle farmer has joined the ranks of producers changing things up on the cattle side of their operations in search of lower operating costs and better environmental stewardship. He’s found that producing forage-finished cattle requires a


Jethro Hamakoko breeds Brahman cattle on a small ranch about an hour outside of the Zambian capital of Lusaka.

Zambian herd grows, despite ticks, poachers

While not without challenges, some farmers forced out of Zimbabwe 
have found a home ranching in Zambia

Quietly, after the bulk of journalists has moved on to other things, Graham Rae describes the situation as 15 to one. That is 15 poachers and one security guard shot so far. On a still morning near the central Zambian town of Chisamba, it’s hard to imagine, but cattle rustling is a major problem for

young boy in a crop field

Study predicts no farmers and ranchers under 35 by 2033

Trends in Wyoming are occurring across North America

When did you last hear a high school senior say, “I’m taking over the ranch,” or even a seven-year-old announce, “I want to be a farmer”? As longtime farmers and ranchers grow older, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to pass on the family farm or find young employees to pick up the reins at large corporate


Cattle converge near the swollen Maple Lakes drain after heavy rains two weeks ago around Reston unleashed “flash flooding.”  Photo: Daniel Winters


Southwest ranchers grapple with flooding

Fast flowing water from recent rainstorms in the Reston area has caused 
widespread damage to downstream roads, haylands and crops

With five gyres the colour of black tea swirling into culverts in the background, Garth Elliott stood on a washed-out road and looks out over what appears to be an inland sea. It’s actually Stoney Creek, which in most years is a tiny rivulet fed by sloughs. “Some years, this creek doesn’t even run,” said

AAFC Brandon beef research cuts condemned

The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Research Centre at Brandon is losing eight full-time employees, 850 head of cattle and $300,000 a year in revenue because the federal government is shutting down its beef research program. Whether the herd is sold or moved, it will be the first time in the centre’s 127-year history without


Nerves on edge as spring thaw remains elusive

It’s too early to start grumbling about another “year without summer” like 2004, but the forecast for the next month is for more colder-than-normal weather. That’s the far-from-reassuring word from Peter Cherneski, manager of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s climate monitoring and forecasting service. “It is unique,” said Cherneski. “The low temperatures that we’ve seen through

Cow-calf producers’ survival is still about production costs

The times are good for prices, but cattle producers have a lot on their minds these days. Calving has started on many ranches, and the complicated production scenarios already are constantly churning for producers. Unfortunately, the dollars associated with many production scenarios often are in place well before adequate financial evaluations are done. The critical