In northern Spain, lamb farming feels chill winds of coronavirus

Reuters – At this time of year, Miguel Angel Rivilla is usually swamped with work, selling his prized sheep to markets throughout Spain for “lechal” — a cherished dish of roasted, unweaned lamb popular at Easter and other times of celebration. But as with so many businesses in a globalized economy, the coronavirus has managed

HomeGrown Acres, near Wawanesa, has seen an uptick in direct sales, bucking the trend.

Holiday lamb demand lags due to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted typical holiday demand for lamb meat

Manitoba’s lamb producers aren’t feeling much holiday spirit this year thanks to COVID-19. Social distancing has put a chill on a market normally bolstered by the Easter season, as well as Jewish Passover celebrations and the start of Ramadan on the Islamic calendar later in April. The Manitoba government declared a state of emergency due


Emergence in an Ontario soybean field. (File photo by John Greig)

Ontario extends RMP deadlines for crops, livestock

Move won't create coverage gaps, Agricorp says

Ontario grain, oilseed and livestock producers will get extra time to apply for, make changes to or cancel coverage under the provincial Risk Management Program (RMP). Agricorp, the province’s ag program delivery agency, announced Wednesday the new deadline for applications or coverage changes for 2020 will be June 30. The previous deadlines to apply or

Joey Fiola and Christel Lanthier and their three daughters, Olivia (6), Anne Rose (4) and Lila (1).

Resurrecting the family farm

Faces of Ag: Joey Fiola and Christel Lanthier are determined to give their girls the same farm life that shaped them

As 25 ewes and a gangly baby llama mill around Christel Lanthier, her six-year-old daughter chats to her in French, the language they speak at home. She’s wondering if you want to know anything about the cats, Christel translates for a reporter. Olivia explains the names of the three cats and shows off her stuffed


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Cattle inventories continue to decline, StatsCan says

Canada's hog herd also down on year

MarketsFarm — Canada’s cattle herd in 2019 continued on its generally consistent path of declining numbers, according to new data Statistics Canada released Tuesday. Aside from a few slight increases in 2012, 2013 and 2018, Canadian cattle inventories have moved lower since 2005. At 11.2 million head, the reported number of cattle on farms in

Coyotes, wolves and other predators are the focus of a new working group pilot project.

Livestock predation pilot given green light

Producers fighting predation loss got some news they’ve been waiting for Feb. 7

An upcoming pilot project is promising livestock producers some long-awaited answers on predation. Manitoba’s Livestock and Predation Working Group is about to start a three-year research pilot, which has been in the works for years since the working group formed in 2013. The province has announced $300,000 to help launch the Livestock Predation Prevention Project,


Cartagena’s colonial walled section and fortress are a UNESCO World Heritage site in Colombia. (CIA.gov)

Colombia cleared of foot-and-mouth

Country now aims to double meat exports

Bogota | Reuters — Colombia will look to double its meat exports now it has regained its status as a country free of foot-and-mouth disease, President Ivan Duque said on Thursday. Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious viral disease found in animals and is one of the most serious to affect livestock, including cattle, sheep and

(Left to right) Michelle, Randy and Solange pose in the wintering yard.

Seine River Shepherds finds resilience in adding value

Faces of Ag: Tough weather, bad prices, made it clear why Randy Eros and Solange Dusablon turn their sheep into multiple revenue streams

A cold wind gusts over the frozen ruts of the wintering yard as Randy Eros guides his ewes into a holding pen with the aid of his sheep dog. “Pitou, couche (down). Couche!” Pitou, still a pup, needs plenty of guidance, which Randy calls to him in French. With the ewes safely penned, the black


Taylor (left) and Harleigh (right) with 
their show heifers on their family farm 
near Elm Creek.

4-H family rolls out mobile ag-education display

Faces of Ag: Teenagers Taylor and Harleigh Carlson developed a mobile educational 
livestock display as a school project

When Taylor and Harleigh Carlson were little, they’d sit in the barn and read books to their cows. That was their job. The cattle got used to having kids around, which made them easier to halter-break and train for cattle shows. Taylor and Harleigh were practically born into 4-H and cattle showing. Their dad Trevor

(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. to move BLM headquarters to Colorado

Reuters — The U.S. Bureau of Land Management will move its headquarters to Colorado from Washington, officials said on Tuesday, sparking ire from conservationists who said the decision would weaken the agency dedicated to managing the country’s vast public lands. The Department of Interior, which oversees BLM, announced the move in letters to key congressional