Canadian producers have done an excellent job of reducing the environmental footprint of beef production, but the work is not done, says a sustainability researcher with the world's largest meat processing company.

Dissecting the factors of beef sustainability
Canada’s beef industry has reduced it carbon footprint, but there’s always room for improvement, researcher says

Prairies expected to be cooler, wetter this year
A La Niña weather pattern is on its way and may even bring timely spring rains
There’s a good chance western Canadian farmers and ranchers will see rain in April and May to get crops started and grass growing, says a U.S. based weather scientist.

How does your farm stack up?
Canfax research project provides the industry with benchmark figures
Glacier FarmMedia – Larger beef operations running smaller-framed mature cows tend to be the most profitable combination, according to cost of production (COP) information collected by Canfax Research Services. That’s not an absolute statement. COP information from producers across the country over the past couple of years shows that some smaller operators with various-sized animals […] Read more

How to choose the right sprayer nozzle
Do some research, but also call a specialist for advice
Glacier FarmMedia – Under the heading “Perhaps Too Much of a Good Thing,” sprayer expert Tom Wolf says the biggest challenge when selecting the right nozzles for the field sprayer is having too much choice. “Finding the right nozzle is a bit of a chore simply because there is an overabundance of supply,” says Wolf. […] Read more

So long AIM — it was another good run
It’s all over now except for the crying, folks. Ag In Motion (AIM) 2017 is history. And really the only crying that might be done, is by the dedicated volunteers and employees of the show who stay on the AIM grounds near Langham, SK for another 10 days to two weeks to clean up and […] Read more

AIM for Hart, Day 2: The road to success, one scoop at a time
I announced yesterday to a couple colleagues who work for the Western Producer, “We are wasting our time and energies writing stories. What idiots. If we want real financial success in life — sell ice cream.” That was my take home message from Day 2 (Wednesday) at the Ag In Motion (AIM) farm show near […] Read more

AIM for Hart: An informative first day
It’s official. If you want your province to dry out call Charles Schmidt. This climatological fact was among the many things I learned at the first day of the 2017 Ag In Motion (AIM) farm show near Langham, Sask. Tuesday (about 20 minutes from Saskatoon — the show is still running Wednesday and Thursday, so […] Read more

New company set up to deliver BIXS livestock data system
A new company — a partnership between the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and livestock technology company ViewTrak — plans to bring the newborn unsteadiness of an information exchange network to a full gallop for all Canadian livestock sectors. The as-yet unnamed private company was formed to bring the CCA’s beef information exchange system, BIXS, to […] Read more

P.E.I., Man. couples named Outstanding Young Farmers
After a year-long nationwide competition, a P.E.I. couple in a potato growing and processing partnership, and a Manitoba couple building a seed growing and seed retailing business, are Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2014. Andrew and Heidi Lawless of Kinkora, P.E.I., both part of a partnership producing about 1,200 acres of potatoes, and Myron and […] Read more
Hart: Alta. packer to restart with eye on premium market
A veteran of the North American beef industry says he has no doubts he can turn a long-shuttered Alberta beef packing plant into a profitable business. Rich Vesta, the former CEO of the North American beef division of Brazilian meat packing giant JBS, has set up a temporary headquarters for a new family-owned company, Harmony […] Read more