Parliament Hill, in Ottawa – Ontario, Canada. Photo: Ulysse Pixel

Producers welcome change to cash advance program 

After much lobbying, federal government increases interest-free portion of program to $250,000

The interest-free portion of the federal Advance Payments Program will be $250,000 this year, much to farmers’ relief. The amount had been set to drop back to $100,000 at the end of this month after sitting at $350,000 for 2023.

Jack Chaffe, Beef Farmers of Ontario past-president, is all smiles while his nine years of board service was acknowledged during the annual general meeting gala dinner Feb. 21, 2024.

Chaffe joins CCA executive as Ontario officer at large

Colleagues reflect on his nine-year leadership as BFO president

Jack Chaffe is taking his love of cattle to the Canadian Cattle Association as Ontario officer-at-large on the executive. “My aspiration is taking the Ontario voice to the national voice, taking the issues there and have them be resolved,” said Chaffe, after stepping down as Beef Farmers of Ontario president on Feb. 21. He said […] Read more

The lessons learned through the BSE outbreak will hopefully safeguard the sector from experiencing anything similar in the future.

Beef sector reflects on May 20, 2003

Two decades of recovery from BSE

The dates are seared in Dennis Laycraft’s brain: May 20, 2003, when the first positive-testing cow was confirmed; August 10, 2003, when the U.S. and Mexico restored import access for Canadian boneless beef from animals under 30 months of age; July 14, 2005, when the U.S. reopened full access for all Canadian beef, both live […] Read more


Reg Schellenberg. (Schellenberg family photo via Canadian Cattlemen)

Canadian Cattle Association president Reg Schellenberg dies

Saskatchewan rancher had led CCA since March

Updated, Dec. 7 — Western Saskatchewan rancher Reg Schellenberg, who had led the national organization representing Canada’s beef cattle producers since March this year, died suddenly Friday at age 63. The Canadian Cattle Association reported Schellenberg’s death in a release Saturday, adding that the association’s current vice-president, rancher Nathan Phinney of Sackville, N.B., will now […] Read more

Black Angus cattle on green pasture

Ontarians bring diverse backgrounds to cattle mentorship program

Next generation of leaders are not only primary producers

Three Ontario women have been named finalists in the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) Mentorship Program, a national initiative of the Canadian Cattle Association.  Madison Lewis of Meaford, Danika Mayer of Alexandria, and Holly McGill of Listowel were selected as three of 16 finalists from a pool of 22 semi-finalists who competed in judged roundtable […] Read more