canola in alabama 2015

Canola in the U.S. South

Practical Research: Introducing massive acreage of new crops in established growing areas can put both new and established crops at risk

Every so often I hear about how farmers in the southern states of the U.S. will soon be growing millions of acres of canola. Of course, what would be grown would be winter canola, since crucifers such as cabbage, collard and broccoli all can survive the Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee winters. They get […] Read more

carpal tunnel exercises

How to treat carpal tunnel at home

Fit to Farm: Symptoms begin when connective tissue compresses tendons and nerves in an already-busy area

Carpal tunnel is a condition that can affect anyone, anytime, though it’s especially common in those who work with their hands and do manual labour. The carpal tunnel is an anatomical term for the path the tendons in the forearm and wrist take underneath a bridge of connective tissue in the wrist moving into the […] Read more


James enjoys his Sunday ride to check the cows and pastures.

A wet June turns to a hot July

Eppich News: The ranch foal count ended up at seven, with two fillies and five colts

The beginning of June gave us quite a bit of moisture, much more than we have had in the last few years. It made it a little interesting at times and slowed seeding down, but the pastures greatly appreciated it. On the second, we took the kids to go ride and check the cows. We […] Read more

beef carcasses

Beef demand made seasonal highs in July

The Markets: Cattle markets have started to grind lower, but the feeder market has held

The beef market appears to have made a seasonal high during the first week of July. Wholesale choice beef prices reached up to US$329/cwt during the week ending July 6 before fading to US$319/cwt during the third week of July. Weaker wholesale values have resulted in lower U.S. fed cattle values. During the first week […] Read more


wheat july 2024

Editor’s Rant: Bumper sticklers

Crop forecasting is a thankless job, but necessary

They were good calls at the time. Just a few weeks ago a clutch of farm writers from across Canada converged on Glacier FarmMedia’s Ag in Motion show west of Saskatoon. Some of those writers, myself included, drove past quite a lot of handsome crops en route. In some stretches, the usually blue watery mirages […] Read more

ho chi minh city vietnam

Energy reflections of our recent Vietnam vacation

Investing for Fun and Profit: In a country facing rapid growth and corresponding energy demand, every day is a smog day

Vietnam is a fascinating country, rich with culture and history. We also visited Cambodia and its renowned ancient temples, the most famous being Ankor Wat, a UNESCO world heritage site. This was my first time in Southeast Asia. The contrasts are ubiquitous, with modern vehicles sharing streets with rickshaws, modern skyscrapers neighbouring hovels, and elite […] Read more


Gregory fixes a broken wire while the horses watch.

A rainy May slows down seeding

Eppich News: The rhythm of the ranch rises with cattle to move, foals born and visitors

On April 29 was Joseph’s seventh birthday party. The day before, we had a surprise for him: we loaded up the family, picked up Gregory’s sister, Theresa, and went to the rodeo in North Battleford. It was Joseph’s first rodeo and while his brothers weren’t as interested, he had a lot of fun. The beginning […] Read more

skipper otto fish

B.C. fish for Prairie plates

First We Eat: A co-operative aims to sustain the sea for fishing families’ future

Wild fish was part of my childhood on Vancouver Island. We picked oysters and mussels, dug clams, scooped up spawning grunions, and cast hooks for salmon. But these days, as fish prices skyrocket and issues over whether to eat farmed or wild fish become ever more complex, my consumption of fish has plummeted, relying on […] Read more


Pretreated calves usually need a booster for mycoplasma once they arrive at a feedlot.

Lower stress, lower mycoplasma

Animal Health: The secondary respiratory and joint disease can be limited with prevention

Feedlot owners and backgrounders across this country always have one question for me: “Is there anything new out there to combat mycoplasma?” While there are a couple of vaccines licensed for cattle, they do require multiple shots. Vaccines help, but focusing on decreasing stress and other diseases can limit mycoplasma infection. Mycoplasma comes in many […] Read more

Our questions and thoughts can create great conversations — if we let them.

Watch your words

Seeds of Encouragement: Self-defeating language can kill transition conversations and affect your mental health

Recently in one of our amazing membership coaching calls a farmer sighed loudly about his transition frustration and said, “It is what it is.” This sparked a lively conversation about how we handle our mental well-being, which is often bathed in waves of frustration as we try to navigate the needs and wants of founders […] Read more