Scenic autumn view of the rural landscape, orchards, vineyards, and wineries of Oliver located in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Photo: laughingmango/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Local food system would reap big economic benefits researcher says

B.C. researchers found that the Okanagan could produce two thirds of its own food while maintaining exports

Assuming an average Canadian diet, the Okanagan can currently produce 88 per cent of its dairy needs, Mullinix and colleagues wrote in a report on the study. It can produce 60 per cent of its poultry needs, 34 per cent of its fruit needs (due to fruits eaten that can’t be grown in the region, or are eaten out of season), and small amounts of other food groups like grains, red meat, eggs and oils.



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.




A view of the grassland at Calgary’s Nose Hill Park. Preliminary results of recent research suggest Alberta’s grasslands have fared better than other such regions in weathering the effect of drought.

Research looks into drought’s lingering effects on grasslands

A global project will provide valuable insights as droughts increase, an Alberta scientist says

Glacier FarmMedia — A global study is examining the surprising ways short-term droughts can affect grasslands. “It’s not surprising that less water is going to lead to less plant growth. We’re all very familiar with that,” said Cameron Carlyle, associate professor of rangeland ecology in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences at the […] Read more


Canadian breeding programs have developed sainfoin varieties such as AAC Mountainview and AAC Glenview.

Pastures, hayland get a leg up with legumes

Climate program funds allow Canadian-bred non-bloating legumes such as sainfoin to gain ground

A former Alberta provincial forage and livestock business specialist, now working with seed supplier Union Forage, Grant Lastiwka has studied forages in grazing systems for a long time. Over that time, he’s found certain legumes can bring net benefits to pastures and forage stands — significant enough to outweigh the potential drawbacks. Eleven years ago, […] Read more

Cattle producers need to be aware, as we head toward 2025, that a small change in supply has a large influence on price.

Cattle herd declines while economy expands

One per cent increase in consumer spending means one per cent increase in beef demand

I often place myself two years in the future, with a view of the past two years. The old saying is that hindsight is 20/20. Well then, place yourself in the future and look backward. If I were giving a cattle market outlook in March 2026, the summary would be the following: During 2024, feeder […] Read more