With pastures in some drought affected areas shrivelling up to almost bare ground, feeding cattle is a real challenge.

Finding affordable cow feed to support body condition

Chances are that pastures have just run out, so what do you feed cattle heading into winter?

Quantity and quality of forage at the end of this summer for beef cows is short. So, where burnt pastures can no longer support the average beef cowherd, whatever forage is on hand with the right supplements might be turned into a sufficient autumn feeding program until winter.  The goal of any good fall feeding […] Read more

Green Party leader Annamie Paul makes an announcement following the federal election, at a park in Toronto on Sept. 27, 2021. (Photo: Reuters/Chris Helgren)

Green Party chief quits

Paul calls leadership stint 'worst period' of her life

Ottawa | Reuters — Annamie Paul announced her resignation as head of Canada’s Green Party on Monday after losing in her own district in last week’s parliamentary election, stepping aside just under a year after becoming the nation’s first Black leader of a mainstream national party. Paul, 48, said she felt she was never truly […] Read more


(GFM file photo)

CFA’s Hay West program up and running

Program website now online

A revival of the “Hay West” initiative, aimed at shipping feed from Eastern Canada to supplement drought-dented supplies in the West, has gone live. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture on Friday announced its Hay West 2021 initiative is “now operational and seeking applicants to both receive and supply hay.” Applicants interested in either supplying or […] Read more

The wrapper attachment on the RB 4160P Protec baler is relatively compact to make storage and transport easy.

Massey adds the RB 4160P Protec to its RB baler series

One-pass baling and wrapping improves feed quality: AGCO

AGCO has added the RB 4160P Protec combination baler and wrapper to its Massey Ferguson line of equipment. The unit combines all the features found on the Massey RB series silage balers, which debuted in 2018, with an integrated bale-wrapping unit, allowing producers to harvest and ensile high-moisture forages in one pass. β€œIn climates with […] Read more


Yara’s fertilizer terminal at Stockton, California. (Sebastian Braum photo, Yara.com)

Norway’s Yara curtails European ammonia output

Surge in price of natural gas cited

Oslo | Reuters — Norway’s Yara is curtailing ammonia production at a number of plants due to a surge in the price of natural gas, the fertilizer maker said Friday. “Record high natural gas prices in Europe are impacting ammonia production margins,” Yara said in a statement. “Including optimization of ongoing maintenance, Yara will by […] Read more

(MDS.mennonite.net)

Ontario MDS volunteers already moving hay west

Disaster response group spearheading program separate from CFA plan

It’s in the spirit of co-operation in difficult times that a group of Ontario farmers have launched a hay donation program to assist their Saskatchewan counterparts. Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Canada, a volunteer organization that provides assistance in the aftermath of disasters in Canada and the U.S., is organizing the latest iteration of Hay West […] Read more


AAFC’s Drought Monitor map as of Aug. 31, 2021.

Drought maps show little change at end of August

MarketsFarm — Much of Western Canada remained in some state of drought at the end of August despite widespread rains late in the month, according to updated maps compiled by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The area mapped out as dealing with ‘exceptional drought’ in south-central Manitoba’s agricultural regions contracted slightly compared to the previous month […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Optimistic fed cattle outlook supports feeder market

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$4 higher. Strong demand was noted on yearlings, which spilt over into the lighter weight categories. Major feedlot operators in Alberta set the price structure, with aggressive orders flowing across the Prairies. Some operators have been holding back on purchases due to higher prices; however, […] Read more


Nova Scotia Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow. (PCPartyNS.ca)

Rookie Nova Scotia MLA named agriculture minister

Greg Morrow sworn in Tuesday

A radio news director from eastern Nova Scotia has been tapped as the provincial agriculture minister for incoming Premier Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservatives. Greg Morrow, the new MLA for Guysborough-Tracadie, was sworn in Tuesday along with the other members of Houston’s 19-member cabinet. Houston’s Tories ousted Iain Rankin’s Liberal government in the Aug. 17 provincial […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Stronger live cattle futures lift yearling market

Recent rains rejuvenate Prairie pastures

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were quoted $3 to as much as $6 higher; calf markets once again traded $3-$5 on either side of unchanged depending on the region. Unbridled buying interest was noted on larger groups of high-quality yearlings. Despite the grass conditions this summer, cattle characteristics are rated above average […] Read more