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Canadian Drought Monitor map of drought conditions and intensity in Canada at Nov. 30, 2021. (AAFC)
Crops, Weather

Precipitation eases drought conditions on Prairies

Hardest-hit Manitoba sees 'modest' improvements

By
MarketsFarm — Varied amounts of precipitation are either maintaining or alleviating drought conditions in much of the Prairies, according to the latest nationwide drought map from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Canadian Drought Monitor (CDM). The latest assessment for the period ended Nov. 30 showed very few areas of worsening drought in the region with […] Read more
This 50-foot well, set up to automatically keep the trough full, kept a few dozen cow-calf pairs happy this summer. Recent rain has greened up the pasture so stock is still there September 10. Many mornings when I arrive, the cow-calf pairs are lounging around slaking their thirst and then they saunter off to find some grass. It has been fun to watch.
Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Your guide to finding water in the ground via wells

They’re often a good solution to the water problem in pastures

By
The drought of 2021 has left pastures with dry sloughs and dugouts. A good solution to the water problem in pastures is often a well, or multiple wells. Many former community pastures had several wells with old-fashioned windmills that filled the need in spades. In our soil salinity work of the 1980s and 1990s, we […] Read more
File photo of a soybean plantation in Brazil. (Mailson Pignata/iStock/Getty Images)
Crops, Reuters

More acres seen needed worldwide to meet mounting crops demand

U.S. acres may have already hit ceiling: AgResource chief

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Geneva | Reuters — Farmers need more space to grow crops to meet mounting demand for food and renewable fuel at a time of slowing growth in yields, consultancy AgResource said on Tuesday. A renewable fuel push under U.S. President Joe Biden’s climate agenda is set to trigger a boom in soyoil use, reinforcing a […] Read more
A tract of Amazon jungle burns as it is cleared by farmers at Rio Pardo in Brazil’s Rondonia state on Sept. 15, 2019. (File photo: Reuters/Ricardo Moraes)
Beef Cattle, Livestock, Reuters, Weather

Brazil’s JBS bought 301,000 cattle from ‘irregular’ farms in Amazon, audit finds

Prosecutors 'negotiating improvements' with companies

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Sao Paulo | Reuters — Nearly a third of the cattle bought by JBS SA in the Brazilian Amazon state of Para came from ranches with “irregularities” such as illegal deforestation, prosecutors found in a 2020 audit of the world’s largest meatpacker released on Thursday. In a presentation, federal prosecutors said they were “negotiating improvements” […] Read more
Dr. Brett Terhaar from Frontier Veterinary Services in Winterset, IA using ultra sound equipment for prep checking cattle.
Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

The pros and cons of different preg-check options for cows

Herd size and speed of test can point to the best technique

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Pregnancy testing methods include palpation, ultrasound and blood tests. Dr. Don Driedger of Driedger Veterinary Services in Lloydminster, Alta., does a lot of pregnancy testing in his area, and uses both palpation and ultrasound. “The main reason most producers preg-check is to decrease the number of cows that are just freeloading through winter,” says Driedger. […] Read more
Les Henry: Droughts I have known
Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Droughts I have known

What comes next?

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The 2021 crop year for the Prairie provinces will go down in history as hot and dry with a huge impact on crops, hayland and pasture. The lack of feed for livestock is most serious, as it will require forced sale of cattle with long-lasting effects on farms and ranches. Many would lead you to […] Read more
With pastures in some drought affected areas shrivelling up to almost bare ground, feeding cattle is a real challenge.
Beef Cattle, Columns, Livestock

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?

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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
It is important to make a well balanced mineral available, but also important to do your best to encourage cattle to eat their daily requirement.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Feed management affects proper mineral intake

Don't just dump a bag of mineral in a tub and walk away

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It is easy to open a bag of loose cattle mineral and pour it into mineral feeders or a trough. Yet many beef producers don’t realize the importance of providing essential minerals and vitamins to their beef cow herd on a regular basis. That’s why I encourage people to choose a well-formulated cattle mineral and […] Read more
AAFC’s Drought Monitor map as of Aug. 31, 2021.
Crops, Weather

Drought maps show little change at end of August

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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.)
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Optimistic fed cattle outlook supports feeder market

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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

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