The tradition of branding has cultural and practical reasons for support on ranches, Saskatchewan rancher Tara Mulhern Davidson says.
The ranch tradition of branding is based in the cultural and the practical
A Little Bit Western: Cattle’s brands can help to identify them at a distance and when they get mixed in with others
Helping hands on the ranch
A Little Bit Western: Many examples around the ranch and community show the kids are all right
At Lonesome Dove Ranch in Saskatchewan, there are many examples around the ranch and community which show the kids are all right.
The fall run: the rancher’s sprint
A Little Bit Western: Most of the revenue, data and calf movement come in the fall
I like to joke that ranching is a marathon, except when it is a sprint, and then it’s that too. There are certainly times when you are racing from one urgent task to another. While it feels like the rest of the working world has three to five business days to respond to a request, […] Read more
Prepare your ranch and business plan for bouts with drought
A Little Bit Western: There are ways to extend feed and water — but do so with caution and monitoring
In late summer I was invited to the Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Saskatoon to share my perspective on navigating drought. I would prefer covering a more cheerful topic, but as a fourth-generation Palliser Triangle dweller who resides on a ranch abandoned not once but twice by its former occupants, I’ll admit I’ve got experience […] Read more
Plants and their identity crises
A Little Bit Western: One person’s weed is another person’s useful and cherished plant
Like many farmers and ranchers, I’ve always been curious about plants. After all, we are surrounded by plants, and humans depend on them for everything from food and forage to fibre and fun. Throughout the growing season, as interesting plants pop up in ditches, fields and pastures, I get texts, tweets and messages with photos […] Read more
Springtime on the ranch is a hopeful tale
How calf processing has evolved on this ranch over the years
Spring feels like the first chapter of a new book you hope becomes a favourite classic. At the start of a new growing season, you have an idea of the basic summary of the story. The familiar rhythms of the arrival of baby calves and planting crops are certain. However, you can never be sure […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
