dairy cattle eating hay

Know your lactating dairy diet costs

Look to find a balance between very expensive and very cheap rations

Occasionally, I talk to dairy producers about the financial aspects of operating a barn, aside from dairy nutrition. All producers wish to reduce their lactating feed costs. One producer I know wants to switch to a notorious cheap protein supplement, while another wants to hire a private dairy consultant and tender out all dairy feed […] Read more

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham met Wednesday in Victoria. (Photo courtesy AAFC)

Options weighed for AgriRecovery in B.C. fire zones

Officials in British Columbia are now gauging what sorts of damages and expenses can be covered through an AgriRecovery plan for ranchers and farmers affected by wildfires. The federal and B.C. governments announced Wednesday they’re “working together to quickly assess the extraordinary costs farmers are incurring and what additional assistance may be required to recover […] Read more








Moisture and a reduced stocking rate helped pastures to get back into a productive state above and below ground.

Keeping soil biology ticking

Pasture Management: Grazing setbacks happen, but find opportunities to get back on track

Normal weather” at 4 Clover Ranch near Rocky Mountain House, Alta. has been illusive for a couple of years at least and it has created some grazing challenges at the expense of pasture performance. Our planned grazing system, where we look at the health of the grass on an ongoing basis, has responded well over […] Read more

A number of heating systems can be used to keep water open 
and available to cattle during winter.

Options for keeping winter water open

Water supp??lies need to be reliable but also safe

Providing adequate stock water can be a frustrating challenge during colder months. Having adequate water and keeping it ice-free is not a simple task. In some pastures, water availability is also an issue. Trey Patterson, CEO of Padlock Ranches in Wyoming, says one of the challenges is keeping water thawed. “If you have multiple groups […] Read more


Quebec OYF regional nominees Dominic Drapeau and Celia Neault and their four children – Kelly and Mavrick, 10-year-old twins, Alicia, nine and Liam, seven.

Outstanding Young Farmers Quebec: Dominic Drapeau and Celia Neault

Dominic Drapeau and Celia Neault are part of a four-generation family farm

Relying on the knowledge and advice of an expert team, strong family support, a well-planned goal, and a lot of hard work has helped a young southern Quebec couple build one of the most progressive and productive dairy farms in the province. Dominic Drapeau and Celia Neault say it is a combination of these and […] Read more

This is a dramatic fence line contrast showing two types of grazing systems. On the left is the pasture of a neighbouring sheep operation with season-long grazing. On the right side of the fence is Kim Nielsen’s pasture used for rotational grazing for yearlings. His pastures get about 180 days of rest between grazing.

Report From Down Under: Holistic approach is working

Management changes for the growing conditions producing benefits

My wife Helen and I took a six-day course a couple of years ago learning the principles of The Savory Institute’s holistic management as they apply to grazing. In a nutshell, the course taught the process of decision-making and planning that give land managers the insights and management tools to understand nature in the restoration […] Read more