Maximizing profits in an economic downturn. That was the focus of a presentation at Grain Expo during Canadian Western Agribition. Dean Klippenstein, a senior advisor with MNP, said most grain prices are down significantly as compared to recent years however, there hasn’t been a corresponding drop in input costs. When margins tighten many producers tend to reduce crop inputs. Klippenstein said producers should be careful not to cut inputs where it will limit their crop potential: “None of us are smart enough to predict the future, but we know we’re in a commodity business and things fluctuate so, all we can do is what’s in our power and what’s in our power is to do what our friends in the agronomy business tell us to do to set the stage for a great potential crop with Mother Nature and the markets throwing the cherry on top to make tremendous results,” he said. Klippenstein told the growers in attendance that the average farm makes serious money 8 to 12 years on in a 40-year career
A new program is offering up to $25,000 to help clinics attract more veterinarians to rural British Columbia. Businesses can apply for a portion of the $1.4 million recruitment and retention program to support hiring bonuses for new veterinarians and technologists, or for highly needed services like extra staffing during calving and lambing season. A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture said the money can also be used for advertising to recruit new staff, training to improve telemedicine capacity, and planning for the sustainable delivery of veterinary services in underserviced areas. The program will be available in areas across the province but the ministry says there will be a priority for northern B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said the goal is to bolster the number of veterinarians in rural communities to provide essential support for livestock care, and strengthen food security in the province. The Society of Veterinarians of B.C. has said there’s a shortage of
Cattle producers across the Prairies looking to optimize growth and health in their herds can benefit from the insights shared by Elizabeth Nernberg, Livestock Extension Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture. Speaking at a recent producer presentation, Nernberg provided practical advice on backgrounding calves—a critical stage between weaning and feedlot finishing. What is Backgrounding? "Backgrounding is about growing calves at a slower rate of gain to optimize bone and muscle growth while avoiding excess fat deposition," explains Nernberg. "This stage helps maximize the animal’s genetic potential and prepares them for a high-grain feedlot ration." Nernberg highlights the importance of targeted average daily gains during this phase. "The goal is typically between 1.5 to 2.5 pounds per day, depending on the animal’s frame size and growth program," she notes. "For larger-framed animals, gains can reach up to 3 pounds per day as they mature, but anything below 1.5 pounds is inefficient
Food prices are one of the most significant sources of stress for Canadians today. A cross-country, multi-university research team led by Dalhousie is empowering consumers with data-driven food price predictions. Canada’s Food Price Report (CFPR) is an annual collaboration between research partners Dalhousie University, the University of Guelph, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of British Columbia. The research team uses historical data sources, machine-learning algorithms, and predictive analytics tools to forecast Canadian food prices. The 2025 CFPR forecasts that overall food prices will increase by 3% to 5%. The average family of four is expected to spend $16,833.67 on food in 2025, an increase of up to $801.56 from last year. The current rate is 2.8%. Food prices increased at a slower than predicted rate in 2024. Although there was a downward trend in inflation, Canadians are still pinching pennies. In April, Statistics Canada reported that in 2023, 22.9% o
The federal government proposes funding to the CFIA and changes to the Farm Credit Canada Act
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