Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

History, Culture and Cowboys

Our day began in the historic Stockyards District of Fort Worth, once called "Cowtown". This was once the great livestock exchange of the region, as animals made their way into the area‎ by rail. The economy and infrastructure has changed, but the industry has adapted.

At Superior Livestock Auction, bimonthly livestock auctions are held ‎in the original Livestock Exchange. With a twist. It's all done remotely via satellite and web, and has been since the 1980s (using television at that point, not web).

The auction has a network of hundreds of field representatives throughout the country, working with farmers and ranchers to improve their herd health and genetics, obtain the necessary certifications and film video footage of the animals for buyers to see via the website. A single lot of cattle will sell in 30-90 seconds. As you can imagine, auction days are action packed and buyers need to be ready with their bids.

After visiting Superior Livestock, we headed into The Stockyards in Fort Worth to watch the cattle drive and explore the area. The cattle drive runs every day at 11:30 and 4:30 out front of the historic stock yards building. After managing to find a bit of shade, we were greeted by 13 longhorn cattle meandering down the street, slowly but surely. When the cattle made it down the street some of us ventured over to watch the historic reenactment of a shootout.

The group then split up and headed to grab food at various spots in the area, ranging from Cooper’s Bar-B-Que to the White Elephant to the highly recommended chicken fried steak, (a battered & deep fried seasoned steak) at Horseshoe Hill.

After lunch (Texas BBQ for some, the local saloon for others) the class headed to Bonds Ranch in Saginaw, an extensive ranching business with locations throughout the southern USA, which moves hundreds of thousands of head per year. With a goal of obtaining the best return on investment, Bond's purchases cattle from smaller operators and feeds them until they are sold to a finishing operation. We enjoyed a frank discussion of the industry with Pete Bonds, who chewed tobacco as he answered questions. Yes, we are really in Texas!

From Bond’s Ranch, we headed to the Mesquite Championship Rodeo. On our way, we stopped for ice cream treats for those who wanted them. First up at the rodeo was the barbecue buffet with delicious ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket and ribs.

The rodeo was about two hours of western fun, with everything from bucking broncs to steer wrestling, roping and even bull riding!

Views: 266

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Pulse Market Insight #308

Monsoon Shortfall Makes India the Market to Watch for Peas and Lentils For Canadian pea and lentil markets, no single buyer matters more in 2026/27 than India, and developments there keep pointing in a friendly direction. This year’s southwest monsoon ended roughly 15% below normal, with the shortfalls concentrated in the southern half of the country where most of the tur (pigeon pea) crop is grown. The kharif harvest is getting underway this month and poor results are widely expected. For Alberta growers, the question is how that crop damage translates into import demand for peas and lentils, and on what timeline. Because it’s a kharif crop, the tur harvest is where the damage shows up first. Prices for tur have rallied over US$230 per tonne from the early July low and now sit at their highest point since August 2024. Because green lentils are the main substitute for tur, Indian buyers are already backfilling with imports, and prices for Canadian green lentils in India are at their

How Grower Dollars Drive More Research Investment

Each year, Alberta canola farmers use their service charge dollars to support research. However, these contributions are just one piece of the bigger picture. Every season brings new challenges, from insect pressure and disease to challenging weather and rising input costs. Research helps canola growers tackle today’s issues and get ready for what’s ahead. That is why research remains a key priority for Alberta Canola. Investing in research that matters to growers Farmers often work at the leading edge, facing challenges with no playbook to follow. That is why Alberta Canola, as a farmer-led organization, sees research as a cornerstone of a competitive canola industry. Research helps identify and manage the challenges farmers face today while anticipating those that may emerge tomorrow. Whether it is managing pests, improving crop resilience, or finding ways to use inputs more efficiently, research gives growers practical tools and knowledge they can apply on their farms. In the e

Ohi Ahmed Joins Alberta Canola as Policy Analyst

We’re pleased to welcome Ohi Ahmed to Alberta Canola as our new Policy Analyst. Prior to joining Alberta Canola Producers Commission, Ohi worked at The Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy as a Policy Analyst. His work primarily focused on analyzing public policies and political affairs and their impact on the agri-food sector at the provincial and federal levels. He also has client relationship and portfolio management experience from his banking career, where he held multiple roles in corporate and retail banking. He holds degrees in Public Policy (University of Calgary), Business Administration, and International Relations (University of Dhaka). In his leisure time, Ohi enjoys playing soccer, watching F1 races, and learning about world history. He looks forward to advocating for the interests of Alberta canola producers.

Alberta Grains calls for farmer nominations for director and delegate positions

Alberta Grains regional meetings are held in regional locations across the province each year. Regional meetings are organized by each region's directors and delegates to provide farmers with information about the commission’s activities for the past year, review audited financials and help shape the future of the industry. Regional meetings are also held to conduct elections for open director and delegate positions. Check our Nominations & Elections page to see open positions in your region. These meetings are also a great opportunity for eligible producers to put forward resolutions to provide input into the commission. Each regional meeting is free to attend and pre-registration is required to claim a free hot lunch. Guest speakers are also present to share farm management tips, market insights and new agronomy research.

Updated subsoil investigation guideline for manure storage facilities

The Technical Advisory Group (TAG), a collaboration among the Government of Alberta, the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) and agricultural industry representatives, has released an updated technical guideline, Subsoil Investigations for Manure Storage Facilities and Manure Collection Areas. “Whether planning a new or expanding an existing manure storage facility or manure collection area, knowing what's beneath the surface is critical,” says Vince Murray, Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA) engineer with the Alberta government and co-chair of TAG. “Understanding site conditions informs the planning process, identifies potential challenges, supports informed decisions with facility location and design, and reduces the risk of unexpected issues later on.” While the guideline is intended primarily for qualified professionals who conduct site investigations, it can also be a valuable resource for industry advisors and consultants, as well as owners and operators of con

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service