Business Tools

A cow-calf operation can produce more pounds of beef without becoming more profitable. That may seem counterintuitive, but productivity and profitability are not the same thing. Increasing weaning weights, improving reproductive performance or reducing calf losses can all add revenue, but they may also require additional feed, labour, breeding, health or capital investment. The question…

New funding aims to bring promising technologies into practical use across Alberta’s agriculture, water and land sectors. Alberta is making up to $60 million available to advance technologies that improve agricultural productivity, conserve water and restore land to productive use. The new Agriculture, Water and Land Challenge, delivered through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), will support…

When Chelsey Siemens and her husband, Chris, established Black Diamond Agro 12 years ago, their focus was clear: build a commercial cow-calf herd that could produce consistent, high-quality calves. Operating in west-central Saskatchewan, they now run 300 black Angus-based cows with some Gelbvieh and Shorthorn influence. With a breeding objective centered on producing calves with…

University of Calgary researchers are using genomics and artificial intelligence to search billions of chemical compounds for new ways to control roundworms, also known as nematodes, in cattle. Supported in part by Alberta Beef Producers (ABP), the project brings together researchers from the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Faculty of Science. The…

The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) is inviting producers and industry stakeholders to participate in its Livestock Traceability Survey, which is now open. Earlier this year, CCIA established a CLTS Task Force to better understand the business needs of producers and other stakeholders who use or interact with livestock traceability and information systems. As part…

New Alberta research will test how virtual fencing performs with cow–calf pairs and yearlings under working ranch conditions. Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) is supporting trials of Halter’s virtual fencing technology led by the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. The research will examine how the collars perform…

Producers will have more time to enter or update an animal’s birth date in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) before a flag appears on the record. Effective October 1, 2026, the birth date flag threshold will increase from nine months to 12 months (365 days). The change follows industry feedback and is intended to…

Alberta cattle producers looking to add new tools for herd, feed or water monitoring can now apply for funding through the province’s On-Farm Efficiency Program. Applications opened Sept. 23. The program, delivered through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), supports technology aimed at improving resource use, reducing waste and helping producers monitor day-to-day operations….

Alberta cattle producers who missed the spring AgriStability enrolment deadline have until Oct. 1, 2026 to apply for late participation. The federal and provincial governments reopened enrolment for the 2026 program year in response to excessive moisture affecting farms and ranches. AgriStability helps producers manage large declines in farm income caused by production losses, increased…

Fall run is one of the busiest times of year for Canadian cattle producers. Before your sell your calf crop, here’s a quick refreshed on how the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off applies to your sale. The basics Every time you sell cattle in Canada, a mandatory levy or check-off is deducted which is a combination…