Purebred Beef Spotlight: Dec. 15, 2021
Exhibitor news
- Black Gold Simmental wrapped up a successful fall run of shows at Agribition.
- City View Simmentals is getting ready for a flurry of sales, with award-winners like City View Miss Jewel 66J available at Friday Night Lights.
- Colgan’s Cattle Company made some memories at Agribition.
- High Country Cattle Services shared video of some championship Simmentals from Mader Ranches at Agribition.
- INC Cattle Company made the case for frozen genetics ahead of its Big Chill sale.
- JS Simmentals has some ribbon-winning bulls available after a happy Farmfair, and made a purchase of its own.
- Mader Ranches is excited about being Lot 1 at the Friday Night Lights Sale.
- Rancier Farms is looking forward to Friday Night Lights with offerings like RF Americana 1148J and RF Cream Soda 1132J.
- Red Creek Simmentals highlighted a happy Farmfair and looked ahead to the Ultimate Red & Black Simmental sale.
- Schutz Cattle Co. celebrated a great showing for its shorthorns at Farmfair.
- Southpaw Cattle Company highlighted a terrific Farmfair and a joyful Agribition.
- Ty-D Livestock is looking ahead to sales season and is already gearing up for a February bull sale.
- Wallgren Farms had an awesome time at Farmfair and is looking ahead to a sale day.
Sales and shows
- Dec. 17: Friday Night Lights 10th Anniversary Simmental Sale
- Dec. 18: Checkers Simmental Sale
- Dec. 18: National Trust on Ice Semen & Embryo Sale Chapter XIV
- Dec. 18: The Big Chill Speckle Park Sale Presented by INC Cattle Company and Friends
- Dec. 18: The Angus Collection Sale – Volume IX
- Dec. 19: Superstar Charolais Sale
- Dec. 19: Fleckvieh Equation Fullblood Simmental Sale
- Dec. 19: Ultimate Red & Black XXIV Simmental Sale
- Dec. 20: Blairs. Ag Cattle Co Opportunity Knocks Sale
- Dec. 21: Plum Creek Angus Online Sale
- Dec. 21: Horn Livestock Bullnanza Online Sale
- Dec. 28: OBI Presents 1st Annual Frozen Genetics on ICE Online Sale
- Dec. 28: RJ Cattle Co./Plamp Farms Bred for Success Online Bred Heifer Sale
- Dec. 29: Spickler Ranch South Frozen Genetics Sale
- Dec. 31: New Years Resolution 10th Anniversary Sale
- Jan. 8-23: National Western Stock Show in Denver
- Jan. 14-15: Lloyd Ex Cattleman’s Call in Lloydminster
Beef news
- Research funded by Alberta Beef Producers at the University of Alberta could help ranchers customize their cattle to their pastures.
- Sandy Russell, the new CEO of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council, is eager to capitalize on the opportunity to translate genetic data into profit. “The one component that we haven’t put enough attention on within the industry is the value of genetics and how we can utilize that genetic data to really translate value throughout the chain,” she told Canadian Cattlemen.
- The Canadian Western Agribition, back after a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, was a success despite lower attendance, said CEO Chris Lane. “We had extremely high averages in our sales, and we sold genetics all around the world, as we normally do. So the business of purebred beef cattle genetics, transcends, I think, any obstacles around international travel for COVID,” he told Steinbach Online.
- Beef Australia has named Simon Irwin as its new CEO heading into Beef 2024. The former Newscorp executive said the return of international attendees was high on his agenda.
- Consumers are OK with feeding food waste to cattle, according to a survey put out by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association.
- Cattle prices are not keeping pace with increased costs, Melanie Wowk of Alberta Beef Producers told the Western Producer.
Ag news
- The National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, is planning to come back at full capacity starting Jan. 8, with more than 700,000 attendees expected and 30 countries represented.
- The North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky, wrapped up its two-week run in November with increases in entries, auction sales, and attendance.
- The New South Wales government announced $5 million for country agricultural shows, a move supported by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.
- The 2021 Agri-Trade equipment expo in Red Deer was deemed a success, with $250 million in direct equipment sales and sold-out exhibit space.
- TELUS announced a $1 million partnership with Olds College. The funding will help develop ag tech and foster the next generation of talent at the Smart Farm. The college’s purebred Red Angus herd now has 15 animals, with calves on the way.
- Olds College and the University of Saskatchewan have signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct joint research into automation and increasing the integration of digital data into agriculture. The college also signed an MOU with Bioenterprise, “Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine,” to strengthen national innovation opportunities.
- Alberta Barley passed a resolution on Dec. 10 calling for a farmer plebiscite on amalgamating with Alberta Wheat. The latter organization will consider the same resolution at its annual general meeting in January.
- Dairy farmers now face more competition and more scrutiny of production practices, said Jacques Lefebvre of the Dairy Farmers of Canada at Alberta Milk‘s annual general meeting.
- The head of Alberta Turkey Producers expects there will be enough turkeys for Christmas, though supply chain disruptions and the Omicron variant of COVID-19 make it difficult to forecast.
- A fertilizer shortage is driving prices up, but waiting until spring may leave farmers without any, said Matt Conacher of Federated Co-operatives Limited.
- Farm Credit Canada donated $100,000 to 4-H clubs across the country.
Other events
- Dec. 16: Options for Limited Feed Supplies Over Winter
- Dec. 22: Do More Ag: Talk it Out | Twitter Chat
- Jan. 11-12: Agronomy Update
- Jan. 12: BCRC Webinar: Setting Records – Calving season data collection
- Jan. 19-20: Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference
- Jan. 21: Ladies Livestock Lessons
- Jan. 21-22: Canadian Bull Congress
- Jan. 24: 2022 ABP Producer Meeting – Central
- Jan. 26: 2022 ABP Producer Meeting – Northwest
- Jan. 27: 2022 ABP Producer Meeting – Northeast
Opportunities and invitations
- AgSafe Alberta is offering the Farmers Care Level 1 Program, a free tool designed to help farmers prevent injuries. Those who complete the first level of the course before Dec. 31 will be eligible to win a $500 gift card for the UFA.
- The 2022 UFA Student Pitch Competition at Olds College kicks off with a boot camp on Jan. 8.
- The federal government has launched the AgriCommunication Initiative to better connect Canadians with the country’s farmers. It will provide up to $8 million over three years to support projects that promote consumer awareness or enhance trust. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until September 2023.
- Farm Credit Canada has increased the lifetime maximum amount it will approve for Young Farmer, Young Entrepreneur, and Starter loans to help more young producers and entrepreneurs get started.
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