Atlantic Beef, Fall 2008

Full articles below plus sneak peaks! Sell yourself, sell your beef A guide to direct marketing by George Fullerton Our Belted Galloways get plenty of accolades as the prettiest cattle in the neighborhood. Often people stop along the road to photograph the "Oreo" cattle. We also like their small stature, foraging abilities, and calving ease. As well, we enjoy the marbling and the taste of the meat; our family is convinced that Galloway beef is by far the best-tasting in the world. Despite the advantages we enjoy, they. . . A long view Local beef legend still involved at 92 by Nina Linton Charlie Scranton loves to talk. And boy, does he ever have a lot to say. The Prince Edward Island beef baron has packed a lot of living into his 92 years, and that makes for one heck of a tale. His story begins in 1916, when he was the first child born in Canada, precisely at the stroke of midnight. The son of "hard-working people," Scranton's mother was a cook, his father a farmer. . . Sneak Peaks Strong prices = better fall price run? by Sean Firth The combination of good pasture conditions (lots of rain) and rising finished prices bodes well for good selling weights and prices for this fall. Cull cows continue to sell on a very strong market. This column has discussed at length the need for higher finished prices to underpin feeder prices this fall. We are seeing the result of this now in the Ontario market as feeders are trading at very strong prices. The finished price, and to some extent a softening. . . High energy costs when feeding the beef cow by John Duynisveld There is no denying the rising cost of energy in farming. Gas is expensive, diesel fuel and heating oil are expensive, and so is feed energy. To compound the high energy costs, beef feeder prices aren't particularly strong, making it important to keep costs in control. Forages are the backbone of most beef cow diets in Eastern Canada ­ either silage or hay during the winter. . . Rain, rain. . . and more rain Wet summer takes toll on Island crops by Les Halliday Following a cool wet spring, the growing season was salvaged by sunshine and exceptional growing temperatures, and as a result, most of the beef forage was harvested in good shape. Grain and corn crops really took off during the month of July; with some timely light showers they were healthy, kernels filling quickly. Unfortunately the intermittent. . . Changes at the Test Station by Bernadette Hoeg It is with a heavy heart that I sit and write this article for Atlantic Beef. The Maritime beef industry and the Maritime Beef Testing Society were dealt a great blow on Aug. 7 with the passing of Jim McInnis. Personally, I am still in a state of disbelief that this has happened. To me, Jim was a good friend and co-worker. His long and tedious work hours and. . . Strategic planning underway Maritime provinces work together to better beef industry by Patton MacDonald Like all parts of the regional industry, and many parts of the Canadian beef industry, we were saddened by the untimely passing of Jim McInnis. He was a special and unique industry leader, admired by many people. He left a legacy of solid family values and excellent business acumen and we will miss him. . . Getting ready for Fall Flavors. . . and weather by Rinnie Bradley It has been a moist summer on the Island, to say the least; in eastern Prince Edward Island, we had three weeks where in rained every day. Since then we have had a few sunny stretches but there is still significant rainfall. Even as I am writing this, it is raining enough to spoil another day of combining. I met my neighbor this morning while picking up a coffee on the way to work, and he told me he had some acres of potatoes completely underwater. Without a significant. . . The tallest corn Remembering Jim "Tex" McInnis Jim McInnis, Nappan, N.S., well-known beef farmer and dealer, born in 1964, died August 7, 2008, after losing a two-month battle with cancer. The following has been drawn from personal notes, and from Jim's obituary that appeared in the Halifax Chronicle Herald and the Amherst Daily News: Jim farmed all his life and, next to his family, that was his passion. He was born into a farming. . . Fence them out of the barley! Good gates and laneways keep cows in line by John Duynisveld Fall usually means bringing cattle in off pasture, weaning calves, and sorting cattle into groups. Cattle that have been under a managed grazing system are used to being moved on a regular basis. This is helpful in getting them home or to the corral for handling. However, even the best trained group of cattle is easier to move with well thought out fences and gates. As I write this, I've just finished summer deworming and. . . Learn to do by doing 4-H members excel at EBI 4-H Showcase For the 18th consecutive year, 4-H members from across Atlantic Canada had the opportunity to learn up-to-date dairy and beef show preparation techniques and show ring skills at the Eastern Breeders Incorporated (EBI) 4-H Showcase. The annual event was held from June 25 to June 27 at the Agridome in Truro, N.S. A total of 22 4-H senior beef members participated in this three-day event focusing on advance calf preparation. . . Financial assistance offered Improving beef herd genetics in New Brunswick by Guy LeBlanc Once again this year, the Department of Agriculture and Aquaculture will offer financial assistance for New Brunswick beef producers seeking to improve their herds. The N.B. Livestock Genetic Enhancement Initiative (NBLGEI) will be made available to help beef producers select and procure younger, genetically-superior animals. New Brunswick beef producers can receive financial assistance. . . Great season for pastures No hay or silage shortages reported It's often the case that weather patterns vary widely across the Maritimes making it impossible to offer blanket statements about snowfall or droughty conditions. Not so when it comes to talk about making hay this season: from one end to the other, a good beginning, a soggy finish. The same can't be said for Atlantic Canada, for Newfoundland has. . .

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