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It may not be every morning, but on a semi-routine basis, my day begins with a little pep talk. Some days it’s simply a little note to myself in my head that prods me to just stand up, walk out the door and start the morning chores. On other days, it’s more of a stern talking-to or even a desperate plea to my guardian angels.

For generations, Saskatchewan’s Touchwood Hills have been cattle country, a place where rolling grasslands, sheltering aspen bluffs and dependable water shaped ranching livelihoods and rural communities.

Sweeping job and program cuts across AAFC are reshaping Canada’s research landscape, as the Liberal government targets a 15% budget reduction across all federal departments. Seven research facilities are slated for closure.

Winter has faded in the rearview mirror, yet the summer road ahead is dogged by one unwelcome word: drought. Or, at the very least, excessive dryness. On beef ranches in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan, producers are also facing forecasts of an El Niño effect, which could worsen conditions.

Strong cattle prices don’t automatically mean strong cash flow. Many beef producers have learned the hard way that good prices can still lead to tight cash, tax surprises and rushed decisions.

Reproductive efficiency is a main driver of profitability in beef operations, as an open cow still eats and grazes but doesn’t produce a weaned calf. Herds often focus on genetics, body condition and synchronization, yet trace mineral status is a common, hard‑to‑see limiter of conception, embryo survival and calving season length.