Canada

How rising temperatures are affecting dairy cow fertility in Canada

gdodd@uoguelph.ca — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Researchers across the University of Guelph, Lactanet and Semex are investigating how heat stress impacts fertility in Canadian dairy cattle, helping producers better manage reproduction as climate conditions continue to shift. Fertility losses can increase days open, reduce lifetime milk production and raise herd replacement costs.

CUSMA revision: What potential changes mean for dairy producers

vincent.cloutier@bnc.ca — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The year 2026 will be marked by the revision of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) (or a renegotiation, who knows?) – a loud saga that will, among other things, focus on supply management. This situation requires a step back and even a deep breath: The process will be winding, bumpy and worrying.

Birchbrook Farms: Saving labour, raising kids in new barn

matti@agproud.com — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Building a new barn is not a quick venture. Years of research, life experience and dreams play into the move to build. For Nathan and Amy Yantzi of Tavistock, Ontario, they hoped to construct a barn that allowed their young family to participate in the dairy farming lifestyle and allowed for some time away from the cows.

5 strategies that make a dairy profitable today

henryverhoog@grandvalley.com — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Over my 38-plus years servicing dairy farms in southwest Ontario, I have always been intrigued by what strategies make some dairy farms more profitable than others. For the fiscal year 2025, I came to the conclusion that five main factors really stood out.

Dairy Farmers of Canada: Dairy consumption trends: What to expect in 2026?

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

To start the new year, Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC)’s Policy team examined trends from the Canadian dairy marketplace in 2025 to offer insights for the coming months.

Dairy milk testers’ strike continues in B.C.

karen@agproud.com — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:46:44 -0500

It’s been three weeks since dairy milk testers in British Columbia went on strike, and no progress has been made.

Progressive Publishing seeks remote summer intern for Canadian publications

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Agricultural students with training in journalism or communications are invited to apply for Progressive Publishing's 2026 editorial internship program. The deadline for application consideration is Jan. 30, 2026.

An outlook on trade and the domestic economy for dairy farm profitability

karen@agproud.com — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Uncertainty has loomed over Canada’s economy for the better part of the year. Graeme Crosbie, a senior economist at Farm Credit Canada (FCC), discussed the dairy industry’s trade environment and provide an update on the current economy.

For the love of cows: Lynmark Farms

matti@agproud.com — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Many of us in the dairy industry endure the late nights, early mornings, less-than-ideal weather circumstances, faulty equipment and other inconveniences for one reason – the love of cows. The same certainly could be said for Tim Shearer and Irene Vietinghoff of Lynmark Farms, who earned the third-ever Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society (CMSS) Master Breeder award in 2025.

DairyAir Canada: Methane, satellites and the app that could change everything for Canadian dairy

sureshraja@dal.ca — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In a field outside Truro, Nova Scotia, a Holstein flicks her tail in the sunlight. The barn is quiet. The air smells of hay, damp earth and purpose. Above her, far above, three satellites glide invisibly across the sky. Together, they are measuring something that cannot be seen or smelled but is at the heart of the future of Canadian agriculture: methane.

Young dairy farmer paves his own path to ownership: El Shaddai Dairies

matti@agproud.com — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

South of Edmonton, Alberta, in Leduc County, Dieter Gagelmans works to fulfill his dream of owning his own dairy farm. His story is one of hard work and dedication, not unlike others in the industry, though his differs slightly from most.

2025 State of Dairy: Trade uncertainty, market growth on the minds of Canadian producers

matti@agproud.com — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

From the Maritimes to the Prairies and the mountains of the West Coast, dairy producers across the country face their own unique challenges from year to year. Progressive Dairy talked with producers and professionals in several provinces to learn about the challenges, triumphs and opportunities found within 2025 thus far.

Trade war hits U.S. beef with 135% Chinese tariff

david@agproud.com — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 16:00:00 -0400

American markets and industries are watching closely to see just how long President Donald Trump’s current trade war will last, with the biggest attraction being the standoff against China.

An open mind keeps ten Brummelhuis Dairy innovating

matti@agproud.com — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The colour “mocha” isn’t one used to describe dairy cattle very often, but it’s one of the many coat colours you might see at ten Brummelhuis Dairy in Olds, Alberta. In addition to crossbreeding, the farm embraces regenerative agriculture and produces milk organically.

Making leukosis management easier than you think

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Bovine leukosis is a persistent and incurable disease affecting the health, productivity and profitability of dairies. It is caused by the bovine leukemia virus (BLV), which primarily infects lymphocytes, the immune cells responsible for antibody production and combatting viral disease. Read about a project to validate different BLV test options and strategies.

Using livestock to improve the soil: Manitoba’s Hodgins Farm

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Lisa and Cameron Hodgins own and operate Hodgins Farm near Lenore, Manitoba, and direct market some of their beef, pork, chickens and honey. The cattle operation consists of a commercial cow-calf herd of approximately 125 largely Angus-influenced cows, as well as maintaining approximately 250 grazing yearlings as stockers.

Tariffs loom over cattle industry

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The tariffs on beef proposed by President Donald Trump have added volatility and uncertainty to the beef industry. While the national beef herd is at its smallest size in over 50 years, demand for beef is good and prices are regularly breaking record highs. Enter the tariffs.

Dairy Farmers of Canada: Highlights from DFC's 2025 Annual Dairy Policy Conference

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

At the Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) 2025 Annual Dairy Policy Conference (ADPC) in February, farmers, industry stakeholders and a wide range of engaged delegates gathered in Ottawa around the theme “Dairy in Times of Change.”

Progressive Events: Innovation and sustainability on the farm: A partnership for the future

lora@agproud.com — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

Sustainable farming has never been more important. Not only can prioritizing sustainability be beneficial to the environment and public perception, but also to your long-term success and the bottom line. Read how three Ontario dairy producers are implementing sustainable measures on their farms.

Tariffs on Canadian, Mexican goods paused

tyrell@agproud.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

President Donald Trump on March 6 signed executive orders announcing another 30-day postponement of implementation of across-the-board 25% tariffs on goods entering the United States from Mexico and Canada. All products covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) of 2020 are exempt from the new tariff until at least April 2.

Dairy Farmers of Canada: The Blue Cow logo: Helping Canadians choose Canadian

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Across the country, Canadians have been united in their mission to put more local food on their tables. They’re looking for easy ways to tell whether their favourite products are made in Canada.

Blueberries and cheese: Serene Lea Farms diversifies operations

matti@agproud.com — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

After building a state-of-the-art blueberry processing facility, Breanne Stobbe made her husband, AJ, promise that they wouldn’t undertake another large project for at least one year. As fate would have it, the opportunity to purchase a cheese processing facility would arise one month after the ultimatum was given, and together, they couldn’t say no.

Where’s your bull? GPS technology offers insight into bull location and breeding activity

susan.markus@lakelandcollege.ca — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Pasture-checking cattle during the breeding season isn’t much fun when we can’t find the bulls. So, a research team from Lakeland College investigated direct-to-satellite monitoring of cattle on pasture using GPS eartags to locate and monitor bull breeding.

How the transition period influences the longevity of dairy cows

matt_groen@cargill.com — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Managing cows correctly during the transition period is one of the most important factors for overall farm success. During the transition period, nutrient requirements change to support fetal growth, colostrogenesis and the onset of lactation following parturition.

Broad horizons: The industry-shaping career of Kee Jim

tyrell@agproud.com — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

When Kee Jim talks, people in the cattle world listen. He has spent a decades-long career refuting the notion that a jack of all trades is the master of none, offering his extensive expertise to help feedlot operators become as efficient and profitable as possible.

Mapping methane from the sky: How satellites and AI are transforming dairy's path to net zero

sureshraja@dal.ca — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

By combining satellite-based methane data with AI-driven insights, we empower producers to identify emission hotspots, implement best-fit solutions and verify their impact.

Benchmarking the nutritional strategies used on Canadian automated milking farms

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

There has been much variation in the dairy industry in how nutritional management occurs on automated milking system farms. In a recent large benchmarking study of automated milking system farms from across Canada, we aimed to quantify that variation, describing the diets fed on those farms and also detecting associations of nutritional practices with productive metrics from those farms.

Trump agrees to 30-day halt on Canada, Mexico tariffs

david@agproud.com — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

President Donald Trump signed on Monday a 30-day pause to the implantation of 25% tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada. Trump initiated the plan on Feb. 1 as a way to push for more action by both countries to halt illegal immigration and drug traffic into the U.S.

Chris-Adie Holsteins: Staying cow-oriented while looking to the future

matti@agproud.com — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In a conversation with Matthew and Mike Flaman of Chris-Adie Holsteins, it’s obvious that their cows are top priority. Terms like “cow flow” and “cow comfort” pepper their descriptions of the operation. With an average of 38-40 litres of milk per day, the Holsteins of Chris-Adie are well cared for.

Feedlot management strategies to combat winter weather

jsperber2@unl.edu — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

The winter months and routinely low air temperatures present unique challenges for feedlot cattle, particularly in terms of maintaining health and productivity. Cold temperatures, fluctuating weather conditions and increased feed requirements can induce stress in cattle and result in health complications.