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Smart Bolus Animal Identification: The Next Step in Cattle Traceability?
Kori Maki-Adair
Cattle producers across Canada should be watching closely as Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) tests a new way to track livestock—one that could fundamentally change how traceability is managed across Canada.
CCIA announced this research in late September. Titled: The Smart Bolus System as a potential alternative to traditional livestock identification and reporting methods, this project is exploring whether a small, ingestible device could replace or complement the familiar ear tag system for cattle.
For producers in Saskatchewan, this research could bring both opportunity and change to the way herds are identified and monitored.
A Bolus with Brains
The smart bolus—similar in size and weight to a rumen magnet—is designed to remain in the animal’s reticulum for its lifetime. Each device securely transmits encrypted data every 30 minutes to a nearby radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, covering distances up to 70 metres. The information includes:
• Location and movement,
• Eating and drinking behaviour, and
• Body temperature, all accessible to producers through a connected software app.
Unlike RFID ear tags, which have retention issues even when applied following recommended practices, a bolus is internal, providing a permanent, tamperproof identifier. The goal is a system that automatically reports animal movements and health data—a potential gamechanger as Canada prepares for more stringent traceability regulations.
Real-Time Tracking and Reporting
In CCIA’s field trials, beef calves received boluses at four, eight, or 12 weeks of age. Early findings are promising: all boluses have remained in place, and animals have shown no adverse health effects.
During animal movement tests, the system successfully tracked and reported cattle transport between locations without manual input , reducing the need for producers to submit movement reports themselves. The technology relies on small, low-cost gateways— simple devices that capture data from the boluses and send it securely to cloud storage for analysis.
According to Paul Laronde, CCIA Tag and Technology Manager, “Smart rumen bolus technology has the potential to provide a secure, lifetime identifier for cattle while automating the reporting of location and movements. This innovation could reduce the impacts of tag loss, improve data sharing across the industry and ease the administrative load of complying with pending traceability regulations.”
What It Could Mean for Saskatchewan Producers
For Saskatchewan’s beef industry—where large herds, extensive pastures, and interprovincial cattle movement are the norm—the benefits could be significant:
• No more tag loss in brush or winterfeeding areas.
• Less manual data entry when reporting to traceability systems.
• Improved disease response through accurate, real-time movement data.
• Enhanced market credibility through verified origin and traceable production.
However, this technology will also raise questions about cost, connectivity, and data management, especially in rural areas with limited Internet access. Saskatchewan producers may want to follow CCIA’s findings closely before investing, as practical implementation will depend on affordability, infrastructure, and regulatory approval.
A Step Toward Smarter Herd Management
While the smart bolus is still under evaluation, the early results suggest a future where traceability, herd health, and data collection could be seamlessly integrated. The bolus system could do more than meet regulatory requirements—it could also serve as a management tool, helping producers monitor feed intake, detect illness earlier, and optimize herd performance.
As the industry continues adapting to new traceability standards, innovations like smart bolus animal identification offer a glimpse into a more connected and efficient future for Canada’s beef sector— and Saskatchewan producers are wellpositioned to be part of that evolution. B
CCIA Tests Connected RFID Technology to Simplify Livestock Movement Reporting
Kori Maki-Adair
Good fences may make good neighbours, but in today’s livestock industry, accurate records are our first line of defence against animal diseases entering from outside our borders.
A well-built fence might keep cattle where they belong, but when those animals move—from pasture to pasture, or from one operation to another—the paperwork often becomes the real test of patience. Anyone who has spent an evening trying to match tag numbers, shipment dates, and licence plates knows that traceability recording and reporting can feel more like a chore than a safeguard.
That’s why Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) is developing a new tool that could make this process a whole lot simpler using a connected radio frequency identification (RFID) movement event scanner designed to record and submit animal movement data with the tap of a wand, automatically.
A Step Toward Easier Traceability
The project comes as part of CCIA’s broader effort to help the livestock industry prepare for upcoming amendments to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations. These proposed federal changes will soon make movement reporting mandatory for all regulated species, including beef cattle, bison, sheep, goats, and cervids.
Once the amendments are finalized and published in Canada Gazette, Part II, movement reporting will become required one year later. Producers, feedlots, and many other animal handlers will need to record and submit the following details in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) when animals change locations:
• Tag numbers of the animals,
• Premises identification (PID) for the animal’s site of origin
and destination,
• Dates of departure and arrival, and
• Conveyance identification (such as a truck’s licence plate).
While these steps are crucial for disease tracing and food safety, they also create new reporting responsibilities, especially for busy cow-calf and backgrounding operations across the Prairies, and the country.
Scan, Check, and Send
Enter CCIA’s Movement Event Scanner a customized RFID wand that connects directly to the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database through a wireless network.
Here’s how it works:
1. Before receiving a shipment, the receiver enters the shipment details (origin, date, conveyance, etc.) into the scanner.
2. Upon arrival, the device reads each animal’s RFID tag, confirming the scan visually and audibly.
3. Once the group of animals is scanned, the device compiles the data, gives the user a chance to review it, and submits everything directly to CLTS database.
The three-step process of scan, check, and send is designed to make reporting as quick as possible.
Cutting the Red Tape, Not the Corners
For Saskatchewan producers who deal with large herds, multiple pastures, or frequent shipments to feedlots and sales, the benefits could be immediate. The scanner offers:
• Less time on paperwork,
• Reduced data entry errors,
• Automatic compliance with new
reporting rules, and
• Faster tracing if disease concerns arise.
In short, it’s a smarter way to manage what’s becoming an increasingly important part of doing business in the Canadian beef industry.
CCIA Looking for Producers to Test the System
As part of the project, CCIA is inviting ranches and operations across Canada to participate in testing the prototype scanners. Saskatchewan producers interested in taking part or providing feedback are invited to contact CCIA by email at info@canadaid.ca or call 1-877-909-2333.
By participating, producers can help shape how this technology is refined for realworld ranch conditions, ensuring it works just as well in the rolling pastures as it does in the feedlots of Saskatchewan.
Building Fences for the Future
Back to that old saying: good fences make good neighbours. In today’s cattle industry, those fences are digital— made of data, not wood or wire. With innovations like the CCIA’s Movement Event Scanner, Canadian livestock producers are strengthening those digital fences that protect the herd, the marketplace, and consumer confidence alike.
With the right tools, traceability could be another part of good herd management— as natural and necessary as checking a gate on your way out of the pasture. B
For more information or to get involved in the testing phase, visit www.canadaid.ca.
From Prairie Pens to Mexican Plates
Kori Maki-Adair
On Saskatchewan’s rolling prairies, ranchers build barns for immediate shelter and to prepare for storms yet unseen. Today, Saskatchewan beef producers face a similar imperative—not from weather, but from shifting global markets. The Canada–Mexico Action Plan 2025–2028 and Minister Heath MacDonald’s recent trade mission to Mexico are creating opportunities that may well protect and expand the reach of prairie beef.
Strengthening North American Ties
On October 14, 2025, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood, the Honourable Heath MacDonald, met Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Julio Berdegué, in Mexico City to reinforce trade and cooperation in agri-food sectors, according to an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announcement on October 16th.
Practical Benefits for Saskatchewan Beef
The following day, AAFC also announced that during Minister MacDonald’s visit, Canadian beef was officially launched in 42 Costco stores across Mexico, highlighting Canada’s role as a reliable supplier of high-quality beef.
KEY BENEFITS
• New Market Access: Canadian beef is now in 42 Costco stores across Mexico, opening a major export channel for SK producers.
• Stable Trade and Regulatory Certainty: Science-based inspection and certification processes reduce barriers and ensure smoother exports.
• Integrated Supply Chains: Strengthened ties with Mexican importers and processors secure feed supply and support competitive production.
• Long-Term Growth: The Canada–Mexico Action Plan 2025–2028 positions prairie beef as a reliable, high-quality choice in a growing, 40-per- centimported Mexican food market.
The discussion was part of the broader Canada–Mexico Action Plan 2025–2028, aimed at advancing a dynamic trade agenda over the next three years, emphasizing sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity.
With Mexico’s population exceeding 130 million and approximately 40 per cent of food imported, this represents a substantial market for Saskatchewan producers, where beef is a growing category.
In 2024, Mexico ranked as the 12th largest global importer of agri-food products.
Agri-food trade between the two nations grew 50 per cent from 2018 to 2023, positioning Mexico as a critical market for Canadian agricultural. Beef, grains, oilseeds, and other animal proteins are central to this relationship, offering Saskatchewan producers a valuable export opportunity.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada October 17, 2025
The Action Plan also emphasizes sciencebased standards and inspection systems, ensuring Canadian beef meets Mexican regulatory requirements. These measures help streamline trade and provide longterm market stability— critical for producers making investment and herd expansion decisions.
Expanding Opportunities Across Sectors
While beef is a headline focus, the partnership also strengthens sectors that support Saskatchewan ranching. Since
January 2020, Canada exported 3.9 million metric tonnes of wheat ($1.5 billion CAD) and 5.9 million metric tonnes of canola seed ($4.53 billion CAD) to Mexico. Stable, high-quality feed supply ensures Saskatchewan cattle producers can maintain competitive operations and consistent production.
The Action Plan includes commitments to harmonize sanitary and phytosanitary measures, advance electronic certification, and improve integrated North American value. These initiatives reduce trade barriers, improve market certainty, and support sustainable supply chains— benefiting beef producers across the province.
Industry Engagement and Dialogue
Concurrent with the ministerial meetings, the Canada-Mexico Agribusiness Dialogue convened industry leaders from
both nations to identify practical trade opportunities and market facilitation strategies. For Saskatchewan beef producers, this ensures their perspectives are considered in shaping trade protocols, logistics, and regulatory cooperation.
Minister MacDonald also met with key Mexican importers and processors, including Grupo Trimex and Oleomex, reinforcing long-term partnerships. In their release, AAFC indicates these companies are major buyers of Canadian grains and oilseeds, which indirectly supports the beef sector by ensuring stable feed availability and input costs.
Looking Ahead: Resilience Through Trade
For Saskatchewan beef producers, the
message is clear: the Canada–Mexico partnership opens doors to a large, growing market with regulatory certainty and streamlined trade processes. By fostering innovation, sustainability, and science-based collaboration, the Action Plan positions Canadian beef as a reliable, high-quality choice for Mexican consumers.
Just as ranchers build barns to weather storms, Saskatchewan producers can safeguard operations and capitalize on new markets by staying informed and engaged. The Mexico partnership positively impacts trade while bringing resilience, opportunity, and growth for Saskatchewan’s beef industry. B
REFERENCES
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. (October 16, 2025)
Canada and Mexico strengthen agri-food cooperation under the 2025–2028 Action Plan
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. (October 17, 2025)
Minister MacDonald concludes successful outreach to Mexico https://www.canada.ca/en/ agriculture-agri-food/news/2025/10/ minister-macdonald-concludessuccessful-outreach-to-mexico.html
Status of the Bovine Tuberculosis Investigation in SK
Kori Maki-Adair
Following the detection of a bovine tuberculosis (bTB) case on November 29, 2024, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the disease in the herd where the infected animal had spent most of its life prior to slaughter. The CFIA’s investigation and testing remain ongoing.
Investigation status as of October 16, 2025
Infected herd
• One infected herd has been humanely depopulated. In addition to the index animal, there have been 27 cases confirmed in this herd to date.
• Cleaning and disinfection is underway.
• The strain found in the infected herd is not a close match to any strain previously reported in livestock or wildlife in North America.
Lifeline herds (herds traced from an infected animal in the infected herd)
• Seven herds identified with five herds released from quarantine
Trace-in herds (herds that provided animals to the infected herd)
• The CFIA is applying a modified trace-in period* to correlate with the date when the disease was most likely introduced to the infected herd.
Trace in herds
• Eleven herds identified with three herds released from quarantine or no quarantine required.
Trace-out herds (herds that received animals from the infected herd)
• 119 herds identified with 72 herds released from quarantine or no quarantine required.
Contact herds (herds that shared a fence line or may have co-mingled with the infected herd)
• The CFIA continues to identify these herds and prepare for testing.
Proximity herds (herds within 5 kilometres of the infected herd)
• Three herds identified. These herds will be tested later in the investigation. B
For additional information on the disease investigation process, visit: https://inspection.canada.ca/en/ animal-health/terrestrial-animals/ diseases/reportable/bovinetuberculosis
REFERENCES
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Status of the bovine tuberculosis investigation (2024) (October 23, 2025)
The standard period for identifying trace-in herds is the 5 years before the detection of bovine TB in an infected herd. Trace-in herds are tested so that a source of infection might be identified and eradicated.
For the Saskatchewan 2024 investigation, the CFIA is applying a modified trace-in period to correlate with the date when the disease was most likely introduced to the infected herd.
Based on several epidemiological and disease risk elements, including genomic analysis of the bacterial cultures from those animals, the CFIA will:
• Identify trace-in animals for the 15 years prior to the 2024 confirmed infection
• Prioritize testing for herds who provided trace-in animals prior to 2021
• Based on epidemiological information, complete testing for herds who provided tracein animals after 2021 once the priority testing is complete
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
New Brunswick Couple Receives Canada’s 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award
Kori Maki-Adair
At the Canadian Cattle Association’s (CCA) semi-annual general meeting in midSeptember in Lévis, Quebec, Don and Geraldine Bettle of Passekeag Holdings Inc. near Passekeag, New Brunswick, were named the 2025 recipients of the National Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA).
Presented by Mike Duguid, Co-Chair of CCA’s Environment Committee, and Lisa Miller of MNP, the award celebrates cattle producers who demonstrate exceptional care for soil, water, and wildlife. The Bettles were chosen from seven regional nominees nationwide.
For nearly 50 years, the Bettles have managed a 70-head Angus-based cow herd along the Kennebecasis River, where land, water, and livestock work in harmony. They use rotational paddock grazing, soil testing, and winter bale grazing to build soil health and productivity on marginal ground.
Partnering with Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee, they’ve conserved 300 acres of wetland, installed duck nesting boxes, and maintained natural wildlife corridors between forested areas. These efforts support hawks, swallows, beavers, otters, mink, and fish—proving that good grazing and biodiversity can go hand in hand.
“The Bettles show incredible respect for the land and demonstrate every day how Canadian beef producers support grasslands and protect homes for birds, wildlife, pollinators, and fish,” said Duguid.
Prairie Leadership in Sustainability
Saskatchewan’s Mark and Karin Elford of Elford Ranch, near Killdeer, were recognized as the province’s 2025 TESA nominees for their commitment to preserving native grasslands and using
site-specific grazing management tailored to each pasture’s needs.
Guided by their philosophy of “giving more than they take,” the Elfords balance economic viability with long-term stewardship—a mindset deeply rooted in Prairie ranching culture.
Their leadership goes beyond the gate: the Elfords are active in their community and industry, sharing practical knowledge about regenerative grazing, soil health, and sustainable ranching practices.
Recognizing Excellence Across Canada
Since its creation in 1996, the TESA program has honoured cattle producers who go above and beyond standard conservation practices. The CCA expressed appreciation to MNP, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Birds Canada, and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef for supporting this year’s awards.
Prairie Stewardship – Different Landscape, Same Commitment
While Atlantic operations like the Bettles’ focus on riparian and wetland health, Prairie ranchers face a different challenge: protecting native grasslands, some of the most endangered ecosystems in North America.
In Saskatchewan, producers like the Elfords demonstrate that responsible grazing isn’t just about managing cattle—it’s about maintaining carbon sinks, water filtration systems, and wildlife corridors that benefit the entire region.
Both approaches highlight a shared truth across Canada’s beef sector: healthy herds start with healthy land, and ranchers are often the best conservationists of all.
Movement Matters: Getting Ready for Proposed Regulatory Changes What You Need to Know About
Movement Reporting in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS)
Ashley Scott
Livestock traceability is essential for protecting animal and human health by limiting the risks and impacts of disease outbreaks, food safety concerns and natural disasters. Canada’s traceability system is built on three pillars: animal identification, premises identification and movement reporting. However, gaps currently exist, including incomplete species coverage, delayed, inconsistent or lack of movement reporting and outdated record-keeping requirements.
The federal government has proposed changes to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations to address gaps in Canada’s traceability system. Key changes include expanding regulated species to goats and cervids, requiring livestock identification, the identification and registration of premises where livestock are kept or collected, and mandatory reporting of animal movements.
Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) is committed to supporting its clients through a smooth transition as proposed regulatory changes approach. CCIA is encouraging both their current regulated species groups (beef cattle, bison and sheep) and pending regulations, cervid and goat groups to begin preparing for the incoming changes and utilizing all the tools available to them in the CLTS, which aim to help reduce the administrative burden of the incoming reporting requirements.
The agency recommends CLTS clients verify their Premises Identification numbers (PIDs) are up to date and registered through their provincial PID registry. Once federal amendments take effect, movement reporting using PIDs will become mandatory across all sectors involved in livestock handling.
The movement record function in the CLTS is now live and available for
use ahead of proposed regulatory amendments. CCIA is asking clients to begin reporting livestock movements in the CLTS and to share their feedback on the tool’s usability.
“Our goal is to create a data system that supports our clients across every stage of the livestock supply chain and helps reduce the administrative burden of our clients to meet the proposed regulatory requirements when the amendments come into effect,” said CCIA General Manager Ashley Scott. “Starting to use the movement module now and providing feedback, strengthens traceability and ensures our clients are ready when CFIA publishes the updated regulations in Canada Gazette Part II.”
What’s new in the CLTS?
To ease the reporting burden, CCIA’s new movement record module streamlines communication between producers, transporters, and destinations.
Here’s how it works:
1. The source account/premises initiates the movement record in the CLTS.
2. An email notification is sent to the transporter, who inputs relevant details—without needing login credentials.
3. Once the animals are moved, the destination site, account/receiver, confirms receipt of the animals and updates the movement record with its PID submitting it as a Move-In event in the CLTS.
This workflow simplifies the process, reduces paperwork, and ensures compliance with the incoming regulatory requirements. For more information on entering movement records in the CLTS,
visit support.canadaid.ca
Flexible reporting options for group movements
The movement record module can also be used to report group movements without tag numbers for certain operation types, such as assembly yards or auction marts. It enables collaborative reporting between producers, transporters, and recipients. This creates a live, shared record where each party enters their portion of the movement data, supporting integrated and flexible traceability workflows.
It complements other CLTS features:
• Individual movement reporting still exists and requires tag IDs.
• Users can also report movement events through batch uploads, the CLTS MOBO mobile app, or automated web services for software-integrated systems.
Group Movement Specification
• Auction marts and assembly yards are not required to report tag numbers but must include the total number of animals and species.
• Feedlots and other sites must report tag identification numbers in the Move-In event.
Working together
CCIA and national industry associations are working together to ensure industry-wide readiness. From early communication to joint system testing, the goal is to strengthen Canada’s traceability system. Producers and industry stakeholders are encouraged to update their internal systems and protocols to reflect proposed movement continued on page 14
Movement Matters
Reporting livestock movements in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) may seem like extra work today, but it makes all the difference when time matters most. Accurate digital records mean faster action during a disease outbreak and a stronger, more resilient industry. It’s not just about compliance. It’s about protecting your herd, your livelihood and the next generation that will carry your legacy forward
Movement Matters cont. from pg. 12
reporting responsibilities, take part in CCIA training sessions and workshops, and stay informed as the final regulatory text is published in Canada Gazette Part II (CGII).
Using the movement record in CLTS supports compliance, which protects animal health and producers’ livelihoods. Accurate, timely reporting improves traceability, enabling a faster response to disease events and helping reduce the risk of economic loss. By keeping livestock movements properly recorded, producers can feel confident they are safeguarding their herd, their business and their family’s well-being.
B
For more information on how to get ready for regulatory changes and explore the new movement record module, visit clts.canadaid.ca or contact CCIA’s support team at 1-877-909-2333.
CallforNominations
Dear Beef Business Readers,
We invite you to submit nominations for women who exemplify excellence, innovation, and leadership in agriculture. Whether they are livestock producers, researchers, educators, or advocates, we want to hear their stories!
Nomination Guidelines:
Eligibility: Women who are or have dedicated their time and focus to any aspect of agriculture in Canada or abroad.
Submission Details: Please email the nominee's name, contact information, a brief description of their contributions, and why you believe they deserve recognition to gm@skstockgrowers.com
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New AgriMarketing Funding Opens Global Doors for Canadian Beef and Agriculture
Kori Maki-Adair
Canada’s livestock industry has long punched above its weight on the world stage—and with new federal funding to expand agricultural exports, that reach is set to grow even stronger.
At the end of September, the Government of Canada announced it will be investing an additional $75 million over five years into the AgriMarketing Program, starting in 2026–27. The program helps producers and processors promote Canadian products abroad, open new markets, and strengthen international trade relationships.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald announced the investment during meetings in Prince Edward Island with farmers and aquaculture leaders, following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s September 2025 announcement of measures to “protect, build, and transform” Canadian industries.
“In a time of global instability, it is important that we do everything we can to create and strengthen trading relationships around the world,” said Minister MacDonald. “When our farmers, ranchers, and producers succeed, Canada succeeds.”
Building Beyond Traditional Markets
The AgriMarketing Program provides funding for market research, trade missions, branding campaigns, and exporter training—all designed to position Canada as a source of safe, sustainable, high-quality food. It has been a key tool for sectors like beef, where market access and reputation are directly tied to economic success.
With 83 percent of Canada’s agri-food exports currently going to five markets— China, Europe, Japan, Mexico, and United States—and two commodities (wheat and canola) accounting for nearly a quarter
of that trade, federal leaders say the new funding will help diversify exports and reduce dependence on any single market.
For beef producers, diversification is especially timely. Canadian beef exports topped $5 billion in 2024, with Mexico and Japan among key destinations. The AgriMarketing expansion could help push into emerging markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and beyond—regions where demand for premium, sustainably raised beef continues to grow, according to AAFC’s news release.
“This work is about opening new doors for Canadian producers, expanding into high-growth markets, and creating good jobs that support our communities and strengthen our economy,” said Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade.
Opportunities for Smaller Operations
Until now, the AgriMarketing Program primarily funded national industry associations, such as Canadian Cattle Association and Canada Beef, to lead export and branding initiatives. The federal government is now exploring ways to include small and medium-sized enterprises—a change that could benefit independent ranches, processors, and marketing co-ops looking to export value-added beef products.
That’s welcome news for Saskatchewan operations with innovative, niche, or regional products ready for international exposure. It could also support more Canadian beef branding abroad— reinforcing consumer trust in “Canada Beef” as a symbol of quality and sustainability.
Strengthening Canada’s Global Brand
With more than half of Canada’s agricultural production destined for export, trade remains the lifeblood of rural
economies from Alberta to Saskatchewan. Federal MPs say this investment helps secure that future.
“Canadian producers are critical to our nation’s food security and economic strength,” said Kent MacDonald, MP for Cardigan, PE. “This new investment will give them the tools they need to reach broader markets and remain competitive on the world stage.”
As the global appetite for protein rises, so too does the importance of programs that help Canadian beef tell its story— one built on trust, traceability, and stewardship. With this latest investment, Canada is backing its producers with the resources they need to keep growing their share of the world’s table. B
For more details on the AgriMarketing Program, visit www.agr.gc.ca
REFERENCE
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister MacDonald meets with industry to discuss AgriMarketing funding increase and expansion into new markets (September 26, 2025) https://www.canada.ca/en/ agriculture-agri-food/news/2025/09/ minister-macdonald-meets-withindustry-to-discuss-agrimarketingfunding-increase-and-expansioninto-new-markets.html
SK Legacy Honoured through 2025 Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Award
Kori Maki-Adair
At the Canadian Cattle Association’s (CCA) Semi-Annual Meeting Banquet in Lévis, Quebec, the Canadian Cattle Foundation paid tribute to one of Saskatchewan’s most respected ranching leaders by presenting the 2025 Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award to Brianna Elliot of Sundre, Alberta.
The award, presented by Lynn Grant, Foundation Vice President, and Nathan Phinney, CCA Past President, recognizes young producers who exemplify the qualities that defined the late Reg Schellenberg of Beechy, SK—humility, mentorship, collaboration, and a lifelong commitment to the cattle industry.
A Prairie Legacy of Leadership
When Reg passed away suddenly in December 2022 during his tenure as
CCA President, his loss was deeply felt across the Canadian Prairies and beyond. A respected cattleman, family man, and community leader, Reg believed in the strength of the next generation and the value of helping others succeed.
To honour his legacy, the Schellenberg family asked that donations be made through the Canadian Cattle Foundation to support the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) Program—a mentorship initiative that pairs young producers with experienced industry leaders. Through that generosity, the Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award was born, ensuring Reg’s influence continues to guide young cattle producers across the country.
“Reg had a deep belief in the power of mentorship and was dedicated to helping the next generation succeed—his leadership left a lasting mark on us all,” said Bob Lowe, Chair of the Canadian Cattle Foundation.
Prairie ranching—humility, hard work, and a deep belief that we rise by lifting others. This award keeps that spirit alive by recognizing young people who lead quietly but make a lasting impact. It’s exactly the kind of legacy Reg would have wanted—one that keeps mentorship and community at the heart of our industry,” said Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association President Jeff Yorga.
Recognizing the Next Generation
The annual award invites Canadian Cattle Young Leaders to nominate a peer who demonstrates quiet leadership, integrity, and a spirit of collaboration. From these nominees, a recipient is selected who best reflects the mentorship and stewardship that Reg championed throughout his life.
Reg’s wife, Shannon Schellenberg, shared what the recognition means to the family by saying, “It means so much to our family that Reg’s passion for the next generation and the cattle industry is being recognized in this way. Thank you to the Canadian Cattle Foundation and the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders Program for helping keep his legacy alive.”
“Reg represented the very best of
This year’s recipient, Brianna Elliot, embodies those qualities through her leadership and advocacy for sustainable beef production and youth involvement in agriculture. Along with the national honour, Elliot receives a travel bursary to attend the 2025 Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference and a custom belt buckle donated by the Schellenberg family ranch, Perrin Ranching 1996 Ltd.
Keeping the Prairie Spirit Alive
For many in Saskatchewan’s cattle community, this award is more than a tribute—it’s a living reminder of the values that built the industry: mentorship, community, and a commitment to leaving the land and people stronger for the next generation.
Those wishing to contribute to the Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award Fund or partner with the Canadian Cattle Foundation to support future beef leaders can contact foundation@cattle.ca
For more information, visit www.cattle.ca.
Minister MacDonald Reopens Doors in China
Kori Maki-Adair
Picture running a ranch where your markets are like gates along a fenceline. When the gates are open, everything flows: cattle, sales, confidence. When they’re closed, even a little, things back up fast. For Saskatchewan livestock producers, China has long been one of those big gates. This week, it looks like the hinges are moving again.
In the first few days of November, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Heath MacDonald, returned from his first official mission to China. His mission: strengthen trade relationships, improve cooperation between regulators, and make sure Canadian beef, pork, feed, and other agrifood products keep moving into one of our most important markets.
According to the federal government’s news release, China is Canada’s secondlargest customer for agri-food exports, buying nearly $10 billion worth each year. When trade gets tricky, it doesn’t just affect exporters, it ripples all the way back to livestock markets, processing plants, and farm finances. MacDonald’s trip was about reducing that uncertainty and keeping the gate open.
In Beijing, he met with the head of Chinese customs Sun Meijun, and agreed to renew the Memorandum of
Understanding between CFIA and China. They’ll also boost technical collaboration on animal and plant health and food safety, with working groups starting this month. That’s important because even small certification delays can hold up shipments and shift prices down the supply chain.
One of the mission’s most practical outcomes is the new Canadian Meat Advocacy Office in China. Backed by AgriMarketing funding and run by the Canadian Meat Council, Canadian Pork Council, and Canadian Cattle Association, this office will give exporters a full-time presence to handle market access issues, build relationships, and respond quickly to problems.
For Saskatchewan livestock producers, it’s more than symbolic. It will be a tool to help protect market share and keep business moving. It’s boots on the ground.
The trip also highlights potential opportunities for feed grain growers, with China continuing to demand high-quality barley and peas. But expanded access comes with expectations. Buyers want proof of traceability, strong animal care, and transparent food safety practices. Saskatchewan producers already lead in many areas, but staying competitive means ongoing investment in herd health,
record-keeping, and on-farm biosecurity along with the associated human resources and administrative burden.
Visits to Chinese grocery stores and restaurants showed how quickly consumer tastes are changing. Packaging, branding, and product presentation matter. Understanding what buyers want will be key to turning access into real sales.
This mission won’t instantly transform trade, but it resets the tone, strengthens relationships, and gives Canadian meat exporters new tools to succeed. For Saskatchewan producers, it’s a reminder that one of Canada’s most valuable export gates is open and getting reinforced.
As Minister MacDonald put it, “ I’m committed to keeping the conversation going and looking for ways to support our hardworking farmers and producers .” Now it’s time to see how this progress turns into real opportunities at the ranch gate. B
REFERENCE
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister MacDonald concludes first mission to China (November 3, 2025) https://www.canada.ca/en/ agriculture-agri-food/news/2025/11/ minister-macdonald-concludes-firstmission-to-china.html
CFIA Red Tape Rising: Small Ag Businesses Feeling the Pressure
Kori Maki-Adair
A new report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says the regulatory weight of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has been steadily increasing— adding costs, paperwork, and stress to small businesses, including those in the livestock sector.
According to CFIB’s CFIA Report Card: Assessing Regulatory Burden and Service Delivery ( 2025 edition), nearly three in five small business owners (i.e., 58 per cent) said CFIA-related red tape has grown since 2019. The amount of paperwork and the constant stream of regulatory updates topped the list of frustrations.
“Small business owners know the importance of food safety,” said CFIB policy analyst and report author Juliette Nicolaÿ. “They want to comply with regulations but to do that, they need clear guidance and support. SMEs should not have to hire a lawyer or a consultant
just to understand and comply with food safety rules.”
The survey found 59 per cent of small firms believe CFIA and other regulators don’t adequately consider small businesses when designing regulations, while 54 per cent feel their feedback isn’t valued. One in four respondents rated CFIA’s service as “good,” but a similar number (26 per cent) called it “poor.”
Businesses reported that digital tools often fall short, inspectors’ interpretations vary, and the time spent keeping up with regulatory change keeps climbing.
“The agency has taken some steps to address small business concerns,” Nicolaÿ said, “but much more work needs to be done—especially with Ottawa’s commitment to reduce red tape across government.”
Administrative Burden Baseline
The Administrative Burden Baseline (ABB) initiative requires departments to establish a baseline count of federal requirements in regulations and related forms that impose administrative burden on businesses.
Federal government departments and agencies have made their individual ABB counts publicly available on the Acts and Regulations pages of their websites. A consolidated list of government-wide regulatory plans and reports pages is available, where you can find each institution’s Administrative Baseline Burden Counts.
Among CFIB’s recommendations: reduce CFIA fees, simplify rules, clearly communicate regulatory changes, improve digital support, and expand the Administrative Burden Baseline to cover more policies and guidelines.
What SMEs are:
SME stands for Small and Mediumsized Enterprise. In Canada, small businesses typically have fewer than 100 employees (50 for service-based firms), while medium-sized firms have up to 499.
SMEs make up the backbone of Canada’s economy, but they are often disproportionately affected by regulatory changes.
Unlike large corporations, small operators don’t have in-house legal or compliance teams; even minor paperwork increases or inconsistent inspections can mean extra time, costs, and stress—resources they could otherwise spend on production, innovation, or expansion
For Saskatchewan livestock producers, the findings hit close to home. CFIA oversight shapes everything from livestock transport and abattoir operations to export certification—areas where compliance costs and inspection inconsistencies can ripple through margins and timelines.
The ABB count contributes to openness and transparency in reporting on regulatory administrative burden.
The Guide to the Administrative Burden Baseline, along with information on the requirements for developing, managing and reviewing regulations, are available to help departments and agencies implement this regulatory reform initiative.
Government of Canada
CFIB’s director of national affairs, Christina Santini, emphasized that the group isn’t calling for weaker safety standards. “Small businesses are proud to deliver safe, highquality Canadian food,” she said. “They’re asking for clearer and fairer rules that don’t punish them for being small.”
“We understand that CFIA has an incredibly complex job, balancing food safety, public confidence, and international trade requirements,” said Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association General Manager Chad MacPherson. “At the same time, Saskatchewan’s livestock producers are facing growing administrative pressures that take time and resources away from their core work. Clearer guidance, more consistent inspections, and better tools would help both the CFIA and producers achieve the shared goal of safe, high-quality Canadian animal protein.”
Why it matters now: As the federal
government renews its focus on competitiveness and red tape reduction, how CFIA responds could shape the operating environment for agri-food businesses for years to come.
Simplified, stable rules could mean more time on production and innovation—and less on paperwork. If the current trend continues, small operators warn the rising regulatory tide could wash out more than efficiency; it could erode confidence in how Canada balances safety with sustainability and small-business vitality. B
For more details on the AgriMarketing Program, visit www.agr.gc.ca.
REFERENCE
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Minister MacDonald meets with industry to discuss AgriMarketing funding increase and expansion into new markets (September 26, 2025) https://www.canada.ca/en/agriculture-agri-food/ news/2025/09/minister-macdonald-meets-withindustry-to-discuss-agrimarketing-funding-increaseand-expansion-into-new-markets.html
SK Livestock Industry Eyes New Animal Welfare Enforcement Framework
Kori Maki-Adair
Saskatchewan’s commitment to animal welfare is stepping into a new chapter, with potential implications for the province’s livestock producers today and well into the future. On October 31, 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture announced ongoing updates to the province’s animal welfare enforcement framework, emphasizing consistency, transparency, and alignment with evolving public expectations.
The Ministry administers the Animal Protection Act, 2018, and the accompanying Animal Protection Regulations, 2018, setting standards for both livestock and companion animals. These laws grant authority to designate enforcement agencies, establish training requirements, and oversee compliance to protect animal welfare.
Over the past three years, the province
has invested more than $6.5 million in enforcement efforts, currently carried out by Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan (APSS)—except in Regina, where the Regina Humane Society holds responsibility.
“Animal welfare is a priority for our government,” said Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison. “I am grateful for the collaboration and expertise that the APSS brought to their work in ensuring the safety and welfare of all animals in the province over the last decade.”
Earlier this year, the Ministry consulted with service providers, producer groups, and stakeholders to ensure regulations are effective, equitable, and affordable across Saskatchewan. Adjustments identified include enhanced reporting for enforcement agencies, strengthened enforcement provisions, and increased oversight of animal protection officers.
For livestock producers, these updates could have direct implications. Consistent and clearly defined enforcement standards may affect on-farm operations, record-keeping, and reporting requirements. While the goal is to protect animal welfare—a key consideration for maintaining domestic and international trade markets—livestock producers will need to stay informed and adapt practices to ensure compliance under the updated framework.
The APSS contract is set to expire on March 31, 2026. The Ministry has opened a public Request for Proposal process to select a new service provider, aiming to establish a sustainable, trade-compliant enforcement model beginning April 1, 2026. During this transition, APSS will continue providing services while the Ministry works to support a smooth handover.
For Saskatchewan livestock producers, the coming months are an opportunity to engage with the Ministry, understand new expectations, and prepare for potential changes that could influence everything from day-to-day herd management to the province’s positioning in international markets.
The Essence
Animal welfare enforcement is evolving in Saskatchewan. Producers who stay informed and proactive now will be best positioned to navigate the regulatory changes, safeguard their operations, and maintain public trust in the quality of Saskatchewan livestock and animal protein. B
REFERENCE:
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
The Government of Saskatchewan Looks to the Future of Animal Welfare in the Province https://www.saskatchewan.ca/ government/news-and-media/2025/ october/31/the-government-ofsaskatchewan-looks-to-the-future-ofanimal-welfare-in-the-province
INDUSTRY NEWS
Saskatchewan Producer Action Guide
Participate in Consultations:
The Ministry occasionally holds consultations when updating regulations. Producers can watch for announcements on the Ministry’s website or industry newsletters and provide input on proposed changes.
Join Industry Groups or Associations:
Producer organizations, like Saskatchewan Cattle Association or local beef producer groups, often serve as a conduit for member feedback. Joining these groups allows producers to influence collective responses and stay informed on regulatory changes.
Direct Contact:
Producers can contact the Ministry directly via the Media Relations or Agriculture contacts listed in the press release for questions, clarifications, or to provide feedback.
Phone: 306-519-3794
| Email: ag.media@gov.sk.ca
Training and Workshops:
Watch for Ministry-led training sessions or webinars for producers. These may cover compliance expectations, reporting requirements, and best practices under the Animal Protection Act
Review and Update On-Farm Practices:
Engagement isn’t just about dialogue—producers can demonstrate compliance and readiness by reviewing animal care practices, record-keeping, and standard operating procedures to align with the updated framework.
Stay Informed on Public Notices and RFPs:
The Ministry is opening a public Request for Proposal for animal welfare enforcement services. While producers won’t bid directly, monitoring the process can provide insights into enforcement priorities and potential shifts in service delivery.
RETAIL MEAT PRICE SURVEY
Stock GrowHER: Bridget Andrews Finds Variety in Different Aspects of the Beef Business
Jeff Gaye
Bridget Andrews’s full-time job is executive director of the Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds (SAW). Her other full-time job is helping to run the family ranch with her husband Murray and their 20-year-old son Luke.
Which naturally leaves her plenty of spare time to run Livestock Media Plus, her ag media and marketing business.
Like most producers, Bridget sees agriculture more as a way of life than merely as an occupation. The different roles are all part of it.
She grew up on a family farm near Weyburn, a mixed operation with grain crops and commercial Simmental cattle. She earned her agriculture degree at University of Saskatchewan, majoring in animal science.
She met Murray when they were both in the 4-H program. They were married in 1994 and moved to his family ranch. At that time, she was working at the Western Canada Beef plant in Moose Jaw.
“I began working as a barn supervisor buying live cattle and managing the hide room and then was promoted to managing the boning plant, which marketed beef cuts to retailers. I was 26 years old and one of the youngest beef process managers in Canada,“ Bridget says. “During these seven years, I learned a lot about the beef industry and the marketing of beef products nationally and globally.”
When Luke was born in 2006, things needed to change for their ranching operation
FORAGE
land base is native grass, and they grow grain for feed. They have exhibited cattle throughout North America and have raised multiple Horned and Polled Agribition Hereford Bull and Female Champions.
But even while working on the ranch, Bridget—a Professional Agrologist—still wanted to maintain her professional career in the agricultural environment field. This led her to the position with SAW.
“I began my career with a degree in animal science which eventually led me into the environmental field,” she said. “It’s funny how you end up where you didn’t think you were going to end up— not in a bad way, it’s just the way things
“I took the Watershed executive director position because water’s pretty dear to my heart. Obviously, if you don’t have clean, healthy water, you don’t have anything, right? Water is life. So, this passion lays
Between full-time employment with SAW and full-time responsibility with her family and the ranch, Bridget’s personal venture with Livestock Media Plus is almost her getaway. Even at that, it’s all about the
The company offers videography, graphic design, social media marketing, and live
Bridget Andrews and her son Luke (left) and husband Murray (right) on their ranch southwest of Moose Jaw, SK
sale broadcasts. Bridget runs the business with her sister, Jolene Sinclair, and two other employees.
“It’s maybe a strange thing to say but when I was in Alberta videoing cattle on the weekend, it’s my space where I get to see other producers, get to see what they’re doing, get to see really good cattle, and not think about my professional career piece,” Bridget said.
“It’s kind of a break for me, I enjoy it. I like to see people do really well marketing their cattle, and I’m glad I can be a part of that.”
The SAW job, she says, is her primary occupation. But she has a deep understanding of how that work is connected to the family ranch and the marketing enterprise.
“From working at the kill plant and the boning plant to raising beef ourselves, to looking at the marketing side and then
FEATURE
the environmental piece—I understand how decisions we make on the land impact the environment. We always try and recognize there needs to be a balance between production and the environment. We want our kids and grandkids to have passion for the land and the wildlife habitat.”
It’s all beef business, and “beef businesses are our primary source of business revenue,” Bridget said.
Some women bristle at the term “ranch wife,” preferring to be recognized as ranchers or farmers in their own right. Bridget is comfortable with it, though. She views the cattle operation as a team effort from the physical work to the decision-making.
And she says there are more opportunities for women in agriculture than ever before.
decisions. Today, we have lots of access to knowledge, which we didn’t have 30 years ago,” she said.
“Agriculture technology is changing fast, but it’s making us better at what we do. Our operations have become more efficient. So as far as women in agriculture, there’s lots of women that are decision makers and are running their own operations.
“And I would have to say to young women getting into any profession, don’t be afraid. Try new things.
“More and more you see a husband and wife working together as a team to make B
“Looking back now, I would say don’t be afraid of stepping out on the ledge. And it’s okay if it doesn’t go the way you planned. It doesn’t mean you failed, it just means that you’re going to adapt and be resilient from what you’ve learned. These learning curves make you stronger and provide you the knowledge to become successful in your personal and professional life.”
Do Pasture Values Follow Grain Land?
Why the Connection Exists and Where It Ends
Most people assume all farmland moves together. When grain land rises, pasture follows. When it drops, pasture drops. But that isn’t the full story.
Over a century of Saskatchewan land data and several U.S. studies show that while pasture and cropland do move in the same direction over time, they aren’t twins. Their connection is real, but it’s loose, delayed, and driven by different forces.
What the Research Shows
Economists Davis and Adjemian (University of Georgia, 2023) studied U.S. farmland trends and found that a oneper-cent-increase in cropland values leads to about a 0.6 to 0.8-per-cent-increase in pastureland values. In other words, cropland tends to lead, pasture follows, but at a slower pace and smaller scale.
Another long-term analysis by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that cropland values are higher in every region and usually grow faster. Pastureland lags because its income potential is smaller, less subsidized, and more weather-dependent.
So yes, there’s a link but it’s more of a shadow than a mirror. Although no specific studies have been completed in Canada, that has been our observation and experience as well.
Why It Matters Here
In Saskatchewan, cropland and pastureland are tied by both geography and economics.
When grain prices climb, farmers bid higher for every acre, and that wave pushes into mixed and pasture areas. Some grain producers seed marginal land to crops; others buy adjoining grass, not to use it, but just to control the whole block.
At the same time, higher grain prices
Tim Hammond
raise feed costs, which puts pressure on cattle margins. That tension keeps pasture values from climbing as fast as cropland.
The opposite happens during cattle upswings. When calf prices surge and feed is affordable, ranchers compete more aggressively for grass. That demand filters into land values, even if cropland prices stay flat.
Different Cycles, Shared Ground
Cropland values follow global markets for commodity prices, interest rates, and to a lesser extent, government support programs. Pasture values follow cattle cycles, forage conditions, and water. That’s why the two markets can decouple.
In 2021–22, drought reduced carrying capacity across much of the province, yet cropland prices kept climbing. Farmers still chased grain land. Cattle producers tightened herds.
A pasture’s worth isn’t found on a chart. It’s in pairs, days, grass, water, and infrastructure.
How many pairs can it support? For how many days? How efficient is it to manage and handle livestock?
Those fundamentals drive value more than global markets ever could.
What Producers Should Watch
1. Grain land direction: Big shifts in cropland still ripple into the pasture market, especially around mixed areas.
2. Cattle margins: Rising calf prices and strong demand for feed drive pasture values more than interest rates do.
3. Drought risk: Reduced grazing days cut carrying capacity and stall value growth, even in high-price years.
4. Infrastructure investment: Water, fencing, handling facilities, and access roads are the new “yield.” They’re what hold value when prices soften.
The Bottom Line
Pastureland follows grain land, but only partway, and never on the same timeline. Grain land responds to speculation; pasture responds to stewardship.
If grain land corrects, pasture may wobble but won’t necessarily fall the same way. Strong cattle prices, efficient infrastructure, and limited supply can keep it stable.
For producers, the takeaway is simple: watch the trends, but manage for resilience.
Keep improving carrying capacity, protect water, and invest in infrastructure. Those fundamentals do more to preserve value than any market cycle ever will.
Because in the end, grassland rewards management, not momentum. The land still teaches the same lesson it always has: continued care beats chasing the market.
Tim is Hammond Realty's founder, chief executive officer and broker. He focuses his energy and efforts on operations, supporting Hammond Realty's ag experts and business development.
Tim grew up on a third-generation grain farm southwest of Biggar, Saskatchewan, where his family continues to farm today.
Tim has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan with a major in economics and a minor in soils, and 11 years experience working with Farm Credit Canada.
Tim is a long-time member of the Saskatchewan institute of Agrologistsand holds his Preofessional Agrologist designation.
Agriculture is in his blood.
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Why Investors Don’t Buy Pastureland
Tim Hammond
In November 2023, I explored how pastureland could be valued based on its productive capacity, using the $10,000 per cow-calf pair benchmark as a guideline. Since then, prices have continued to move higher.
Today, many transactions fall in the $10,000 to $12,000 per pair range. Still, I hesitate to call $12,000 the new benchmark. The $10,000 figure remains a reliable baseline, while $12,000 reflects premium situations where block size, water, and location push values above the average.
So why, despite these strong values, do outside investors rarely buy pastureland? The answer is simple: pastureland doesn’t behave like a passive investment. It requires cattle, management, and risksharing, things most investors want to avoid.
1. The Return Gap
Grain land typically generates around 3.0 to 3.5 per cent annual cash rent return. Pastureland doesn’t stack up.
At today’s values of $10,000 to $12,000 per pair:
• Renting pasture at $1.50 per pair per day for 150 to 180 days yields $225 to $270 per pair.
• That equates to a 2.25 to 2.7 per
cent return at $10,000 per pair, and only 1.9 to 2.25 per cent if you paid $12,000.
For an investor, that’s a dealbreaker. Why accept more complexity and more risk for less return?
2. Reliance on Tenant Management
Grain landlords measure acres and collect rent. It is very straightforward.
Pasture landlords depend entirely on tenant management:
• How many pairs are stocked?
• For how many days?
• Is rotational grazing used or is the grass hammered?
• Who fixes fences and maintains water systems?
Without cattle on the land, there is no return. That reliance on management makes investors uncomfortable because they can’t easily verify performance.
3. Shared Risk with Tenants
In grain land, tenants shoulder the crop risk while landlords collect steady rent. In pasture, drought cuts grazing days, and rent often drops with it. Landlords share risk with tenants whether they want to or not. Investors prefer fixed income, not weather-dependent cash flow.
4. Ongoing Maintenance Costs
Pastureland demands more from the landlord:
• Fencing and cross-fencing
• Dugouts, wells, pipelines, and solar pumps
• Corrals and access
• Weed and brush control
These costs either come out of the landlord’s pocket or are negotiated with
the tenant. Either way, net returns shrink. Grain land rarely comes with the same level of ongoing maintenance.
5. Market Liquidity
Grain land has a deep buyer pool: many more grain producers and, at present, ample demand from them. That creates a highly liquid market where farmland can change hands quickly and often attracts competition from multiple bidders.
Pastureland, by contrast, has a much narrower market. Most buyers are local cattle producers, often neighbours, which limits demand.
That said, pasture can attract producers from outside the province, especially from Alberta, or those willing to relocate within Saskatchewan. But these buyers only consider pasture that is an economic size and attractive enough to justify relocation or satellite ranching. Smaller, fragmented pastures rarely bring that kind of attention.
6. Who Really Buys Pasture? Producers.
While investors shy away, cattle producers know the strategic value of pasture:
• Feed security: Owning pasture reduces exposure to $300 per ton hay in a drought.
• Operational efficiency: Pasture blocks that match liner capacity (50, 100, 150 pairs) lower costs and improve margins.
• Succession glue: Pasture provides the next generation with cows to run and a reason to stay engaged.
• Environmental capital: Wellmanaged grasslands deliver carbon storage, biodiversity, and water management benefits. Programs may soon reward producers directly for these outcomes.
What Producers Want to Know
If I’m selling: Who’s my buyer? Not investors. It’s primarily neighbours or local producers, but there is also a smaller pool of out-of-province buyers and those willing to relocate within Saskatchewan. Still, this market is limited, and competition is not as broad as with grain land.
Value hinges on infrastructure, water, fencing, and block size more than speculative demand.
If I’m buying: How do I justify $10,000 to $12,000 per pair? Think long-term: feed security, operational scale, and succession value justify paying above what “rental math” suggests.
If I’m leasing: What’s fair? Cash rent is simple but doesn’t account for drought. Animal Unit Month (AUM) leases share forage risk more equitably. Clear
agreements on fencing and water save disputes later.
If I’m planning for the future: Where do values go from here? Grain land may level off, but pastureland follows cattle economics. Strong calf prices and shrinking pasture supply suggest stable or rising values in the medium term.
Closing
Pastureland is not an investor’s asset; it’s a producer’s asset. The financial return may look weaker than grain land, but the strategic return is enormous.
For cattle producers, owning pasture is about more than a percentage yield; it’s about securing grass, protecting the herd, and keeping the next generation tied to the land.
SK Tightens Farmland Ownership Rules to Keep Soil in Local Hands
Kori Maki-Adair
Saskatchewan’s farmland has always been more than soil—it’s security, legacy,
and close a long-standing exemption for the Canada Pension Plan Investment
167,000 acres in Saskatchewan—land it has since sold. With the new amendments,
said Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association President Jeff Yorga from his family ranch near Flintoft, SK.
Still, the decision isn’t without controversy. While some producers may support the principle of local ownership, others may point out that large investors like CPPIB often injected capital into rural economies, invested in land improvement, and provided stable long-term leases for young or expanding farmers. By closing the door to such investment entirely, it is likely some may worry the province could limit financing opportunities or reduce liquidity in the land market.
Sharper Tools for Enforcement
The amendments also strengthen how the Farm Land Security Board can enforce the Act. The Board, which oversees ownership compliance, now has clearer authority to impose administrative penalties—up to $10,000 per contravention—in well-defined situations.
REAL ESTATE FEATURE
Examples include:
• Non-Canadian individuals or corporations acquiring more than 10 acres;
• Canadian-owned corporations that become non-Canadian-owned but fail to divest land over the threshold;
• Individuals purchasing land on behalf of non-Canadian owners; and
• Failure to comply with exemption conditions previously granted by the Board.
This clarification is intended to improve transparency and ensure consistent enforcement. However, some producers may be concerned about how these rules will be interpreted and enforced. With more specific grounds for penalties, even unintentional administrative errors could carry financial consequences. Others may be apprehensive about the additional oversight burden for farm corporations with complex ownership structures or interprovincial investors.
Balancing Protection and Investment
Farmland policy in Saskatchewan has always been a balancing act— protecting family farms while attracting enough investment to keep the sector competitive. The government’s approach reflects the belief that farmland is a finite and strategic asset, not purchased primarily for financial gain (a speculative commodity).
Yet, limiting access to outside capital may have unintended effects. Reduced investor participation could slow farmland value growth or reduce liquidity in some areas. This could challenge retiring farmers hoping to sell at fair market value or limit financing options for younger producers who rely on lease-to-own or partnership models.
By tightening ownership rules, it is clear the province hopes to stabilize prices and keep farmland within reach of local producers, reducing competition from continued on page 32
Smooth Handling Starts Here
Farmland Ownership Rules cont. from pg. 31
large institutional buyers who can outbid working farmers and ranchers.
“We fully support keeping farmland in Canadian hands, but we can’t ignore the need for capital in this industry. Strong policy should protect local ownership while still encouraging the kind of investment that helps producers modernize, expand, and stay competitive,” Yorga said.
Looking Ahead: New Advisory Committee to Review Framework
Just a week before the amendments were announced, the Ministry of Agriculture formed a Farm Land Ownership Advisory Committee (October 6, 2025). The committee will consult producers, landowners, and stakeholders across the province to recommend ways to strengthen the ownership framework while supporting growth and fairness.
Its findings, expected later this year, could influence how the province balances domestic ownership protections
REAL ESTATE FEATURE
with capital and development needs— particularly as farmland values remain high and new entrants face mounting financial barriers.
What It Means for Producers
For most producers, these regulatory updates will not change daily operations; however, they signal a broader policy direction: Saskatchewan intends to keep farmland ownership local and transparent.
The amendments may ease long-term concerns about speculative buying and price inflation, but they also underscore the importance of ensuring access to capital for generational renewal. As the Farm Land Ownership Advisory Committee begins its work, producers and investors alike will be watching closely to see whether future recommendations can preserve both the integrity and the financial health of Saskatchewan’s farmland market.
Ultimately, these changes aim to protect more than land. They aim to protect the future of Saskatchewan’s farm and ranching families. The challenge will be
doing so without fencing out the capital and partnerships needed to keep rural economies thriving. B
REFERENCES
Government of Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Farm Security Regulation Amendments Strengthen Ability to Enforce Act (October 14, 2025)
Whole-Farm Financial Benchmarks: Setting Goals to Make Change for a Better Tomorrow
Canadian Cow-Calf Cost of Prodution Network 2024 COP Benchmark Results
Canfax Research Services
No one starts farming or ranching with the goal of losing money. And regardless of how big or small the operation is, financial performance is a key driver determining if a farm will continue operating. During the start-up phase cash flow is king, but as an operation matures, protecting equity becomes a greater focus. Particularly, when the price cycle is low.
A 2020 survey of 131 cow-calf producers across Canada found that 79 per cent of respondents established production goals, but only 64 per cent set financial goals.1 However, a higher percentage (91 per cent) reflected on past financial performance as compared to past production performance (87 per cent) to identify areas for improvement. This suggests that although production records are more commonly used day-today, financial data plays a greater role in strategic evaluation.
Evaluating past financial performance can be hard, particularly if you are not where you want to be. The good news is that you don’t have to stay there. Ask yourself: Are you willing to learn? Are you willing to change? What we focus on expands. Taking dramatic or incremental steps towards a different cost structure or enterprise mix can be both challenging and rewarding. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks, find mentors and peers who you can talk to and who will encourage you.
Whole-Farm
There is substantial diversity within the COP Network in terms of herd size, mix
Benchmarks
of enterprises (with diversified income sources being a risk management tool used by many), and reliance on off-farm income. To create financial benchmarks, whole-farm financials were used to take a holistic approach.
Financial Benchmarks
Whole-farm profitability reflects the ability to earn revenue relative to operating costs and asset base. This is necessary for both long-term survival and potential growth or expansion. Working backwards from a financial goal of Net Income at 30 per cent of total farm revenue, this leaves 50 per cent for input costs, 10 per cent for depreciation and 10 per cent for overheads. Inputs include the direct or variable costs associated with each commodity, they go up or down depending on the size of that enterprise. Depreciation is the cost of replacing assets (e.g., machinery, buildings), at the end of their lifespan. Overheads are the ongoing business expenses that are not directly tied to producing a specific product,
but are necessary to keep the operation running (e.g., land taxes, improvements, machinery maintenance, fuel, electricity, etc.).
Why target Net Income at 30 per cent of total farm revenue? The whole-farm profitability must provide a return to assets, including land, labour and internal capital. These opportunity costs (as reported in the COP Network), are accounted for at the enterprise level, but not the whole-farm level (which reports cash and depreciation costs). This requires a profit target at the whole farm level to account for the return to assets.
Remember that benchmarks are NOT based on who is the most productive Benchmarks ARE based on who is the most profitable. Therefore, financial benchmarks come from the Top 3rd performing farms (using medium-term profits), not the average.
Net Income as a percentage of total
continued on page 34
SCIENCE AND PRODUCTION
Percentage of Total Farm Revenue? If yes, congratulations!
Setting Financial Goals
Financial Benchmark cont. from pg. 33 B
farm revenue for the bottom two-third performing farms in the COP Network was 17 per cent, indicating that on average these farms made money in 2024. However, several of the bottom performing farms were still struggling with profitability as depreciation and overheads were double that seen in the top-third farms. This showcases that there are opportunities to reduce overheads and depreciation. The higher percentage of input costs for the top-third farms was driven by the crop and retained ownership enterprises, reflecting the greater diversity of on-farm income sources.
“Your income right now is a result of your standards, it is not the industry, it is not the economy.”
2. If not, where are there deviations from the benchmarks in cost structure that present opportunities for change?
a. If your depreciation and overheads are substantially above the 10 per cent benchmark, ask: Does your farm structure justify this? Or are these nice to haves that your current farm income cannot sustain in the long run?
There is no one approach that works for all operations. When setting financial goals, producers should ask themselves:
1. How much ($$) do I need to meet my financial goals?
2. What am I producing? Calves, yearlings, breeding stock, etc.? And at what price?
3. How many head do I need to meet those financial goals?
4. Is this realistic for my operation? Do I have a plan to get there?
~ Tony Robbins
Applying Financial Benchmarks
Every farm will be different, with a specific amount and mix of resources that the operator is looking to utilize effectively. Benchmarks are not designed to put producers in a box, but to inspire them to think about their operations from a different perspective, to see opportunities to be competitive and resilient, while providing the desired financial returns.
When evaluating your whole farm financials, there are some questions you can ask:
1. Are you happy with the Net Income
b. If your input costs are substantially above the 50 per cent benchmark, ask: Does your farm structure justify this? Or are these inputs masking deeper issues or supporting productivity at levels above optimal (For more information, see Moving a cowherd towards optimum productivity: 2024 Productivity Benchmarks fact sheet: https://canfax.ca/ uploads/Analysis/CRS-FactSheets/24-4_Production_ Benchmarks.pdf )
3. If you are happy with your cost structure, is there a lack of income that could be supported by marketing? (For more information, see Build, Brand and Market Your Calf Crop: A Path to Reputation fact sheet: https://canfax.ca/uploads/Analysis/ CRS-Fact-Sheets/24-5_Marketing. pdf )
Break down the plan into manageable steps, so that it does not overwhelm you. Identify high-return changes to make first, as that will provide both cash and energy to continue. Be patient, but be confident that change can happen.
Check out the Beef Cattle Research Council’s Financial Record Keeping modules to learn more: https://www. beefresearch.ca/topics/financialrecord-keeping-level-1/
Released in July 2025, this research was conducted by Canfax Research Services in collaboration with provincial coordinators, with funding provided by the Beef Cattle Research Council.
Disclaimer / Copyright Notice: Canfax Research Services (CRS) tries to provide quality information, but we make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information. CRS does not guarantee and accepts no legal liability arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any material contained in our publications. Reproduction and/or electronic transmission of this publication, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without written consent from CRS.
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Chief Executive Officer Jason Pollock Livestock Services of Saskatchewan
What a fall we have been having in the beef industry! Record-high live cattle prices have improved attitudes at every weaning/shipping I have attended, and dominated the smiles in many of my conversations with producers.
It seems the markets have responded to the fundamentals as expected on the cash side, and that means a lot of catch up for many people who have survived through the droughts, high feed costs, land prices, undervalued animals, inflation, and otherwise difficult economic realities of this business we all love.
Much has been said about the high retail prices at the grocery stores, and I am sure some of you have done a double take at the meat counter as you peek at the price of a ribeye to grill. Sticker shock at the meat counter in the premium cut section is real, but it is like going to the car lot and only looking at a sporty little roadster rocket and not a minivan or sedan. The roadster has an unbelievable price; yet, the minivan and sedan, which will get you from A to B quite nicely, is still quite reasonable when considering inflation adjustments.
A Rancher’s Take on Prices, Profit, and the Power of a Brand
Jason Pollock
Further to this, I read an interesting statistic the other day from a recent CattleFax report on beef consumption. Many of you will have seen this as well, so bear with me as I repeat it for those who have not.
In 1980, it took 12 minutes of labour (average wage) to pay for one pound of ground beef. In 2025, that has not changed. It still takes 12 minutes of labour to pay for one pound of ground beef. This helps me understand why I look at the giant price tag on the ribeye and shake my head wondering how and why beef demand stays strong across the market.
The time-adjusted cost of our most basic product (ground beef) is stable and helps keep the market fundamentals working as they should. The reality is that the high live-cattle prices seen today still translate into a highly-nutritious consumer product that has remained affordable over the past several decades.
That statistic can be credited to many things of course, including feed efficiency, better genetics, more beef production per animal, and the tireless efforts of stakeholders throughout the value chain.
With any luck, the market fundamentals will be left alone and free from meddling by misguided external forces, but history shows that is rarely the case; so, I am enjoying every conversation I have with smiling producers.
A key downside to our business model is that expenses are mostly influenced by external stressors, and as a result, they often keep pace with, or exceed, revenue growth. This results in more zeros on the profit and loss, but consistent percentages in terms of profit margins.
This persistent trend highlights the
challenge of maintaining profitability despite high revenues, but that is fodder for another time. Also, I’m a rancher and not an economist so I better stop while I am ahead.
Getting back to the vehicle analogy used earlier, I will get to the point of my article.
As a producer, the reliance on transportation is real and having a reliable truck is critical. Over the years, my wife and I have looked at the King Ranch editions or Harley Davidson editions when considering a truck purchase. We have yet to own one of these specially-branded products, but it got me thinking about the value of a brand.
What does the brand mean when it is attached to a product? Brands are a way of identifying a product and transferring perceived and real value to the customer. The King Ranch edition is emblazoned with the brand of the actual ranch that exists and has become synonymous the highest quality offered in a Ford truck.
Whether it is or is not does not even really matter, the key is that the brand is stamped on the product and becomes part of the product. In a similar way, the brand that you put on your cattle is a statement of ownership. It is the prima facie proof of ownership provided by a brand that Livestock Services of Saskatchewan (LSS) uses within its authority to direct payment of proceeds from the sale of animals.
The brand protects the owner of the animal as more than 1.5 million animals are inspected each year in the province. If your brand is inspected, the seller requires a clearance that they own that animal. If no clearance is provided, the funds are held until ownership is verified. It is not personal; it’s simply good business. It is the value of the brand.
SCIENCE AND PRODUCTION
Each November is brand renewal season and soon the letters will be going out to the expired brand holders for both personal and corporate brands. As has been discussed in this space previously, it is critical that you consider how your brand is registered.
First, if you don’t have a brand, I would recommend you get one. With a threeweight steer calf bringing $10-12 per pound at market, I think it’s worth stamping your mark on it.
Second, if you have a brand, make sure it is registered how you need it to be now, and in the future. There are several considerations to this aspect as we see many generational transitions happening throughout the industry. Parent/child, spousal, and multi-party registrations all carry different results when the unexpected happens with a death or sudden change in party relationships.
How your brand is registered dictates how the payments flow. There is no alternative for LSS inspectors as they deliver the regulations and do their jobs.
As most of you know, the entire inspection process is backed by provincial legislation that directs the sale and movements of animals in and out of the province. LSS operates under an administrative agreement with the province that transfers the authority of the Minister of Agriculture to LSS.
LSS does not make the rules up as we bounce along the path. The rules are set into law by the government after consultation with the industry. LSS is the agency that provides the service delivery of those rules. This is a key point and one that comes up often in conversations.
LSS has authority to inspect and withhold funds or redirect funds from sales depending on the documentation behind the sale. This authority exists within the legislation. Our role is to provide high quality, effective, and efficient service to the hard-working group we call our clients. That includes you.
I will leave you to enjoy your morning coffee, make successful plans on how you will spend some of your hard-earned income in the coming year, and also give some thought to the way your brand is registered. Consider getting a brand if you don’t already have one.
Check out our website at lssc.ca for more information on all these things, including the option to sign up to the MyLivestock platform. This online and mobile phonebased tool is being developed for use by industry to manage the growing mountain of documents required in our business and make storage, management, and compliance simpler.
With your phone, you can renew your brand online, fill out manifests for
non-inspected movements, and at a future point, you will be able to use it for inspected sales/movements as we continue to roll out this platform, carefully, across the many types of services we provide.
Footnote for those that are wondering if I am driving a fancy new truck this fall, the answer is no. We opted to direct some of the aforementioned high revenues towards more practical things like a new loading chute to replace the 1960’s era collection of used bridge timbers, telephone poles, and scavenged plywood that we used one last time to ship those wonderfully high-priced steer calves this fall.
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Biosecurity at Livestock Exhibitions
Adriane Good
Winter livestock exhibitions and bull sales are a great way for livestock producers to exhibit their genetics, source new breeding stock, and enjoy the camaraderie of being with other producers. Exhibitions can be enjoyable, but it’s important to think about potential disease risks they pose to your operation.
While preventing the spread of livestock disease in large gatherings can seem challenging, there are effective ways to reduce the impact whether you are exhibiting livestock or simply visiting the barns.
One way to prevent disease spread among livestock, or from livestock to people, is to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after handling livestock. If you are handling livestock from multiple different farms, washing your hands between each operation’s animal(s) will help to prevent disease spread, especially if you are handling an animal’s face or tailhead.
Whether you are exhibiting or visiting livestock, clean boots can be a huge step towards keeping your livestock healthy at home. Cleaning your boots before visiting, avoiding stepping in manure, and cleaning your boots before returning home will prevent you from tracking anything you picked up at an exhibition into your pens.
An even better way to ensure you don’t accidentally bring something back to your herd is to have “town shoes” that you don’t ever wear into your pens—that way you don’t have to worry about forgetting to clean them before working with your livestock. Washing your clothes and
outerwear before and after attending an exhibition will also help prevent disease spread.
While exhibiting livestock does inherently possess a greater risk to biosecurity, there are some easy things you can do to help reduce your risk:
• Don’t exhibit livestock that show signs of infectious diseases, including ringworm, warts or orf (sore mouth).
• Avoid sharing feeding and watering equipment.
• Keep stalls and alleyways free of manure to reduce the chance of a passersby stepping into your stall or in manure.
• Try to minimize nose-to-nose contact with cattle from other farms.
• Ensure all your equipment is clean before the show, then clean it again after the show. If hiring a custom fitter, ensure they clean their equipment before fitting your livestock or ask them to use your equipment.
• Keep unused feed and water covered to avoid contamination.
• Prior to allowing people to handle your livestock, ask them if they have been in contact with livestock recently and/or ask them to wash or sanitize their hands first.
• Quarantine the show animals separate from the rest of the herd for
21to 30 days to avoid spreading any disease to the rest of the herd.
• Clean and disinfect your trailer once you have returned home.
• If an animal becomes sick once you return home, notify the show organizer or barn boss.
It is important to practice biosecurity when attending a livestock exhibition. While the livestock on display should be healthy, some could be in the early stages of infection without showing any signs or be immune to a pathogen they are carrying, which could lead to a disease problem on your operation in the future.
For more information about biosecurity at exhibitions or on your farm, contact your veterinarian or the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.
Adriane Good, MSc, PAg, Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Moose Jaw, SK
SCIENCE AND PRODUCTION
ACTIVE MISSING LIVESTOCK FILES
NOTE: If you have any information related to these or any missing livestock file, please contact Livestock Services of Saskatchewan or RCMP Livestock Investigator Cpl. Owen Third at 306-537-9448.
SCIENCE AND PRODUCTION
Pollinators in Peril: Why They Matter and How You Can Help
Carolyn Gaudet | Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan
Declines in pollinator populations have led to considerable interest throughout the world. More than 80 per cent of wild plants grown for food, beverages, fibres, spices, and medicine require or benefit from animal pollinators.
What is pollination?
Pollination takes place when a pollen grain moves from the anther (male part) of a flower to the stigma (female part). The pollen moves down a pollen tube, also called the style, to join with the ovules in the flower’s ovary. Pollen transfer between flowers of the same species allows ovules to be fertilized, which leads to the production of seeds and fruit. Pollen can be moved by wind and precipitation, or by animal pollinators which are attracted to flowers to drink nectar or to feed directly on the flower parts.
Many flowers have low ultraviolet reflectance that guides pollinators towards the flower’s centre, allowing nectar to be accessed more rapidly and thereby increasing the number of flowers visited by pollinators. These ultraviolet patterns can be seen by many pollinators
including bees, flies, butterflies, and birds.
Although we often think of pollination as a job that pollinators do to help create more flavourful fruits and higher yield crops, pollen is also a vital source of protein, lipids, and other nutrients for insects. Aside from benefits to humans, pollination is a win-win situation where pollinators receive nutrients and plants can reproduce.
Types of pollinators
There are thousands of species of pollinators in Canada.
Butterflies feed on nectar of various flowers, particularly flat, clustered flowers that allow easy landing. Unlike bees, butterflies do not eat pollen, so they have not developed specialized body parts, such as dense leg hairs, to collect pollen.
Moths also prefer flowers that grow in clusters and provide a landing platform, but they are mostly nocturnal and are attracted to flowers that are open in late afternoon or at night, with pale or white flowers that are very fragrant and have ample nectar production. Some moths
are active during the day and will drink nectar through a long proboscis, which they unfurl into the flower while hovering above it.
Wasps have very high-energy needs and require resources such as pollen and nectar from a variety of flowers. Wasps are generally not covered with fuzzy hairs and are much less efficient in pollinating flowers.
Beetles are thought to be among the first insects to visit flowers, with a relationship dating back to about 200 million years ago. Today, they continue to be key pollinators of many different flower types, with a preference for strongly-scented flowers with exposed anthers and stigmas.
Flies have one pair of wings and tend to be less hairy. Some flies have evolved to confuse predators by mimicking bees, with banded yellow abdomens, robust body structure, or with many hairs or bristles. Flies typically pollinate flowers that have a putrid odor like rotting meat, dung, or blood.
Birds are an important pollinator group throughout the world. However, in
Multiple pollinators on goldenrod.
Photo courtesy of Shirley Bartz
North America, hummingbirds are the most commonly known pollinator. Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers open during the day and brightly coloured in red, yellow, or orange. Hummingbirds use their long beaks and tongues to access nectar in long, tubular flowers. As they feed, their face feathers get dusted with pollen and is transported to other flowers. Hummingbirds must visit 1,000 to 2,000 flowers each day, to eat enough nectar to power the rapid beating of their hearts and wings.
The most well-known pollinators are bees. Bees come in a variety of body shapes and sizes, with more than 20,000 species worldwide. Native bee species visit the widest range of flowering plants of any pollinator group. Flowers that are visited by bees are typically full of nectar, brightly-coloured, sweetly aromatic, open in daytime, and bilaterally symmetrical.
The decline of our native bees is often overshadowed by honeybees and the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), which has been reported for more than 20 years. Honeybees, imported from Europe, are important agricultural pollinators as well as an economic venture that produces honey and wax. Honeybees are a domesticated species that can be transported to pollinate crops and are maintained through beekeeping.
As an introduced species, honeybee viability in Canada is not considered a conservation concern. The number of honeybees can present significant competition in nectar availability for native wild bees. Native bees can be better at transferring pollen than honeybees, and can support agricultural activities through pollination if suitable sources of nectar, pollen, and water are provided and their needs for suitable nesting habitat are met.
There are more than 800 native bee species in Canada, with almost 400 species living in the Canadian Prairies. Many prairie bees are solitary, nesting alone in underground burrows, in crevices, or hollow stems. Species such as bumblebees are social and live in colonies while others, such as sweat bees, live in
STEWARDSHIP
aggregations with multiple females using the same burrow where each female digs her own nesting chamber.
Regardless of whether they are colonial or solitary, native bees are vulnerable to habitat loss. Native bee populations in Canada are declining due to pesticide use, disease, climate change, and loss of habitat following land-use changes. Factors, like the loss of native grasslands and wetlands, have significantly impacted wild pollinators’ ability to find a diverse array of plants needed for food and habitat required for nesting.
How to Help
Creating habitat is the best way to increase pollinators in your area and can be done in the following ways:
• Grow native plants that are adapted to regional conditions, are drought
SSGA Meeting Notice
tolerant, and do not require pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers;
• Incorporate a range of species that provide food for pollinators from spring to fall, including host plants (milkweeds for monarchs), but avoid invasive or noxious weeds (purple loosestrife, Leafy Spurge, Baby’s Breath, etc.);
• Leave bare patches of soil, stems, and dead stalks as nesting space; and
• Avoid insecticides when possible. B
For more information, see Pollinator Partnership’s Bee Identification Guide: https://pollinatorpartnership. ca/assets/generalFiles/BeeIdentification-Guide.pdf as well as their Ecological Planting Guides: https://pollinatorpartnership.ca/en/ ecoregional-planting-guides.
Please submit meeting resolutions on or before February 4, 2026
The Dollars and Sense of SSGF Term Conservation Easements
Mindy Hockley-Anderson
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation (SSGF) is working to change the landscape both literally and economically when it comes to conservation programming. SSGF’s historic Term Conservation Easement (Term CE) program brought a new definition to flexible grassland programming and is changing the way landowners can value the ecological goods and services that their rangelands provide.
When considering a Term Conservation Easement, there are numerous factors to take into account before moving forward. For ranchers and landowners, the program needs to fit their short- and long-term goals for their operation, allowing continued use of their rangelands under easement.
From SSGF’s perspective, the conservation goal of a Term CE is to protect the natural integrity and ecological health of native grasslands, preventing destructive activities while maintaining the land as a working landscape. SSGF understands that sustainable grazing is integral to maintaining native grasslands in good condition, and the partnership between the rancher and SSGF represents the shared value in keeping grasslands healthy and resilient with responsible grazing management principles.
A Term CE comes with three restrictions: no break, no drain, and no development. Essentially, you are selling your development rights and putting a restriction on the potential land use for the length of the term easement.
It is important to note that if the land is sold while under easement, the future landowner is subject to the restrictions and conditions until the term easement expires. Because of this, you may be reducing the value of your land if you sell it while the easement is still active. This is
what SSGF seeks to compensate for in the easement payment.
Getting to the dollar value of easements, SSGF uses a fair market value approach to determine compensation, where a third-party appraisal is completed and determines the value of the land with and without an easement placed on the land. The difference between these two numbers is the value of the easement.
With a Term CE, the actual compensation will change depending on the length of the term. A longer-term easement increases the amount you will be compensated, as you are committing to protecting the grassland for a longer period of time.
SSGF also considers additional factors when determining easement value. Considerations like proximity to urban centres, areas that are at high risk of development (like annual cropping or oil and gas), and areas with identified Critical Habitat for Species at Risk, are in greater need of protection and may receive higher compensation.
Payments for Term CEs are paid out in a lump sum once the easement is signed. From the valuations SSGF has completed so far, payment for easements can range drastically depending on the term length, land value, and the other factors. It is important to note each easement valuation is entirely site specific.
This payment can be a nice boost whether you are looking to pay down debt, re-invest it, or set something aside for retirement and the next generation. While this payment can be used for many things, it can also have tax implications for that operation. It is important that the landowner consults their financial advisor to ensure this payment doesn’t put them in a risky position when tax season arrives.
Once the term of the easement is over, the landowner has the option to reassess their land value and sign another easement, which triggers another payment; or the landowner could walk away and have all the land-use restrictions lifted. At the end of the easement, SSGF is removed from the land title and the landowner once again has full flexibility to decide how their land is used.
This program structure is unique because it allows multiple landowners, and potentially generations, to benefit financially from easements. A perpetual easement structure provides payment only to the initial landowner; subsequent landowners must still abide by the restrictions and will not receive monetary compensation for the easement.
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation is continually working to deliver programs that work for Saskatchewan landowners. For many ranchers, Term CEs offer a flexible conservation option that provides financial return while maintaining ownership, grazing rights, and control of their land.
Landowners who enter into a Term Conservation Easement demonstrate a strong commitment to grassland stewardship without permanently affecting future land-use decisions, fitting well into succession planning for their operation. B
Learn more about this program at www.ssgf.ca
As Saskatchewan’s landscape changes, the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation is working alongside ranchers to preserve native grasslands and keep working lands working, today and for generations to come.
Funding for Practical Support:
Cross fencing for improved grazing management
Invasive weed control measures
Livestock water system development
Native grass seeding
Wildlife friendly fencing
Term Conservation Easements
Perpetual Conservation Easements
Whether you're planning for the future or looking to enhance your land today, SSGF offers flexible, voluntary conservation options that work with your operation, not against it.
Contact Us
www.ssgf.ca
communications@ssgf.ca
1-306-530-1385
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A REPORT FROM JEFF YORGA
PRESIDENT, SASKATCHEWAN STOCK GROWERS ASSOCIATION
President
Jeff Yorga
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association
Welcome to the November Beef Business.
First off, congratulations! The fall run is in full swing with record prices across all weight categories. Even with some unneeded market volatility, your cheque is hopefully the largest ever, so I will say again, congratulations!
With that being said, we are well aware those liner loads of calves were loaded out in a handling system built in 1974. Hopefully, this run will sustain itself for several years, allowing us all to fix our balance sheets and our handling systems at the same time!
Looking at the current heifer retention numbers; there is no indication that the rebuild has started in earnest, in Canada, or more importantly in United States. When times are tough financially, issues that caused the hardship start being addressed; and given the speed of policy makers, are often still being addressed when the good times arrive.
It is important for us to continue to push for improvements to business risk management (BRM) programing, tools to keep acres in grass, and regulatory reform at every level of government to streamline processes for our industry and allow us to be competitive long into the future. Your board at Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) is committed to doing that work, and with your feedback and
support, we will continue to advance the beef industry forward.
Mark February 6th in your 2026 calendar to join us at Dakota Dunes for SSGA’s annual Honor Scroll presentations and semi-annual general meeting. The committee is building on the success of last year, and adding in a larger event and a concert to celebrate our industry and our award winners.
A youth engagement summit is also in the works for the event, so please share the date with young operators in your network. We are better together, so the more participation we can generate, the better off our industry becomes. The facility at the Dunes is top notch and we look forward to seeing you there.
This issue of the magazine is focused on land. Talking about land ownership in some circles is a lot like talking politics… it's more fun after a few beers. With that being said, the provincial government has started a review of land ownership rules in Saskatchewan. With the goal of understanding everyone’s positions and making sure the farmland security board has the tools required to do its job, SSGA will be making comment to the committee, so please reach out with your thoughts. Your comments were influential in the previous consultation that removed pension plans from ownership, so your feedback is heard and is important to the board.
A lot of late-night discussion gets centred on the expansion of large operators. Everyone has seen consolidation, locally. At the same time, rural economies continue to shrink. Shrinking economies cause population decline; population decline causes schools and hospitals to close—which causes further population decline and more consolidation in agriculture.
I have read commentary that these large operations need employees that fill part of the population gap. While that may fill some houses, those employees tend not to interact the same way in the community as owners that support the rink, the school, and the wide variety
of fundraising efforts that communities undertake.
This organization represents every size of operation. Personally, I like to see people succeed, and when they do, I try to find out how they did it. If the playing field is level, there is opportunity for us all.
The landscape of the future is determined by the producers of today.
Recently, I had a producer stop for coffee and he was very upset that large operators have moved into the area. After over an hour of discussion, I asked him, "What are you going to do when it is time to sell your place?"
His response was to sell it to the highest bidder. Even though his concern was about the large operators moving in, he said he would be happy to sell his place to them when it was his time to cash out.
From a policy perspective, there is little that can be done (or should be done) to slow commerce. The power lies in the hands of the sellers.
While I am not advocating people accept lower offers, on behalf of the industry or their community, I am suggesting that there be tools available to keep more producers on the land, and get you paid at the same time.
Positions around land ownership can have extreme variability, depending on if you are buying or selling. Those in the twilight of their career are looking to maximize their return when selling. Those in the early stages are trying to afford to grow. This gets magnified even more in the cattle business because we haven’t had the years of profitability like commodity grain producers, whose healthy bank accounts allow for more creative approaches to retirement and succession planning.
Cattle producers may require the majority of the equity in the ranch in order to retire, which limits some of the flexibility when planning for a sale. Farm and ranch transitions have become a multi-millioncontinued on page 50
Between now and December 31st, 2025 active Members of the SSGA will receive a $1,250 Young’s Equipment Gift Card for Parts and/ or Service at any Young’s Equipment location with the purchase of any of the following new units:
- Case IH MFD Loader Tractor (60-185 HP)
- Case IH RB565 Round Baler
- NDE Vertical Mixer
- Highline BP60 series Bale Pro®
In addition to that, we will donate $250 per unit sold to the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association to support their formidable cause.
President Report cont. from pg. 48
dollar business. Consultants are happy to charge billable hours while you and your family debate the difference between what’s fair and what’s equitable.
As an industry, we need to do a better job of sharing solutions that have worked, and having this type of conversation with our friends (and maybe even our neighbours).
If you are in a difficult spot, and not sure how to proceed, reach out. Too many generational operations have disappeared because folks are afraid to have a conversation. If you need a place to start, ask yourself what you want your ranch, and by extension your industry, to look like in 25 years.
If the answer is that you want your operation to stay in the family, and you want the industry to have a lot of
CALENDAR
participants, then make that happen. If it is a variation of that, then set the wheels in motion. Don’t wait. At our place, our kids will have an opportunity to ranch, without repurchasing paid-for land. If they don’t want to or can’t, my nieces and nephews will have the opportunity; and if they don’t want to or can’t, a young person with brains and ambition will get the chance. You are only limited by your inaction. Start the planning process today.
We can’t talk about land without touching on land use. As an industry, we have lost ground on the policy front. Changes to fenceline, trespassing, weed, and big game regulations have not been to our advantage. Processes like intensive livestock operation (ILO) permits and Rural Municipalities discretionary use policies have slowed growth.
It is encouraging to see all groups (e.g., SSGA, Saskatchewan Cattle Association, Saskatchewan Association of Rural
Municipalities) coming together to acknowledge that discretionary use needs reform, and more importantly clarity of process, so that projects can be built on time. Your board at SSGA will continue to press on all these files with the provincial and municipal governments.
Once again, I would like to take a minute and thank our board of directors for their effort and input. We have a volunteer board that gives freely of their time for the benefit of the industry. Hats off to them.
We are always looking for more input and participation. Please feel free to join your local zone meetings and plan to be with us for the SSGA semi-annual on February 6th.
Until then,
Jeff
6 Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Semi-Annual General Meeting
Dakota Dunes, SK
SK
2026
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THE EXECUTIVE
Jeff Yorga
•
President Flintoft, SK Phone: 306-531-5717
Kelly Williamson
1st Vice President
Pambrun, SK Phone: 306-582-7774
Henry McCarthy
2nd Vice President Wawota, SK Phone: 306-577-8091
Garner Deobald
Past President
Hodgeville, SK Phone: 306- 677-7777
Chay Anderson
Finance Chair
Fir Mountain, SK Phone: 306-640-7087
Find email contact for the Executive Directors at skstockgrowers.com
SSGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Neil Block, Abbey, SK 306-587-7806
Gerry Delorme, Assiniboia, SK 306-640-7493
Calvin Gavelin, McCord, SK 306-478-7748
Joe Gilchrist, Maple Creek, SK 306-662-3986
Adrienne Hanson, Langbank, SK 306-421-8538
Lance Hockley, Yellowgrass, SK 306-891-8189
Gord Kozroski, Gull Lake, SK 306-672-7463
Kelly Lightfoot, Assiniboia, SK 306-642-8977
Kurtis Reid, Martensville, SK 306-220-2226
Brooks Whitney, Maple Creek, SK 306-662-7777
Chris Williamson, Mankota, SK 306-478-7036
Kelly Williamson, Pambrun, SK 306-582-7774
ZONE CHAIR DIRECTORS
Zone 1 - Henry McCarthy, Wawota, SK 306-739-2205
Zone 2 - Karen McKim, Milestone, SK 306-436-4616
Zone 3 - Larry Flaig, Assiniboia, SK 306-266-2070
Zone 4 - Brad Howe, Empress, AB 306-661-0409
Zone 5 - Aaron Huber, Lipton, SK 306-331-0097
Zone 6 - Dave McKenzie, Delisle, SK 306-493-8127
AFFILIATE DIRECTORS
Garner Deobald - SK Charolais Affiliate 306-677-2589
Gord Ell - SaskMilk Affiliate 306-535-1922
Kyron Manske - SK Simmental Affiliate 306-267-7530
Marlene Monvoisin - SK Angus Affiliate 306-648-8200
Rob O’Connor - SK Hereford Affiliate 306-550-4890
Ray Rintoul - SK Shorthorn Affiliate 306-917-7805
Gord Schroeder - SK Sheep Affiliate 306-933-5582
Trenton Vanderpost - SK Goat Breeders Affiliate
Jeff Yorga - SK Limousin Affiliate 306-531-5717
Dr. Andy Acton - Veterinary Advisor, Ogema, SK 306-459-2422
Ryan Beierbach, Whitewood, SK 306-532-4809
Garner Deobald, Hodgeville, SK 306-677-7777
Lynn Grant, Val Marie, SK 306-298-2268
Philip Lynn, Marquis, SK 306-361-9299 Karla Hicks, Mortlach, SK 306-355-2265 • AgriInvest and
Zone 7 - Darcy Moen, Kyle, SK 306-962-3944
Zone 12 - Chay Anderson, Fir Mountain, SK 306-640-7087
BEEF BELONGS.
Across the working landscapes of Saskatchewan, the wetlands and grasslands needed by wildlife are owned and sustainably managed by ranchers like you.
Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) offers farmgate conservation programs designed to support your business and stewardship efforts:
Looking to buy land? DUC Conservation Easements pay up to 40% of FMV with no restrictions on haying or grazing.
Need more forage? Take advantage of financial incentives and expert advice with DUC’s Forage Conversion Program.
Or lease land through our annual Hay Tender Program.
