(Image Credit: ID 44209420 © Brenda Carson Dreamstime.com)

By Cam Lee

Ag Roundup

Ag Roundup for Wednesday, Feb. 4

Feb 4, 2026 | 10:59 AM

The beef herd in the United States keeps getting smaller.

In the bi-annual report released late last week, the US Department of Agriculture reported a total of 86.2 million cattle and calves as of Jan. 1.

That’s the smallest number since 1951.

It is also 0.4 per cent lower from one year ago as beef producers sell to take advantage of high prices as well as lower feed supplies in areas affected by drought.

That signals beef prices could go higher for US consumers even after setting records last year.

Responsive measures

Some Sask. farmers to get winter elk hunting permits next year to protect land

Mar 12, 2026

Buy Now, Pay Later!

Spring 2026 Early Buy Program

Mar 09, 2026

SARM Convention

Sask RMs gather to address come concerns

Mar 06, 2026

–

Saskatchewan and Alberta’s joint application to use strychnine was denied by Health Canada.

Many farmers say alternatives to strychnine just aren’t working to control the pest’s population.

That includes James Husband, who is also reeve for the RM of Hazelwood near Kipling.

Husband says his canola and barley crops were seriously damaged by the animals last growing season.

He disagrees with the Health Canada decision, and says crop insurance payouts will grow if the ban isn’t removed.

 –

The director of the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Center has received a prestigious international award.

Dr. Curtis Pozniak was presented the Bertebos Prize by the King of Sweden during a special ceremony in Stockholm last week.

This is only the second time that the prize has been awarded to a Canadian.

The award, which is presented every second year, recognizes contributions to the interface between ecology and food production.

Pozniak is a well known wheat and durum breeder who played an important role on the international team that cracked the complex wheat genome.

He was also involved in the release of more than 20 wheat and durum varieties grown on the Prairies.