Latest News

Olds College Annual Online Auction March 19 & 20, 2025 

RDAR’s PREP program provides up to $20,000 in funding for lamb producers wanting to evaluate whether a new technology, product, or production practice is feasible on-farm.

PREP is designed to support decision making with data that advances profitability, competitiveness, and sustainability.

To read more, click here, or visit RDAR.

This virtual 4-part webinar offers producers the information to gain simple, effective social media skills to elevate their operation in 2025.  The series runs Thursdays, starting February 27 and is open to Alberta producers of all skill level.

Course Information

This program is designed to introduce small ruminant producers in Alberta to the principles and practices of rotational grazing, focusing on improving pasture health, animal productivity, and long-term sustainability. Each session includes interactive presentations, Q&A opportunities, and actionable takeaways. For more information, see poster.
 

Dates: Feb. 11, 18, 25, March 4 & 11 at 7 pm MT

Click here to register.

The intake for the 2025-2026 Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP), delivered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, will be opening soon. Applications will be accepted between January 27, 2025 and February 24, 2025. The Youth Employment and Skills Program helps support employers who hire youth (between the age of 15 and 30 inclusive) for agricultural related jobs by providing funding for 50% of wages to a maximum of $14,000 to employ one (1) employee.

For more information, click here, or visit the AAFC website at Youth Employment and Skills Program.

The Targeted Grazing Course is now accepting registrations!  This online course includes information on grazing principles, grazing tame and native forages, stockmanship and animal welfare, and building a business plan.  Delve into information on unique grazing opportunities such as cutblocks, urban areas, solar sites, forested areas and for weed management. The next course session starts January 29.  Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more info.  

For more information on course content, please view the Course Outline.

Producers - this is your chance to connect your veterinarian with an opportunity to expand their knowledge in your industry!

The Small Flock Sheep & Goat Course webinar series is intended for Canadian veterinarians and veterinary professionals and will assist the mixed animal veterinarian and veterinary staff in understanding the normal production cycles of sheep and goats, how to perform a clinical examination of individual animals as well as the flock and understand the common diseases and conditions that affect these species, their proper diagnosis, and control measures. Important and common zoonotic diseases and how to protect their clients will also be covered. Specific welfare issues, e.g., euthanasia, disbudding, tail-docking and castration, will be also included. 

Click here for details and share the information with your veterianarian!

 Ontario Sheep Farmers if offering a Master Shepherd's Course (Professional Development), which is set to begin in January14, 2025.

 If you or a fellow sheep farmer could benefit from this comprehensive program, we encourage you to apply and share the course details.

https://www.ontariosheep.org/master-shepherds-course

Canadian Sheep Identification Program Fees Increasing Today
Ottawa, ON (February 3, 2020) – Effective today, Canadian Sheep Identification Program (CSIP) approved Shearwell tags are subject to program fee increases originally noted in the January 4, 2019, press release.

Read the full press release 

On June 21,  a positive classical scrapie result was confirmed by a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) laboratory on a sheep from a farm in central Alberta.   The sheep was tested due to clinical signs consistent with scrapie. As the scrapie positive sheep lived on multiple premises, a second flock in Alberta has been quarantined and disease control procedures required for classical scrapie have been implemented for both flocks.   

On July 26, the CFIA released the following details regarding the ongoing investigation: