Latent anxiety continues to creep into farmhouses throughout the region. The Atlantic bubble has popped, and COVID-19 case numbers have multiplied across the country. The pandemic has added another layer of stress on the agricultural industry – one more economic obstacle farmers can’t control.

But there are lots of reasons for beef and sheep producers to be optimistic:

The federal government has put forward a concrete proposal to improve AgriStability by removing reference margin limits and increasing payment levels. (Chops, page 12)

Sales of local beef continue to flourish. (Breed Notes, page 51)

Beef and sheep breeders in N.L. should soon have access to three federally regulated abattoirs (page 19).

Bruce Andrews says processing plants have put in extra hours, shifts, and Saturdays to catch up on the backlog of cattle in North America. “This should help the price going forward to return to more normal patterns.” (Atlantic Market Report, page 21)

Strides have been made to develop accurate, commercially viable pregnancy and litter size tests for ewes (page 42).

Amy Higgins explains how the Maritime Beef Council (MBC) is assisting production clubs in the region (page 36); and the new MBC Beef on Dairy Production Guide provides breeders with important information to help them increase profits (page 35).

Emily Leeson introduces the Sanfords, who didn’t plan to raise sheep but wound up marketing more than 600 lambs this year (page 28).

Joan LeBlanc takes you to Point de Bute, N.B., to the Dixon’s multifaceted family farm, a three-generation operation that continues to evolve (page 38).

This issue of Atlantic Beef & Sheep also has expert advice from Les Halliday on reducing silage waste (page 17) and on frost seeding (page 25); wise words on forage nutrition and income tax deferrals from Duncan Fraser (page 49); top tips on bale grazing from John Duynisveld (page 40); and the lowdown from the North Dakota State University Extension on early pregnancy tests for cattle (page 43).

It’s not all serious business though. We’ve got some humour to brighten the dark days. Jackie Irwin Paynter describes the “joys” of winter sheep production (page 48), and Charlie Gracey recounts his abbreviated career in prognostication and why CANFAX is truly a blessing (page 26).

Laughter is essential, especially in the new normal.

All of us at ABS wish you laughter and peace of mind in the new year. And good growing weather, good markets, fair prices ....