For five decades, the Maritime Beef Testing Society Breeding Stock Sale has been a sign of spring. For 50 years – minus the COVID-19 hiccup – the test station in Nappan, N.S., has thrown open its doors and welcomed cattle producers from the Atlantic provinces and beyond.

It’s a ritual. Every April, farmers congregate at the bull sale and exchange news and opinions with friends and colleagues. They discuss everything under the sun (especially what the government is doing wrong) and examine the latest crop of potential herd sires and heifers.

Matt Jones talks with breeders about the Maritime Beef Test Station’s history and importance and how it has benefited the beef industry in the region (page 24).

The Maritime Beef Council is working with both levels of government to introduce a beef price insurance program for Maritime producers. While the program would not insure market prices, it would be “extremely responsive to drops in the market,” and put regional producers on a more equal footing with their counterparts across the country (Ribs, page 9).

Learning the techniques to keep a sheep comfortable so it doesn’t struggle is probably one of the most crucial components of shearing, Peter Kozier tells Emily Leeson on page 28. The shepherd, who can shear between 100 and 200 sheep a day, talks about the traditional skill he continues to hone.

Bill McCutcheon of Ontario Lamb Marketing Inc. had a warning about lamb prices and some advice for attendees of the Second Annual Sheep Industry Conference, Dan Woolley reports on page 37.

Rhonda McCarron, who has 20 years of experience selling lamb and wool at the Antigonish Farmers’ Market, shared her marketing wisdom with sheep conference delegates (page 36).

Dan also writes about Marshcrest Farms, Beverly Palmeter and Donald Cluney’s operation, which was selected as the 2022 SPANS Producer of the Year (page 31).

The way you feed and raise your own replacement heifers or ewe lambs can have consequences that affect their lifetime productivity and reproductive performance, says Duncan Fraser. His recommendations, on page 41, will ensure that young females grow but don’t get too fat.

With a grazing stick, Les Halliday invites you on a walk through a pasture. On page 21, he points out the knowledge that can be gleaned about soil health, fertility, beneficial forage species, and entomology, and the decisions that can then be made to improve grazing practices to fit your seasonal goals.

ABS extends its congratulations to the Maritime Beef Testing Society on the golden anniversary of the test station sale, and wishes a productive spring for beef and sheep farmers, and all our readers.