The Equine Elite 4-H Club of Prince Albert, Sask., is trying to help deal with the farrier shortage while raising money for its future activities. The club will host a clinic with professional farrier Cec Bendle Oct. 24-26 at the club’s home base, Royal Ebony Stables, near Prince Albert. The clinic is intended to teach […] Read more
Stories by Allen Warren
Geothermal waterer breaks the electrical habit
Producers who have a problem with their livestock waterers icing over in the winter may have an option – the Thermo Sink Watering System. Instead of using electricity, Thermo Sink taps into heat from the earth to keep livestock water ice-free. Developed by George and David Hofer 15 years ago at the White Lake Hutterite […] Read more
Alberta seeks birthday song to mark 100th
Alberta’s 100th birthday is only two years away, and the office of community development is looking for the next Neil Young, Joni Mitchell or Gordon Lightfoot to help commemorate it. Unlike the odes to Alberta sung by those three artists, a commitment to folkie, countrified, storytelling rock is not required in this contest. Gene Zwozdesky, […] Read more
No clear answers to beef problem
KINDERSLEY, Sask. – Approximately 600 people piled into the rink in this western Saskatchewan town Sept. 18 to hear a series of speakers give their perspective on the cattle industry crisis. Some panelists said they believed the border closure is due in part to Canada’s reluctance to send troops to Iraq. Others said that insulting […] Read more
Dental check considered reliable age determinant
Scientists at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon say determining cattle’s age by looking at their teeth is a “very reliable” process. Known as dentition, the age-determining method has found itself in the spotlight since bovine spongiform encephalopathy was discovered in an Alberta cow earlier this year. Because cattle younger than 30 months […] Read more
Implement bond rises
The Farmers’ Advocate office in Edmonton is reminding agricultural producers to deal only with licensed and bonded dealers and distributors when buying farm implement equipment in Alberta. Several Alberta dealers went out of business in 2000 and left many of their financial obligations unfulfilled. At the time, dealers were required to post only a $25,000 […] Read more
International film series to fund abuse crisis line
Helping victims of abuse and creating cultural awareness are the goals of Southwest Festafilm, a fundraising project by Southwest Crisis Services in Swift Current, Sask. The group is teaming up with Toronto International Film Festival organizers to bring a series of Canadian, foreign and independent (non-Hollywood) films to the city. The Cinema Twin Theatre in […] Read more
Finding name for new apple easy as pie?
It has been described as juicy, crispy and sweet – honey sweet. It’s yellow, and about the size of a tennis ball. Its skin is thin and glossy, it’s good in salads, and it won’t get mushy when you cook it. What’s it called? Well, it’s an apple, but not just any apple. It’s a […] Read more
On deck for ag journalism revival – Editorial Notebook
Hi, I’m Allen Warren. I’m pleased to introduce myself as the Western Producer’s University of Regina school of journalism intern. In some respects, there’s no better – and no worse – time for me to be at the Western Producer. It’s a good time in that, as a student training for a career in journalism, […] Read more
Beef industry needs gov’t help: expert
Canada has too much idle protein wandering its countryside and the government has to do something about it. That’s according to Ted Bilyea, president of Maple Leaf Foods International and co-chair of the Canadian Agri-Food Marketing Council. Bilyea spoke to a Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership luncheon crowd Sept. 5 in Saskatoon about bovine spongiform […] Read more
