Hog producers who deliver to Olymel are hopeful the Red Deer plant will reopen sometime this week. The plant, which can slaughter 45,000 hogs per week when in full operation, temporarily closed Feb. 15 due to widespread worker illness from COVID-19. It had already slowed its slaughter capacity on Feb. 5 due to high worker […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Alta. budget boosts AFSC borrowing limit
The 2021-22 Alberta provincial budget announced today has $103.7 million earmarked for capital spending in agriculture and forestry. It includes $30.6 million for irrigation projects and $18.1 million for expansion of Lethbridge Exhibition Park, both announced last year, as well as $12 million for the ongoing irrigation rehabilitation program. Reflected in the budget is an […] Read more
Producers pray Alta. hog plant re-opens quickly
A reopening date for Olymel’s Red Deer hog processing plant had not been set as of Feb. 22 so plant officials and prairie hog producers are making contingency plans. Olymel announced temporary closure on Feb. 15 after a major outbreak of COVID-19 among workers. As of Feb. 21 there were 445 cases linked to the […] Read more
COVID-19 sparks changes in how vaccines are developed
Learning how to speed up work during the pandemic emergency is expected to also benefit the animal health field
The process of vaccine development in both people and livestock has been changed forever by COVID-19. The urgent push to find a vaccine has shown companies and government regulatory agencies how to speed the process. That has addressed the human emergency and is likely to be good for livestock vaccine development in the future, said […] Read more
Efforts continue on Alberta’s orphan wells
The rapid pace set by the Orphan Well Association means it cannot always wait until crops are off or conditions are ideal
Alberta’s Orphan Well Association has set itself a rapid pace in decommissioning and reclaiming oil and gas well company assets that come under its authority. There are a lot of them. Lars De Pauw, executive director of the OWA, said the association will spend $200 million this year and $217 million next year on that […] Read more
Survey puts modern spin on hunting
Alberta landowners’ views and attitudes toward hunters are being gauged through a survey by the Alberta Conservation Association. Whether owners of private land allow hunting or don’t allow hunting, the ACA wants to learn the reasons, with a view toward improving the experience for both landowners and hunters. “We know from past surveys … that […] Read more
More funds targeted to fight herbicide resistant wild oats
Objectives of the project:
A posse has been formed and funded to catch “the great grain robber,” also known as herbicide-resistant wild oats. The resistant wild oat action committee, formed in 2020, now has $196,000 at its disposal provided by the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission, Manitoba Crop Alliance and the Alberta Wheat Commission. Almost […] Read more
More chute time helps heifers
Initial studies on the benefits of acclimating heifers to handling facilities before breeding have shown promising results through better conception rates and calmer animals. Researcher Desiree Gellatly has one year of data on heifer acclimation and plans further studies to test the findings. Gellatly, the business development co-ordinator at the Olds College Technology Access Centre […] Read more
B.C. to make premises ID mandatory
British Columbia farms and ranches will have mandatory premises identification when the province implements a regulation under the B.C. Animal Health Act, which is expected in early 2022. Premises identification is designed to better equip livestock producers and rural communities for emergencies and help responders locate sites. It can also be useful in managing outbreaks […] Read more
New CEO appointed at RDAR
Alberta’s agricultural research organization will have a new chief executive officer as of March 1. Dr. Mark Redmond will replace Dr. Gerald Hauer, who has been interim CEO since April 1, 2020, when RDAR was first established. Redmond is a former associate dean at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and has held adjunct professor […] Read more
