Figuring out how one farm’s gross margin measures up against another is not like comparing apples to apples. It’s more like com-paring soup to nuts. Standardizing accounting language, including methods of that calculation, could help farmers see how their bottom lines compare to others and then make changes accordingly. That language doesn’t exist, said David […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
New potato processing plant announced for southern Alta.
A new potato processing facility in Lethbridge, to be built by Cavendish Farms, was announced Dec. 12 at Lethbridge city hall. It is expected to create demand for an additional 9,000 acres of potatoes in southern Alberta. Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman said in a news release that the project, with an investment of at least […] Read more
Family footsteps lead back to the farm
NORTH STAR, Alta. — The children of Nora Paulovich and Bob Noble are defying what has become a common pattern for kids raised in rural areas. All three of them, Jolene, 27, Cara, 24, and Lee, 21, plan to continue farming and ranching together in the northern Alberta community where they were raised. The succession […] Read more
Dairy farmers recognized for achievement
CALGARY — Bill and John Bocock were milking cows and driving tractors by about the age of five on the family dairy farm near St. Albert, Alta. On Nov. 23, their history and expertise in Alberta’s dairy industry was officially recognized with the Dairy Industry Achievement Award from Alberta Milk. The Bococks sold their dairy […] Read more
New food retailers force rethink of how to market farm products
CALGARY — Drugstores and hardware stores in Canada now sell food products, and that puts a new slant on how farm products are marketed. At least it should, said food industry expert Peter Chapman, founder of GPS Business Solutions. Loblaws’ purchase of Shoppers Drug Mart, which expanded grocery space in that chain, and Canadian Tire’s […] Read more
Work continues on new milk marketing strategy
Setting world prices for milk protein components will put everyone on the same playing field, reducing cheap imports
CALGARY — Canadian milk producers and processors are working to implement a national ingredient strategy designed to use more skim milk product and reduce imports of protein isolates and milk protein concentrates. Albert Kamps, outgoing chair of Alberta Milk, praised the agreement reached by the parties in-volved during the Nov. 23 annual dairy conference. “This […] Read moreBeet growers see good yield, sugar content
Southern Alberta’s sugar beet harvest is complete, comprising more than 820,000 tonnes of beets and an average yield of 28.67 tonnes per acre. Processing those beets continues at the Roger’s Sugar factory in Taber, Alta., and trucking beets from the outlying piling stations is under way, said Alberta Sugar Beet Growers executive director Melody Garner-Skiba. […] Read more
Hog explosion threatens profits
The U.S. growth in production is not keeping pace with exports, and analyst warns of a price correction
CALGARY — China and the United States are both increasing hog production, and that has major implications for the Canadian pork industry, says an agricultural analyst. Brett Stuart, chief executive officer of Global AgriTrends in Denver, predicts that China will add 1.7 million tonnes of pork production next year and reduce its imports as a […] Read more
Ranchers to get compensation for TB quarantine
The cattle in quarantine cannot be sold, and Ottawa is offering financial assistance with winter feeding costs
Financial assistance will be available to help Alberta and Saskatchewan ranchers cope with expenses from having cattle in quarantine during a bovine tuberculosis investigation. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay made the commitment Nov. 24 in the House of Commons. “I am pleased to confirm that, working with the province, we are committed to compensate these […] Read more
Mobile unit helps deliver farm safety program
Ag For Life program will launch next fall and aims to deliver interactive content to rural areas across Western Canada
A mobile unit will drive home the farm safety message next year when Ag For Life launches its latest initiative. The Rural and Farm Safety Mobile Unit has been under consideration for about three years, said Ag for Life chief executive officer Luree Williamson. A $650,000 donation from Agrium, announced Nov. 16, will help get […] Read more
