Funding cuts for weed control have experts scrambling to find strategies for eradication, including biological controls
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, Montana — Left unchecked, weeds will flourish. That’s what they did in Glacier National Park, much to the chagrin of National Park Service biologist Dawn LaFleur. When she took over the park’s weed management program in 2000, knapweed already had a grip on many areas, especially those once disturbed by roads, construction […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Alberta PED test shows value of vigilant surveillance: expert
Alberta veterinary epidemiologist Julia Keenliside says zero is her favourite number. That is the number of porcine epidemic diarrhea cases found in Alberta pigs. On Aug. 2, ongoing surveillance testing turned up PED on a livestock trailer, causing concern that the deadly virus had arrived in Alberta. Keenliside said no pigs in the province have […] Read more
Swine network provides early info
It’s sort of like the DEW line, the distant early warning system established during the Cold War to alert North America about approaching dangers. However, this early warning system is designed to warn hog producers and others in the industry about swine health issues that might affect their operations and export trade. The Canada-West Swine […] Read more
Water infrastructure well past its prime
Milk River’s aging infrastructure that delivers water for cattle, irrigators and communities is is desperate need of repair
MILK RIVER, Alta. — The phrase can’t help but give pause to water users of the Milk River and St. Mary River on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. That phrase is “fix upon fail.” It means that when the infrastructure system fails in its task of ensuring stable water flow into the Milk River […] Read more
Visitors all eyes and ears on dairy farm tour
IRON SPRINGS, Alta. — Jane and Gerrit van Asch pulled off a feat of perfect timing Aug. 6 at their dairy farm, Van Iron Farms. During on open house that drew 430 people, one of their 319 dairy cows gave birth, much to the astonishment of several visitors. Jane van Asch acknowledged that the birth […] Read more
Cross-border effort tackles mussel problem
BROWNING, Mont./CARDSTON, Alta. — Invasive mussels no larger than a thumbnail now cost the United States $3 billion a year in infrastructure damage and lost recreational resources. Experts estimate an invasion of those same mussels in Alberta would cost $75 million a year. That is a big incentive to keep zebra and quagga mussels from […] Read more
Cattle illness warning issued
Several cattle in Alberta and Sask-atchewan have died recently from fog fever, otherwise known as bovine atypical interstitial pneumonia. The illness occurs when cattle are put into lush pasture after coming off dry pasture. The typtophan in rapidly growing pasture grasses converts in the animals’ rumen, leading to sudden onset, minimal coughing and either death […] Read more
Tour opens eyes to weed war
It was a definite sign, when fieldman Oscar Anderson from Alberta’s Municipal District of Ranchland got off the bus at the Canada–U.S. border and began pulling weeds. And that was even before he presented his passport to U.S. customs officials. Anderson muttered something derogatory about scentless chamomile, one of many invasive weeds that plague Alberta […] Read more
Richardson reduces unloading times, increases crush capacity
Planned expansion and upgrades to Richardson’s canola processing plant in Lethbridge came as welcome news for southern Alberta farmers. The company announced $120 million worth of upgrades to the plant Aug. 17. The upgrades, which are now underway, are designed to improve seed receiving and in-crease crush capacity. The plant now processes 450,000 tonnes of […] Read more
Hello weevil, goodbye houndstongue
KIMBALL PARK, Alta. — Hounds-tongue? What houndstongue? A search of this park, once rife with the invasive weed, turned up few samples. Those that were found bore evidence of damage from an insect specifically introduced to eat that particular weed. It was testament to a success story in weed biocontrol, a project spearheaded by Rosemarie […] Read more
