Canadian cattle producers who last week welcomed the Earls restaurant reversal to a plan to source beef from Kansas said it appears that those in charge at the restaurant did not do their homework ahead of the original announcement. “Their original decision disappointed me, obviously, because to me they didn’t do their research properly,” said […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Lameness major issue in feedlots, says vet
Foot rot is the most predominant problem but a drier spring in many areas reduced the number of cases
Lameness in cattle has replaced respiratory disease as the predominant animal health issue in feedlot operations. Dr. Eugene Janzen, a professor of animal health at the University of Calgary’s veterinary medicine faculty, said a good turnout at recent meetings showed producer interest in lameness and how to treat it. “We were noticing that very little […] Read moreHealth regulation: what the law says on truck washing
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency served notice that it began to enforce Section 106 (5) of the Health of Animals regulations as of May 2. Since February 2014, trucks returning to Canada after hauling pigs to the United States were allowed to use a CFIA emergency protocol. Rather than washing trucks in the U.S., it […] Read more
Alberta releases grasshopper outlook
Latest forecast map shows several hotspots to watch, but predictions depend on weather and could change with rain or cool conditions
When the lilacs begin to bloom, check the fields for grasshoppers. It’s a matter of timing, not of direct relationship. The grasshoppers that fly early in spring, before the lilacs reveal their blossom beauty, are not the ones farmers need to worry about, says Alberta Agriculture livestock and forage specialist Grant Lastiwka. But the hoppers […] Read morePrepared rice dish under recall
A chicken rice prepared food is the subject of a recall due to potential for contamination from listeria. Ajinomoto brand Yakitori Chicken with Japanese-Style Fried Rice is being recalled by Costco Canada, which distributed it in western Canadian stores. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said that some Costco warehouse locations provided free food samples of […] Read more
Citizen weed spotters wanted
There are quite a few dirty words in the Alberta Invasive Species Council lexicon. Flowering rush. Yellow hawkweed. Spotted knapweed. Those are some choice ones, says Barry Gibbs, the council’s executive director. The council is now enlisting the public to identify invasive species in the province and help clean up the landscape, if not the […] Read more
Earls: “we’ve made a mistake”
Earls Kitchen and Bar has reversed its decision to source all its beef from Kansas and apologized to Alberta beef producers. In a statement released early today, entitled “Alberta; Earls is Listening“, Earls president Mo Jessa admitted an error. “We made a mistake when we moved away from Canadian beef,” he said in the statement. […] Read more
Landowners losing on leases
There was $1,200 missing from the lease fee cheque Verna Phippen received this year from the energy company that has leases on her land. The Pigeon Lake, Alta., landowner filed a claim with the Alberta Surface Rights Board to obtain the balance of the fee owed according to her lease agreement, but she isn’t holding […] Read more
Determine cause to curb lamb deaths
A post-mortem can help determine if starvation, birth trauma, hypothermia or a disease may be the cause
Finding one dead lamb is unfortunate. Finding two dead lambs is a concern. Three dead lambs, and the producer had better investigate. Dr. Lynn Tait, a University of Calgary veterinary instructor and co-owner of OC Flock Management, offered information on how that investigation can take place. “I’m a huge proponent that, if you have dead […] Read more
Tight supply supports price
Low interest rates are contributing to low inventories of farmland available for sale, a farm realtor contends. Ben Van Dyk of Real Estate Centre in Alberta said older farmers are choosing to rent land upon retirement because that pays more than selling it and earning interest on the banked proceeds. “They just hang on to […] Read more
