Alberta Agriculture saw cuts of $36 million in the April 14 provincial budget, bringing the department’s total funding to $1.1 billion. Agriculture minister Oneil Carlier said that despite the reductions, agriculture emerged from the NDP’s first budget process in a stable position. “Overall, this was a fairly status quo budget for agriculture,” he said the […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Alberta Ag budget cut; gas prices to rise
Albertans were warned to expect a big red deficit number in the April 14 provincial budget. That number is $10.4 billion in 2016-17, the largest in Alberta history. Finance minister Joe Ceci gave the details on the deficit, revenue and financial plans in the legislature this afternoon, calling the NDP government’s first budget “the Alberta […] Read more
Farm’s environmental stewardship recognized
CLARESHOLM, Alta. — Cows, calves and crocuses dot the hills around VXV Farms, where Gerald and Patricia Vandervalk ranch with Gerald’s parents, Jack and Merry. Their homes are nestled in a valley formed by Lyndon Creek, which runs through part of the Porcupine Hills west of Claresholm. About half the 400-head cow herd had calved […] Read more
Company floats idea as affordable housing solution
Shipping containers are repurposed into large modular housing complexes at a fraction of normal construction costs
A shortage of affordable housing in small towns appears to be a fairly widespread problem in Alberta. The Alberta Rural Development Network has resolved to help remedy the situation. “We put out a request for expressions of interest. We were looking to see if rural communities were interested in getting affordable housing,” said ARDN executive […] Read more
Improved sainfoin takes on queen of forages
The super hero that can fight cattle bloat is dressed in pink. When seeded with alfalfa, pink-blossomed sainfoin can prevent cattle losses while also providing nutritious forage. Trouble is, the old varieties of sainfoin don’t stand up to second and third cuts and are gradually overcome by alfalfa. No sainfoin, no bloat protection. A new […] Read more
Premium needed for raising niche beef
Feedlot health expert Matt May priced beef at his local Costco store in mid-March. He found that organic hamburger was $16.66 per kilogram, which was 119.5 percent more than $7.59 per kg hamburger produced in conventional ways. May, who is the feedlot nutrition and production consultant for Feedlot Health Management Services in Okotoks, Alta., said […] Read more
Lantic Sugar shows optimism by expanding contracted acres
Alberta sugar beet growers have an additional 6,000 acres to plant this year. Lantic Sugar, which owns the sugar factory in Taber, Alta., has expanded contracted sugar beet acres to 28,000 from 22,000 acres that were grown under contract last year. Ernie Bergen Henengouwen, chair of the sugar beet growers association, said the additional acres […] Read more
Rancher’s gift used to develop town website, social media
The late Bill Long probably wasn’t a website surfer. However, the endowment fund he created in the name of his uncle and fellow Alberta rancher, Henry Stewart Varley, will this year be used to create websites and social media for all the towns and villages in Vulcan County. The $30,000 for the project was awarded […] Read more
Alberta ranch memorialized under conservancy deal
There are many in southwestern Alberta who remember the King brothers, Maurice and Harold, who built a ranch north of Lundbreck from nothing but hard work and persistence. Once met, the two men were rarely forgotten. Despite acquiring wealth and some renown, they lived frugally for most of their lives in a cabin without electricity […] Read more
Alfalfa seed growers urged to push for yield research
BROOKS, Alta. — Alberta producers are expected to grow 45,000 acres of alfalfa seed this year. That’s up from 17,600 acres 10 years ago and a sign of industry health, said Alfalfa Seed Commission past-president Darren Nikkel. Jose Arias, director of seed production for Forage Genetics International, a contractor and marketer of alfalfa seed, agreed […] Read more
