Barb Glen

Barb Glen

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Barb Glen is the livestock editor for The Western Producer and also manages the newsroom. She grew up in southern Alberta on a mixed-operation farm where her family raised cattle and produced grain.

Stories by Barb Glen

Beef will ride protein wave, says food prof
Livestock Management

Beef will ride protein wave, says food prof

Beef remains the world’s premium meat protein but there’s also “a clear and present danger” on its plate, says a renowned professor and speaker on global food issues. Dr. David Hughes told participants in the virtual Canadian Beef Industry Conference Aug. 11 that the beef sector must respond to criticisms about its environmental footprint and […] Read more
Canadian food supply chains held firm during most of the pandemic, with only a few temporary shortages. Those in the industry say that could be a wake up call for consumers to appreciate food sources to a greater degree. | Getty Images
Livestock Management

Virus led to food challenges

McDonald’s Canada was among the food services deemed essential during the COVID-19 crisis and unlike some sectors, it was able to source the supplies it needed, including beef. Francesca DeBiase, McDonald’s vice-president and chief supply chain officer, said the company’s contingency plan and relationships with suppliers got it through the early volatile days of the […] Read more
Agriculture Canada research scientist Karen Beauchemin is the winner of teh Canadian beef industry award for outstanding research and innovation. | Barb Glen photo
Livestock Management

Beauchemin research recognized by industry

The Agriculture Canada researcher has done extensive work 
on ruminant metabolism and greenhouse gas emissions.

Agriculture Canada research scientist Dr. Karen Beauchemin is this year’s recipient of the Canadian beef industry award for outstanding research and innovation. Beauchemin specializes in ruminant digestion, a field that has led her to study feedlot cattle fibre requirements, ruminant metabolism, cattle methane emissions, lifecycle analysis and cereal processing. The award was announced Aug. 12 […] Read more
More than $66,400 had been raised as of Aug. 17 to help cover legal costs for two Alberta farmers who were charged after an altercation with Alberta sheriffs last month. | Supplied photo
News

Young farmer beaten by police while working

More than $66,400 had been raised as of Aug. 17 to help cover legal costs for two Alberta farmers who were charged after an altercation with Alberta sheriffs last month. Jeremia Leussink, 18, was driving between hay fields July 31 when he neared his destination field and came upon a check stop on Highway 2A […] Read more
Modern farm equipment was on display during Alberta's Open Farm Days last August at the Farming Smarter research site near Lethbridge. Visitors could climb on the equipment and learn about various farming operations from farmers and reserach personnel on site. | Barb Glen photo
Farm Living, News

Open the barn doors and let them in

About 80 farms in Alberta plan to open their doors to visitors Aug. 15-16 as part of the annual Open Farm Days event in the province that has been held since 2013. It will be a bit different from previous years due to space and crowd size limitations imposed by the pandemic and visitors must […] Read more
As of Aug. 7, there were 239 confirmed Canadian cases of salmonella-related illness associated with the onions and products that contain them, 67 of them in British Columbia, 149 in Alberta, five in Saskatchewan and 13 in Manitoba. There were three cases reported in Ontario and one each in Quebec and Prince Edward Island. No deaths from the outbreak have been reported and Canadian onions are safe to eat.
 | File photo
News

American onions cause illness in 239 Canadians

A recall on onions imported from the United States has been updated and expanded by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to include various salsa, salad and sandwich items that have been distributed across western Canada. A complete list can be found at bit.ly/3ab5Fgg. As of Aug. 7, there were 239 confirmed Canadian cases of salmonella-related […] Read more
Not every dog is cut out to handle stock, says stock dog trainer Jared Epp. The dog has to have enough presence that stock choose to yield to it. And it must have enough confidence to deal with livestock that occasionally challenge it. | Getty Images
Livestock Management

Take a dog to work, says trainer

Productive and successful use of a stock dog to herd livestock is based on using the natural behaviours of canines, says an experienced stockman and dog trainer. Jared Epp shared his expertise on the subject with participants in a video presentation at the Ag in Motion Discovery Plus event in mid-July. A good stock dog […] Read more
Ensiling bales is one way to preserve feed for cattle even when haying conditions are less than ideal. | Jeanette Greaves photo
Livestock Management

Bale silage is one method to protect feed for winter

In a world of unicorns and rainbows, hay for livestock would be cut near the end of June, adequately dried in the sun, baled in excellent condition, hauled and stored at a convenient site. In similar utopian fashion, crop for silage would be all chopped and stored by mid-September. All of that could happen but […] Read more
News

COVID hits bottom line for ag societies

The Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association held 902 events in 2019. Since mid-March, none. The Olds Regional Exhibition, normally a hive of activity especially in summer, cancelled all its events from mid-March through to Sept. 30. There’s a long list of “COVID cancellations,” the casualties of restrictions imposed to protect human health during the pandemic. Sharing […] Read more

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