MILK RIVER, Alta. — Most people have heard of the popular CSI television shows. There’s the original CSI Crime Scene Investigation, CSE Miami and CSI New York. But what about CSI Cow Patty? It stars researcher Lisa Tymensen, a researcher with Alberta Agriculture’s irrigation and farm water division. She is not investigating crimes, but she […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
New course to train those responding to livestock emergencies
Alberta has eight emergency livestock trailers in its fleet and now a course to train responders in their best use has been initiated at Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alta. The Livestock Handling in Emergencies and Equipment Trailer Training Course will likely begin this summer at Lakeland’s emergency training centre, depending on instructor availability. Kerri Sinclair, […] Read more
GM apple wins biotech prize
The company that plans to commercialize an apple variety genetically modified to resist browning has received an award for its contribution to Canada’s biotechnology industry. Okanagan Specialty Fruits of Summerland, B.C., developers of the Arctic apple that has yet to be approved in Canada, is the recipient of a Gold Leaf award from BioteCanada. Company […] Read more
Report citing ag for antibiotic misuse irks animal health officials
Jean Szkotnicki speaks with tongue only partially in cheek when she wonders how the medical community would react if those in agriculture made recommendations on health care. However, recommendations on agricultural use of antibiotics were among many made by the Ontario Medical Association in a March report on antimicrobial resistance and its threat to human […] Read more
Groups riled over GM alfalfa plan
Contamination feared | Forage Genetics International assured industry that RR alfalfa will be sold only in Eastern Canada, where a coexistence plan will be in place
An April 9 “day of protest” against the potential release of Roundup Ready alfalfa achieved the goals of organizers but also generated re-sponse from government and farm groups. The protest involved gatherings outside more than 30 Conservative MP offices, which demanded that government stop the registration of genetically modified alfalfa that is now working its […] Read moreRodeo brightens lives for Zambian orphans
MAGRATH, Alta. — There are no rodeos in Zambia, but a rodeo held here April 6 will help orphaned Zambian children have a better life. That’s what Billie Heggie hopes. The woman from Raymond, Alta., visited Zambia in 2009 with Family Legacy Missions. There she visited the Tree of Life Children’s Village, which provides homes […] Read more
Researchers study wildlife friendly fences
P3, a female pronghorn antelope, crossed hundreds of barbed-wire fences, dozens of roads, several rivers and the Trans-Canada Highway in 2003. The animal’s collar allowed wildlife conservation researchers to track its migration from southeastern Alberta near Manyberries to an area around Unity, Sask., and then back to Canadian Forces Base Suffield north of Medicine Hat, […] Read more
JBS purchases XL’s U.S. plants
Animal processor JBS USA has completed the purchase of two U.S. packing plants formerly owned by XL Foods. In an April 4 news release, JBS confirmed purchase of a beef packing plant in Omaha, Nebraska, and another plant in Nampa, Idaho. The purchase was finalized April 8. Brian Perillat of Canfax said the deal will […] Read more
Alta. farmers predict late seeding start
Seeding equipment is poised and ready in Alberta’s deep south as farmers await a few more days of warm, windy weather to melt a light weekend snowfall and then dry the soil. But farmers north of a snow line that divides the province from Red Deer southeast to Acadia Valley are still looking at wintry […] Read more
GM apple winning awards
A genetically modified apple might be controversial in some circles, but it’s winning awards in biotechnology industry. Okanagan Specialty Fruits of Summerland, B.C., developers of the Arctic Apple that has yet to be approved in Canada, is the recipient of a Gold Leaf award from BioteCanada. The apple variety is genetically modified to resist browning. […] Read more
