Rescue from frigid waters Brothers learn valuable lesson when venturing out on ice: know the depth of the water
TURIN, Alta. — One day before Calvin Holthe’s 14th birthday, his older brother, Curtis, gave him the most valuable gift anyone can receive. His life. As the boys, now 15 and 16 years old, reflect on events of Nov. 6, 2011, they know Calvin could have drowned while the two were retrieving a duck they’d […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Farmers still necessary to bring meaning to precision ag data
CALGARY — Precision ag with its information streams and software analysis still needs farmers to make the key decisions. Karon Cowan operates AgTech GIS, an Ontario-based company specializing in precision agriculture data analysis and assistance. A 20-year veteran of agricultural data management, Cowan said farmers are the most important element in the stream of information […] Read more
Producers ponder CP rail-line buy
Farmers and businesses from the Foremost, Alta., area are considering buying a section of railway between Foremost and Stirling. Canadian Pacific Railway abandoned the 75 kilometre stretch in 2002, and some sections would require extensive work to become operational. Farmer Paul Laqua, who is leading the initiative, said an offer has been made to CP […] Read more
B.C. invests in new inspectors
Provincial plants | New system will replace services provided by CFIA
The British Columbia government will set up its own system of provincial meat inspectors to replace services now provided by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. B.C. agriculture minister Norm Letnick said Feb. 22 that $6.4 million has been budgeted to set up a provincial system. As well, inspection is expected to cost $5.6 million a […] Read moreFarmland in short supply across Alberta
There isn’t much cultivated farmland in Alberta, and there’s going to be even less in the future. Alberta Agriculture agronomist Ross McKenzie told the Alberta Soil Science Workshop in Lethbridge Feb. 20 that land suitable for cropping is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity in the province. He said 23 million acres of land, or 16 […] Read more
How do you convince consumers to buy local?
Sustainable food | Organic certification levels vary and offer few guarantees, while higher prices can turn consumers away from buying local
Consumers are lazy. Organic claims are confusing. The definition of “local” varies. Food sustainability is within our grasp. These themes and many others permeated a wide-ranging discussion Feb. 12 about supporting sustainable food. Food activist Jill Cairns of Calgary, tomato producer Tony Legault of Nanton, Alta., and beef producer Wade Nelson of High River, Alta., […] Read moreTruck company makes donation to Lethbridge College
A Lethbridge truck business has given a $100,000 to Lethbridge College to create a student award for parts technician training. Southland International Trucks intends the award to be given annually to a parts technician student. The money will also be used to establish a Southland International Trucks heavy equipment bay at the college’s trades building. […] Read more
Rabies found most often in bats, skunks
There were 141 cases of rabies reported in Canada last year in eight animals species, according to recently released Canadian Food Inspection Agency statistics. Ontario reported the highest number of cases at 28, of which 25 occurred in bats and one each in a skunk, cat and dog. Manitoba had the next highest number of […] Read more
B.C. to set up provincial meat inspection system
British Columbia will develop its own system of provincial meat inspectors, the government announced Feb. 22. Agriculture minister Norm Letnick said the province is in the process of filling 43 positions as it takes steps to take over meat inspection once the current agreement with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency expires Dec. 31. The CFIA […] Read more
B.C. chickens will soon be on video
A short movie about chicken production in British Columbia will be supported by the provincial Buy Local campaign. The B.C. Chicken Growers Association will use $15,500 from the campaign to give consumers information on how chicken is produced on family-run chicken farms. B.C. has more than 300 chicken producers. A B.C. government news release said […] Read more
