The committee that formulated the draft beef code of practice is asking for wide input, said one committee member. The draft opened for public comment Jan. 8 and will close March 8. Ryder Lee of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association told a Feb. 13 webinar hosted by Alberta Beef Producers that more than 100 people have […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Co-ordination key to fighting prairie grass fires
Community effort | Expert says that while intentions are good, firebreaks aren’t effective unless placed properly
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. — Out-of-control grass fires on the Prairies bring immediate community response. Often that includes farmers who bring tillage equipment and create firebreaks to slow or stop the fire’s spread. But do those firebreaks really help? Not always, says Alberta government rangeland specialist Kevin France. He told the Holding the Reins conference Feb. […] Read moreBC to take over provincial meat inspection
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
Book traces history of Quarter horse
The Canadian Quarter Horse Association is trying to reconstruct its history. That task became slightly easier Feb. 7 when it reacquired a copy of the 1965 CQHA Stud Book, the first one published by the organization. “We didn’t have access to this information prior to the book coming into our possession, so that was really […] Read more
Grass recovers following destructive blaze
Pasture health | While a massive 1997 fire was costly, the native grazing land it burned was quick to bounce back
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. — The scorched earth left by grass fires isn’t a pretty sight, but native grazing land can be remarkably resilient, says a rangeland specialist. Varge Craig of Alberta Rangeland Services has been monitoring recovery of grasslands from a fire that took place 16 years ago. He reviewed his observations at the Feb. […] Read more
New forage variety intended to reduce bloat in cattle
Grows with alfalfa | Agriculture Canada develops new sainfoin cultivar that reduces gas buildup seen in cattle foraging alfalfa
A new forage variety may reduce the threat of bloat in cattle that graze alfalfa. Mountainview, a sainfoin cultivar developed by Agriculture Canada forage breeder Surya Acharya, is a perennial that can be seeded with alfalfa and will prevent bloat in grazing cattle. Acharya announced the new variety Feb. 5 at the Alberta Forage Industry […] Read more
Sugar beet growers looking to expand
Seeking diversity | Growers’ association spending money to identify new markets
Alberta sugar beet growers are exploring other uses for their crop besides sugar in all its forms. The grower group has contracted North Vancouver based S2G BioChem to explore using sugar beets to produce bio-glycol, a derivative that can replace petrochemicals in the making of plastics, fibres, resins and biofuel. A $600,000 contribution from the […] Read moreSnow pack report triggers optimism for spring seeding
The snow that has accumulated this winter over most of Alberta bodes well for soil moisture conditions this spring. However, anything can happen between now and planting time. Those are two key messages Alberta Agriculture agro-meteorologist Ralph Wright delivered via recent snow pack reports and a later interview. “Generally speaking, most of the province north […] Read more
Mill closing after 100 years
Medicine Hat facility | Closure comes as Archer Daniels Midland realigns operations
A century of flour milling operations will end in Medicine Hat when Archer Daniels Midland closes its landmark facility at the end of May. The mill’s 40 employees were told of the plan at the end of January. Although it was unwelcome news, it was not entirely unexpected. “We had suspected it was coming for […] Read moreSugar beet farmer wins top producer title for ’12
Good weather gets credit | Bill Tamminga produced 35.09 tonnes per acre last year, which came close to the record
Victory is sweet for Bill Tamminga of Taber, Alta. The farmer was recently named the top sugar beet producer of 2012 for achieving a yield of 35.09 tonnes per acre, which came close to the record of 35.6 tonnes set in 2006. His secret? “I think (it was) the beautiful summer. We were blessed with […] Read more
