Growth of larger farms and agri-food companies in southern Alberta towns lead to growing communities
Reports on the death of prairie towns have been greatly exaggerated, to paraphrase Mark Twain. That’s true at least in the case of southern Alberta towns, which have populations that are stable and growing, in large part due to agriculture and food processing activity. With that growth comes demand for labour. Seven partner groups in […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Alberta takes steps to lessen COVID-19 impact
People who think current drastic measures to control the spread of COVID-19 will be over in a few weeks must think again, said Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. “This is going to take some time and I think Albertans need to start to wrap their heads around that,” Kenney said in a news conference Wednesday evening. […] Read more
Alberta gov’t cuts staff, budgets at Ag-Info centre
Service changes at the Alberta Agriculture Ag-Info Centre were made last week with no formal announcement from the department. An unconfirmed number of non-union specialists in crop production, beef and forage production, farm management and special crops production were given notice. Alberta Agriculture did not confirm the staff departures, numbers or reasons for the moves […] Read more
22 new COVID-19 cases in Alberta; hospitals cancel elective surgeries
Twenty-two new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since yesterday in Alberta, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 119. Dr. Deena Henshaw, chief medical officer of health for the province, said six of those cases were likely the result of community transmission rather than the result of travel. Six people among […] Read more
Specialists let go from Alta. Ag-Info Centre
Service changes at the Alberta Agriculture Ag-Info Centre, based in Stettler, Alta., were made earlier this week with no formal announcement from the department. Nine or 10 non-union specialists in crop production, beef and forage production, farm management and special crops production are reported to have been given notice. Alberta Agriculture did not confirm the […] Read more
Children inherit parents’ passion for livestock
On the Farm: Shelley Clark is the third generation of her family to live and work on this southwestern Alberta ranch
PINCHER CREEK, Alta. — There are bears in the Clark living room. Each has attempted a break-in of the ranch house at one time or another so each has met its demise. Shelley Clark recounts the incidents with a matter-of-fact attitude developed over years of co-existing with wildlife and livestock on the ranch in southern […] Read more
Stressed farmers encouraged to ask for help
Alberta producer who went public with his struggles finds himself in demand with farmers dealing with similar issues
The phone keeps ringing. Ever since Sean Stanford has spoken openly about his struggles with farm-related stress and anxiety, the calls from farmers with similar issues have been steady. Stanford, 34, is a heavy duty mechanic who also farms with his family near Magrath, Alta. Although he is willing to talk with other farmers about […] Read more
Southern Alberta loses historic hotel to fire
PINCHER CREEK, Alta. — Crumbled brick and soot-stained bedsprings are all that remains of a once-proud hotel that was older than the province in which it stood. The King Edward Hotel on Main Street of Pincher Creek, in Alberta’s southwest region burned to the ground Feb. 15, ending its 116-year history as one of the […] Read more
Work continues on transport code of practice
The complex project involves many types of livestock and various intermediary sites, such as auctions and assembly yards
The complexity of developing a code of practice for transport of 14 different species of livestock has forced some changes to the process for the National Farm Animal Care Council. The last Livestock and Poultry Transportation Code of Practice was developed in 2001 and the updated version is scheduled to be completed by March 2023. […] Read moreTwin set surprises Sask. farm
Jenna Blaschuck was surprised when a Hereford cow in her family’s 500-head commercial herd gave birth to a Hereford heifer, and then to another heifer that was Black Angus. “We’ve never seen anything like it before,” said Blaschuck. “We were watching her and if we wouldn’t have been watching her so closely, we would never […] Read more
