Red Fox Farms Fungi produces 200 pounds of oyster mushrooms a week, selling them to consumers and restaurants
STRATHMORE, Alta. — Those who watch carefully can actually see mushrooms emit spores, tiny filaments that look like spider webs floating on a breeze. The presence of those delicate threads indicates the mushrooms are ready for harvest. It’s a sight regularly welcomed by Janine Aube and Brad Wandzura, the owners and operators of Red Fox […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Proper processing optimizes corn
Producers must put silage into the silo at the right dry matter if it is to ferment properly and be palatable for cattle
Corn silage can be highly nutritious feed for dairy and beef cattle but it is more variable than barley silage so producers need to consider that when growing, cutting, ensiling and using it. Agriculture Canada researcher Karen Beauchemin talked about corn silage in mid-September during an event held in a corn field near Lethbridge, organized […] Read more
‘Throw the book’ at turkey protesters
Animal activists who occupied a Fort Macleod, Alta., area turkey operation Sept. 2 should be charged to the full extent of the law. So said Alberta Premier Jason Kenney when asked about the case Sept. 13. “I certainly hope the police lay charges and I hope that prosecutors throw the book at these criminals, who […] Read more
Alberta corn crop behind schedule
Corn growers in Alberta are hoping for a long autumn so crops can reach full maturity and feed value. Nicole Rasmussen, agronomist with Corteva Pioneer, said Sept. 12 that it’s an issue across the province. “The general consensus is that the corn crop across most of Alberta is behind schedule. We’re probably anywhere from seven […] Read more
Culling requires a strategy
A shortage of quality feed in parts of Western Canada this year may force some cattle producers to make hard decisions. Culling unproductive cows and weaning calves early are two ways they can manage the situation. Andrea Hanson, beef extension specialist with Alberta Agriculture, said the first step in culling decisions is to develop a […] Read more
Packer fire fallout still felt
An Aug. 9 fire that badly damaged the Tyson cattle slaughter plant in Holcomb, Kansas, continues to affect Canadian markets. The plant was processing about 6,000 animals per day but the slaughter facility is not yet in operation. “That Tyson plant … did represent about six percent of the fed cattle packing capacity in the […] Read more
Video makes case for cattle as guardians
The documentary hopes to convince the public that livestock play an important role in preserving native grassland
Sometimes what you thought was the problem is really the solution. That’s the opening thought in a short documentary called Guardians of the Grasslands. The statement is a reference to the importance of grazing cattle in preserving native grasslands. Cattle are frequently cited as contributors of greenhouse gases, a factor involved in climate change, and […] Read more
Device said to calm cattle for a variety of procedures
Maria and Hank Franken were struggling with a first-calf heifer that wouldn’t allow its calf to suckle. It’s not an uncommon problem during calving season but it’s one that can be frustrating and time consuming to solve. This time, they had a solution. It was a device called the Easy Boss E, a stainless steel […] Read more
No charges yet in turkey farm invasion
An RCMP investigation continues and no charges had been laid as of Sept. 12 against animal activists who entered the Jumbo Valley Hutterite Colony turkey farm Sept. 2. Sergeant Bryan Mucha of the Fort Macleod RCMP said the detachment has had discussions with the crown prosecutor and work on the case is underway. On Labour […] Read more
Protesters’ goal is to end animal agriculture
Angel Chen was horrified at what she saw as a participant in a Sept. 2 protest at the Jumbo Valley turkey operation near Fort Macleod, Alta. She was among 30 animal rights activists who entered a turkey barn to observe conditions and promote transparency about the treatment of livestock. “Even though it was a free […] Read more
