Chicken continues to rule the roost in terms of popularity at the retail meat counter but a recent survey produced data on how consumers approach preparation of that chicken as well as other meats. It came as no surprise that cooking from scratch is becoming more rare. Half the 1,000 Albertans surveyed prepare raw, fresh […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Zebra chip pathogen makes debut in Alberta potato fields
The zebra chip pathogen that can cause a serious disease in potatoes has been found for the first time in southern Alberta. Carried by an insect called the potato psyllid, the pathogen called Liberibacter solanacearum (Lso) causes dark stripes in potato tubers and makes them unsellable and unsuitable for processing and consumption. The good news […] Read more
Rural ridings may be cut to reflect urban population growth
Alberta could have three fewer rural seats in the next provincial election if recommendations from the Electoral Boundaries Commission are accepted by the legislature. Justice Myra Bielby, chair of the commission, presented her report Oct. 19 following a year-long review of electoral boundaries. The commission recommended that seven mainly rural electoral divisions be combined into […] Read more
Western provinces PED-free; Manitoba outbreak contained
Veterinary epidemiologist says all the cases, involving 78 premises, were confined to southeastern Manitoba
Every day, volunteers in some of Alberta’s hog barns and handling facilities collect manure samples. They’ve been doing it for more than a year as part of surveillance for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. More than 200 samples are tested each month from barns, processing plants, transport trucks and truck washes. PED, an illness usually fatal […] Read moreTallying the damage from wildfire storm
Ashes and soil continue to blow from many areas burned in wildfires across southern Alberta Oct. 17. Environment Canada has issued several wind warnings since then, but a widespread windstorm on that day had sustained winds of about 120 km/h and reported gusts of up to 141 km/h, depending on the region. The wind downed […] Read more
Producers pleased with compacted concrete floors
The use of roller compacted concrete in feedlot pens is gaining traction in southern Alberta’s feedlot alley. Several feedlots have installed the product and with several years of wear from cattle hoofs and pen-cleaning equipment, operators say it seems to hold up well. “We’ve been pretty happy with it,” said Jordan Kolk of KFL Feeders […] Read more
Growers pleased with high yields, sugar content
TABER, Alta. — Record yields and record sugar content are possibilities for the 2017 sugar beet crop in southern Alberta. Despite a hot, dry summer with less than two inches of rain in many regions, the crop thrived under irrigation and harvest is underway. “Irrigation was a blessing for us this year,” said Alberta Sugar […] Read more
Wind storm, wildfire aftermath in Alberta
Some evacuation orders remain in place at Coleman, Alta., where a wildfire continues to burn west of the Crowsnest Pass municipality and is still under a state of local emergency. Three other Alberta municipalities – Wheatland County, Medicine Hat and Acadia – ended their emergency declarations last night after high winds abated and wildfires had […] Read more
Volunteer firefighter, rancher dies fighting wildfire
James Hargrave, a 34-year-old rancher from Walsh, Alta., died yesterday while fighting the prairie wildfire near Hilda, Alta. Hargrave was a volunteer fire-fighter with the Walsh department and was killed when the water-tanker truck he was driving rolled on a grid road about 10 kilometres south of Burstall, Sask. RCMP say the accident occurred at […] Read more
Windstorm, grass fires wreak havoc in Saskatchewan, Alberta
Alberta UPDATED – 1625 CST October 18, 2017 – Four Alberta municipalities remain under a state of local emergency resulting from high winds and numerous wildfires, and wind warnings remain in effect in some areas. Crowsnest Pass, the M.D. of Acadia, Wheatland County and Medicine Hat remain on high alert. In the Crowsnest Pass, a […] Read more
