This year’s bountiful harvest is good news for the North American livestock sector. The surplus of barley and corn means cheaper grain after several years of nearly unaffordable rations and subsequent record losses in the feeding business. Kenric Exner of Viterra said it is difficult to move all that grain to where it is needed […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Man of many hats lured by quest for perfect bull
Wayne Fipke began his life on the farm and then returned after a varied career in show business, diamond mining and property development. His family originally lived in Alberta, although he was born in Ottawa in 1948. He eventually ended up on a small farm near Kelowna, B.C. “One of the things about farming and […] Read more
Man of many hats lured by quest for perfect bull
Gem of an idea | Finding diamonds in Canada’s north allowed Wayne Fipke to return to the lifestyle he enjoyed
Wayne Fipke began his life on the farm and then returned after a varied career in show business, diamond mining and property development. His family originally lived in Alberta, although he was born in Ottawa in 1948. He eventually ended up on a small farm near Kelowna, B.C. “One of the things about farming and […] Read more
Video auction sales way of future
REGINA — What started as a video service for beef producers who wanted action shots of their cattle has turned into a full-fledged operation that not only puts cattle on film but produces internet transmissions of shows and sales across North America. “We started it out of a need,” said Tim Lockhart, who runs Cattle […] Read more
Public may warm to Simplot’s GM potato
Approval sought in U.S. | Consumers were opposed to Monsanto’s attempt to market Nature Mark GM spud
There are no genetically modified potatoes in Canada, and there may not be any for some time. “Someday there may be, but that is entirely going to depend on what the consumer wants,” said Terence Hochstein, executive director of Potato Growers of Alberta. Simplot in the United States is seeking approval for a GM potato […] Read more
Flood doesn’t stop ranchers
Ranch recovery | Couple shows cattle despite losing 28 animals in Alberta disaster
REGINA — Showing cattle was a tour de force this year for one young couple from High River, Alta. Caught in the epicentre of Alberta’s worst flood in history, Dan Hitchner and Megan Bond lost 28 cattle, pastureland, corrals and a truck. They almost lost their spirit as the swirling, dirty water receded and they […] Read more
Saskatchewan family takes home bevy of cattle awards
REGINA — Attending Canadian Western Agribition is like a holiday for Montana ranchers Max and Debby Porter. The Gelbvieh breeders brought two females to this year’s event with one of them sired by a Canadian bull from the Fladeland family of Gladmar, Sask. They sold a March heifer for $4,750 to Twisted T Gelbvieh of […] Read more
Beauty is the beast at Agribition
REGINA — A red and white theme with an international flair dominated this year’s premier livestock show, which wrapped up the exhibition season for some of North America’s top purebred beef cattle. Canadian Western Agribition’s RBC Beef Supreme champions were a Red Angus bull from Alberta and a Charolais pair from Texas. Each received $10,000 […] Read more
Agribition visitors gather Hereford genetics, info
REGINA — A trip to Canada at the beginning of winter was considered a treat for guests touring Hereford operations before and after Canadian Western Agribition. It was a repeat visit to see old friends for Pepe Bonica from Uruguay and a first time trip for Tony Bradshaw of Herefordshire, England. Both were interested in […] Read more
Switch to Lowline cattle pays off for one B.C. family
REGINA —Russ and Linda Crawford opted for Lowlines when they decided to downsize their cow herd. “We had some Black Angus, and my wife found them to be too big and people wanted a smaller cut of meat that was grass fed,” he said after the Lowline show at Canadian Western Agribition Nov. 11-16. The […] Read more
