Stampede is a go, despite devastating flooding in Calgary

The Calgary Stampede is going to be staged come hell or high water, Stampede president Bob Thompson said today. “Throughout our 101 year history we have never cancelled a show,” said Thompson. Crews are working feverishly around the clock to pump out millions of gallons of water from buildings and clean up the grandstand, infield, […] Read more

part of the lake that has engulfed the town of High River, 60 km south of Calgary. The water is contaminated with sewage and gasoline say local officials. | Barbara Duckworth photo

High River hit hard by flooding

HIGH RIVER, Alta. – Seeing is believing the tragedy that has fallen on High River, Alta. The worst flood in Alberta history has blitzed this town of 13,000 making it the hardest hit of the 27 communities that are in a state of emergency following heavy rains across the southern half of the province starting […] Read more

Chicken preferred meat choice, Costco favoured store: survey

BANFF, Alta. — A 2012 retail meat study showed among the major grocers in Canada, Costco was the only one to see growth in sales. About 40 percent of consumers said they shopped regularly at Costco for food and meat, up 11 percent since a 2010 survey. One-third of consumers surveyed said they go to […] Read more


Food may not be as advertised

BANFF, Alta. — The discovery earlier this year in Europe of horse meat in what was supposed to be beef products, is only that latest example of unscrupulous sellers finding inventive ways to scam extra dollars from the public, said a member of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency advisory committee. Rick Holley of the University […] Read more

Researchers must share their work to gain support

Extension work | With few funding sources, researchers advised to improve communication

BANFF, Alta. — The Victoria Day weekend of 2003 was one of the loneliest of Shirley McClellan’s life. She harboured a secret that once revealed, would devastate thousands of people. McClellan, Alberta’s former deputy premier and minister of agriculture, was leaving Edmonton for her family farm in east-central Alberta when she got the news that […] Read more


Alta. man charged over cattle sale

A southern Alberta man has been charged with fraud and theft following an RCMP investigation. The charges stem from allegations that Jeffrey Robert McNain of Stavely defrauded Unifeed Ltd. of nearly $1 million between November 2006 and December 2007, said an RCMP news release. It is alleged that McNain sold cattle that Unifeed had financed […] Read more

Ted Osborne is the retired manager of the 150 year old Coldstream Ranch located on the edge of Vernon B.C.  Considerable water and tree restoration work has been done on the ranch to ensure it is has enough water for livestock, irrigation and protects the quality for downstream users iike the city of Vernon and other Okanagan cities. The area gets about 15 inches of precipiation per year. Barbara Duckworth photo.

Collaboration helps preserve ecosystem

Rancher, city, ag ministry work together | Protecting riparian areas, planting trees and building fences improves water quality

VERNON B.C. — The sun soaked hills and valleys of British Columbia’s southern interior have been calling out to settlers for more than 150 years. The landscape and the mild climate that lured British aristocrats dreaming of ranching are still attractive to present day retirees fleeing a harsh prairie winter. It is also a landscape […] Read more

Russia’s review of ractopamine may reopen door to pork exports

BANFF, Alta. — Russia is evaluating ractopamine, which is instilling hope among product manufacturers that it will soon be approved and exports can resume. “Russia is fully engaged. They are working on their own safety assessment,” said Stephane Beaudoin of Elanco Animal Health at the Canadian Meat Council annual meeting held in Banff, May 29-30. […] Read more


B.C. rancher gets recognition for stewardship

VERNON, B.C. — Dave and Wanda Casorso of Oliver, B.C., have received the province’s environmental stewardship award. Presented annually by the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association, the award recognizes outstanding efforts to improve the land, forage and water on ranch land. Wildlife habitat improvement is also recognized. The Casorso Ranch is located in the southern Okanagan […] Read more

Hog processing plant video shows true story

BANFF, Alta. — Animal behaviorist Temple Grandin has often said meat packing plants should have a live video on the internet to show what really happens to the millions of cattle, pigs and birds that are processed each year. The American Meat Institute has taken her suggestion to heart, said chief executive officer Patrick Boyle. […] Read more