Despite an agreement in 2011 to change from three yield classes to five, changes have been stalled by regulations
The head of the Canadian Beef Grading Agency would change the way millions of cattle are graded each year if she had her way. Cindy Delaloye said proposals have been made since 2011 to change the current system of three yield classes to five, which would more accurately assess modern beef carcasses. However, not much […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Property rights, health care among rural concerns
The diverse riding of Strathmore-Brooks has a clean slate of candidates vying for votes in Alberta’s May 5 election. The riding is located east of Calgary and spans the rural communities between Strathmore and Brooks. It was held by Wildrose member Jason Hale before he joined nine party members, including leader Danielle Smith, in a […] Read more
Farmers fume over surface rights board compensation refusal
TROCHU, Alta. — Alberta landowners are considering a court challenge to recover lease payments from the government when an energy company goes bankrupt. Four hundred people gathered in Trochu April 9 at a Alberta Surface Rights Groups meeting to discuss a challenge, which includes setting up a $30,000 legal fund to argue a case in […] Read more
Animal care standards high: survey
Many respondents also believe food grown in the province has better quality
A new survey on consumer perceptions has found that most Albertans consider livestock production to be part of the provincial culture, but few know much about what happens on the farm. “They are fundamentally ignorant about farming practices and what goes into what they are eating,” said Nick Black of the market research firm Intensions […] Read moreMore signs of producer optimism as bull sale season winds down
LACOMBE, Alta. — This year’s spring bull season could be one to remember with record prices and renewed faith in the beef business. “Everybody is fairly optimistic,” said Hereford breeder Bruce Butler of New Norway, Alta. Butler is chair of the Central Alberta Agriculture Society, which hosted the historic Lacombe Bull Sale held April 14. […] Read more
Water monitoring key to those downstream from city
Calgary official is confident drinking water is safe and has separate tests to look for pharmaceuticals
Flushed toilets in Calgary could have dire consequences for someone downstream if bacteria, parasites and medicines are not cleared out during waste water treatment. Monitoring stations are set up throughout the city looking for parasites such as giardia as well as things like caffeine from coffee drinkers’ urine. They check water, snow dumps and storm […] Read moreFlood incidents likely to grow
Forecast models take into account climate change and housing developments
Alberta should brace itself for more flooding if scientific models are correct. Eighty percent of the water in the Bow River is from snow melt originating in the Rocky Mountains. Research shows water yield as down between 1971 and 2004, but the province has experienced serious and costly floods since 2005 that overwhelmed local infrastructure, […] Read moreU.S. expects more delays to changes
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Another two years might pass before any substantial changes are seen in the U.S. beef grading system. “We feel very strongly that the grading system is important in the marketing of cattle and beef and extensive industry consensus is needed to change it dramatically,” said Lawrence Yates of the U.S. Agriculture […] Read more
Public lacks water management, infastructure cost information
Few Canadians know what they pay for their household water: survey
Few Canadians know how much it costs to deliver their water. An annual water survey by the Royal Bank of Canada found that Canadians are confident in the safety of tap water in their homes, but those in rural communities were less confident than those living in large urban centres with more than 100,000 residents. […] Read moreCalgary water treatment system up to the challenge
Flushed toilets in Calgary could have dire consequences for someone downstream if bacteria, parasites and medicines are not cleared out during waste water treatment. Monitoring stations are set up throughout the city looking for parasites such as giardia as well as things like caffeine from coffee drinkers’ urine. They check water, snow dumps and storm […] Read more
