Advancing Women in Agriculture participants learn about investing and retirement options
In their later years, many women will be forced to manage their money on their own but few are well prepared to take on that responsibility. “The probability says that you will likely be alone or not living with somebody else and obviously be responsible for managing your financial resources,” said Gwen Paddock, RBC national […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Wildrose party pledges return to balanced budgets
Alberta’s Wildrose party has released its policy platform for the May 5 election. A balanced budget by 2017 without raising taxes is the foundation of the platform that party leader Brian Jean presented in Calgary April 8. “We will achieve this with actual reductions in government, only cutting PC waste and protecting our front line […] Read more
Food production should be seen as professional service to public
Livestock production may eventually evolve into a profession rather than an industry. “Animal production doesn’t have to be agrarian or industrial,” says David Fraser of the University of British Columbia’s animal welfare department. “A third possibility is based on the professions.” It takes time for a profession to evolve to a level of respectability with […] Read more
Undercover video results in new welfare program
RED DEER — British Columbia dairy producers were not prepared for the public backlash when an undercover video showed cows being abused on a Chilliwack farm. “We were ill equipped for a crisis of this magnitude,” said Jim Byrne, chair of the B.C. Milk Marketing Board. “We had never had anything like that before. None […] Read more
Humane societies seek support of livestock groups
OTTAWA — The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies wants the federal government to strengthen the criminal code’s animal cruelty section. The society wants support from livestock groups for an updated national law that would apply heavier penalties against those who are negligent or deliberately cruel, said Barbara Cartwright, chief executive officer of the society. Those […] Read more
Alberta’s Wildrose releases platform
The new leader of the Wildrose party has released its five priorities for the upcoming Alberta election. A balanced budget by 2017 without raising taxes is the foundation of the platform Brian Jean presented in Calgary on April 8. “We will achieve this with actual reductions in government, only by cutting PC waste and protecting […] Read more
Proper animal transport guidelines good investment for livestock producers
Good drivers make a difference in the welfare and handling of cull cattle being transported to processing facilities
RED DEER — Dairy producers who ship cull cows to market should always hire companies whose drivers are trained in livestock handling. These animals need special care because they are often old, weak and thin and may not have the stamina for a long journey, said Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein of Agriculture Canada’s research centre in Lethbridge. […] Read more
Mushroom industry laments losing productive workers
Under program changes, about 600 skilled mushroom harvesters are forced to return home
Canada’s mushroom farmers have been hit hard by the country’s agricultural labour shortage. “We have lots of opportunities to increase the market for fresh mushrooms, but our Achilles heel is labour,” said Bill Stevens, chief executive officer of Mushrooms Canada. Temporary foreign workers have been used, but many are losing their permits and leaving the […] Read more
Few products approved for sheep
‘Weird and wonderful therapies’ are available, but none are proven effective, say experts
Parasites are like the plague for sheep producers. “Parasites are the No. 1 problem for sheep producers globally,” said John Gilleard, a parasitologist at the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine. “That and foot rot are the two diseases they are worried about most.” No recent surveillance has been conducted in Western Canada, so […] Read more
Meat sector looks at career approach to attract workers
Providing temporary foreign workers with skills will help the agrifood sector expand
Nearly seven percent of Canadians were out of work in February, in-cluding thousands in Alberta who lost their jobs when oil prices collapsed. However, few of those job seekers will likely consider filling out an application form to work in a meat packing plant, where there are about 1,000 vacancies. Wayne Marietta, a student at […] Read more
