Eau Claire Distillery | Turner Valley, Alta., operation requires specific grain varieties
TURNER VALLEY, Alta. — Most people have heard the expression “farm to fork.” But what about “grain to glass?” David Farran, Brad Stevens and Larry Kerwin, owners of Eau Claire Distillery are doing what they can to popularize that expression with Alberta’s first craft distillery. They chose an apt location for a craft spirits business, […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Alta. processor aims to double output by 2015
Sungold Specialty Meats | The company plans to market as much of the lamb carcass as possible, including ears for pet food
EDMONTON — Lamb processor Sungold Specialty Meats is looking for ways to sell everything but the bleat. Western Canada’s only federally inspected lamb plant is renovating its operation, including a $3 million investment in a new kill floor with support from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency. Plans are also in the works to open […] Read more‘Stolen’ heifers were never gone
A case of lost and found has left one Alberta rancher red faced. Last month, 59 heifers were reported missing from the Allan Hobbs ranch near Czar. A thorough check of records and cross referencing of electronic ear tags discovered the cattle numbers were entered incorrectly, said cpl. Dave Heaslip of the RCMP’s livestock investigations […] Read more
Browarny, Froebe, Hepworth join Ag Hall of Fame
Walt Browarny, Charles Froebe and Lorne Hepworth have been inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. Based in Calgary, Browarny was an international livestock photographer who changed the way animals were posed and presented. Born in 1935, he died in August 2011 and left a legacy of more than two million images of cattle […] Read more
Ontario rancher bucks the cash crop trend
Environmental stewardship | Rancher and veterinarian Peter Kotzeff uses intensive grazing on some of his 1,800 acres
CHESLEY, Ont. — Peter Kotzeff had never heard of Beef Farmers of Ontario’s environmental stewardship award until he was encouraged to apply. Much to his surprise, he won, even though he believes many beef producers are trying to follow a similar path to protect the land and water to grow food. “I think it should […] Read morePolice called in to investigate 59 missing heifers in Alberta
An Alberta family is offering a $25,000 reward for the recovery of 59 mixed breed heifers believed stolen from a farm near Czar. The theft was noticed earlier this spring when owner Allan Hobbs did a monthly head count. They are feeder heifers weighing about 600 pounds and are valued at $80,000. The Hobbs family […] Read more
4-H champion pays tribute to grandfather with donation
More than a dozen years of experience working with cattle, combined with inspired marketing, has paid off for 18-year-old Nicki Ross of Innisfail, Alta. Her reserve grand champion blue roan steer sold for $7.25 a pound for a total of $9,200 at the 4-H regional show and sale in Red Deer June 1. She is […] Read more
Regulations help communities, farmers keep weeds at bay
Alberta legislation lists 75 weeds Province could see orange and meadow hawkweed downgraded from prohibited noxious status
INDUS, Alta. — A war has been waged on weeds since farmers first plowed fields thousands of years ago. Alberta wrote a law against weeds just after it joined confederation, and while the list of 19 troublesome plants has changed, the threats never go away. “We need to make sure weeds are regulated so they […] Read moreAlta. gov’t plans thorough look at flood control projects
Options to consider Flood mitigation official says government wants to work quickly on projects but won’t be skipping steps
The Alberta government is promising not to cut corners on future flood protection projects, but it also wants to work quickly before the next big event arrives. “We will be doing all the required regulatory work accompanying any project like this,” Cathy Maniego told the Bow River Basin Council’s annual meeting in Calgary June 11. […] Read moreBeef plant near Calgary to open later this year
EDMONTON — Harmony Beef could be processing cattle by mid-November, but the new owner says the pace of operations will be slow and steady. The plant is capable of handling 800 cattle per day, but once it opens later this year it will start at about 125 head, said Rich Vesta, the principle owner of […] Read more
