The concept is designed to match a natural forest with a variety of trees and bushes to create protection and habitats
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Alta. — New tricks are being used to maintain the old idea of shelter belts. Thousands of trees were planted across the Prairies during the 1930s to control erosion, collect snow and provide wind protection. Commonly, three rows of spruce, poplars and caraganas were planted but the trees were not always compatible. […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Beef is best for birds, fits conservation
Birds and cattle are two compatible species. Certain bird species depend entirely on grasslands of the northern great plains and many are in serious state of severe decline, said Tim Sopuck, head of Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corp., which is working on 400,000 acres in co-operation with producers. Grassland birds vary in what they want in […] Read more
Wildlife habitat program conserves land in B.C. delta
DELTA, B.C. — When commuters drive the Deltaport Way Highway on their way to the Port of Vancouver, they may glance out their windows to see fields of sunflowers nodding back at them. These strips of land are actually part of a conservation set-aside supported by the Delta Farmland Wildlife Trust. The 25-year-old program in […] Read more
Sheep business started as way to train dogs
Susan Neal acquired sheep as part of her border collie enterprise, but now she’s winning fleece competitions
RAVEN, Alta. — When Susan Neal began breeding North Country Cheviot sheep, she wanted to keep the Scottish breed true to its traditional roots of good meat and quality fleece production. This year she won the supreme champion fleece competition at the national All Canada Sheep Classic in Humboldt, Sask. That win confirmed her breeding […] Read more
Junior dairy competition is tough but fun
The Western Canadian Dairy Classic teaches young producers clipping, grooming, showmanship and dairy science
OLDS, Alta. — When more than 100 young people come together for a cattle show the competition is tough but the atmosphere is full of fun. The Western Canadian Dairy Classic junior dairy show has been running for 35 years and is open to young people aged 12 to 21 from the four western provinces. […] Read moreAlberta beef plant works its way back into marketplace
Bringing a decommissioned beef plant back into business may have taken longer than owner Rich Vesta expected, but Harmony Beef is making a name for itself in the western Canadian cattle scene. He and his family bought the former Ranchers’ Beef plant near Calgary at Balzac, Alta., in November 2013 and opened it in March […] Read more
Alberta farm family finds a work-life balance
On the Farm: Dallas Vert and Natasha Popisil run three agricultural businesses but also find time for family vacations
KIRRIEMUIR, Alta. — Dallas Vert always knew he wanted to farm and his wife Natasha Popisil was willing to follow the dream. The couple, both 36, farm 11,000 acres at Kirriemuir in east-central Alberta and were named the province’s outstanding young farmers for 2019. Their neighbours, Craig and Jinelle Ference, were national winners last year […] Read more
Dairy farming in the delta proves interesting
Martiann Holsteins manages operations in British Columbia’s densely populated Lower Mainland region
DELTA, B.C. — Running a dairy farm in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia could be like sleeping next to an elephant named Vancouver. Located at Delta, B.C., Martiann Holsteins was started by Martin and Ann Hamming in 1974. Perry and Angela Hamming and their daughter Lorna followed in their footsteps. The property is a […] Read more
B.C. farm finds new challenges in Alberta
AIRDRIE, Alta. — When the Souto family set up a new farm on 27 acres near Airdrie, they soon learned they were not in British Columbia anymore. Plenty of wind, new weeds and a different farming style introduced them to foothills cultivation. “It is completely different from B.C. Everything we learned growing up was out […] Read more
Feedlot worker retention a challenge
Feedlot owners and ranchers urge the agriculture industry to do a better job of addressing the sector’s labour needs
Finding suitable hired hands on the farm is one thing. Keeping them is another. Alberta feedlot owner Ryan Kasko and Saskatchewan rancher Lynn Grant of Saskatchewan understand the importance of encouraging Canadians to work on farms but their experiences reflect the reality of living in rural areas. Foreign workers from rural regions often fit in […] Read more
