OLDS, Alta. — Ray Murphy was the kind of farmer who was always busy and always wanted things done right. But on one fateful day in 2009, everything at his northeastern Alberta farm went wrong. It was the day before he was scheduled for open heart surgery in Edmonton, and he was loading cattle for […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Cow-calf operator new CCA head
Alberta rancher Dave Solverson is the new president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. Dan Darling of Ontario is vice-president. Solverson ranches at Camrose and was acclaimed at the CCA annual meeting held in Ottawa March 4-7. Solverson runs Woodwind Ranch, a 5,000 acre cow-calf to finish operation, with his brother, Ken. He has been a […] Read more
Noxious weeds loom in wildflower mixes
LACOMBE, Alta. — An Alberta Agriculture researcher has been growing wildflowers in a greenhouse this winter. The project is testing commercially available wildflower seed mixes to see if invasive plants or noxious weeds are being distributed to home gardeners. Weed specialist Nicole Kimmel found almost no problems in the 64 packets she planted late last […] Read more
Eartag project taps smartphone technology
OTTAWA — Imagine walking through a pen of cattle and using a smartphone to read ear tags and record important information on the spot. That’s the goal of a new research project. It hopes to build a special case that attaches to an Android or iPhone and turns it into an ear tag reader. A […] Read more
BSE, XL Foods recall were major challenges for CCA president
Martin Unrau has helped a cow deliver twins on his Manitoba farm one day and then discussed country-of-origin labelling with prime minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa the next. It is pretty heady stuff for a Manitoba farm boy who got involved in beef politics because of the BSE crisis in 2003. Unrau has been president […] Read more
CCA carcass audit to begin with meat shoppers
OTTAWA — Cattle that are bumped and bruised or receive a misdirected injection could produce poor quality beef. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is starting a national beef carcass audit this year to examine meat products from the packing plants to the retail case looking for blemishes. “The first thing we want to do is an […] Read more
Crossbreeding trades looks for longevity
Reducing replacements | European breeders describe advantages of hybrid vigour in overall profitability
RED DEER — Crossbreeding dairy cows may not fit everyone’s program, but it is one way to return vigour to a herd. Studies from Northern Ireland and California show crossbred cows live longer with fewer fertility and lameness problems. “These cows might not look as nice as what we are used to looking at, and […] Read moreBeef program adds animal welfare, environmental care components
OTTAWA — Canada’s beef quality assurance program is expanding. The verified beef program is adding environmental care and animal welfare models, said manager Terry Grajczyk. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association program has trained 18,000 producers and validated 1,100. It provides workshops to producers on procedures for improving biosecurity and animal health. They may go to the […] Read more
Codes of practice must be adhered to, say officials
Industry image | With critics keeping a watchful eye, producers must pay attention to high welfare standards
RED DEER — Canadian agriculture is facing increasing pressure from animal rights activist groups that are well funded and prepared to go public with their protests. However, activists are not going to change their minds about animal care, and no changes will ever be enough, said Geraldine Auston of the Ag and Food Exchange in […] Read more
More producer input into wildlife damage sought
AIRDRIE, Alta. — An Alberta wildlife damages survey deadline has been extended to March 31. Alberta Beef Producers is working with the Miistakis Institute at Mount Royal University in Calgary to gain a better understanding of the extent and costs of wildlife on a regional and provincial scale. The survey hopes to assess populations and […] Read more
