The expansion phase of the U.S. cattle cycle is long overdue but a host of factors are working against herd rebuilding and are forcing segments of the industry to consolidate. The cattle cycle, where the herd expands and contracts at regular intervals of 10 to 12 years, has been in place since the end of […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
RCMP looking for help naming puppies
The RCMP needs help in naming a new batch of police puppies. Children are encouraged to submit names for 10 German Shepherd puppies born at the Police Dog Service Training Centre near Innisfail, Alta., which is the national training centre for the canine unit. Contestants are allowed one name per entry and need to keep […] Read more
McDonald’s switching to verified sustainable beef
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — McDonald’s Corporation has decided to offer verified sustainable beef in its 34,000 restaurants in 120 countries by 2016. The McDonald’s vice-president of corporate sustainability said sustainable beef production goes beyond doing the right thing for society and protecting the environment. It also is paramount to staying in business, said Bob Langert on […] Read more
COOL unchanged in U.S. farm bill
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The U.S. farm bill has moved one step further toward passage when the Senate voted 68-32 in favour Monday. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the Agriculture Act of 2014. While the new bill offers spending cuts and reformed farm safety nets, there were no changes to the mandatory country-of-origin labelling […] Read more
Control measures urged to keep diseases from spreading
LETHBRIDGE — Bumper crops made headlines across the Prairies last year, but plant diseases also reared their smutty heads. “The single most important factor that affects the development of infectious diseases is the weather,” said Ron Howard of the Alberta Crop Development Centre in Brooks, Alta. Mike Harding, a plant pathologist with Alberta Agriculture, warned […] Read more
Consumers eventually return after meat recall: study
Consumer confidence is shaken every time there is a meat recall, but they usually start eating meat again once they receive the all clear, at least in North America. “People tend to return to their past consumption,” said agriculture economist John Cranfield from the University of Guelph, who examined the effects on demand following Canadian […] Read more
Harmony Beef owner eager to get plant door open
$18 million in renovations | Alberta cattle producers hope the former Rancher’s Beef facility will be open this summer
LETHBRIDGE — Rich Vesta was impressed with the overall design and concept of the Rancher’s Beef plant when he visited it for the first time. The plant in Balzac, Alta., had been closed since 2005, but peering through the dust and cobwebs, he could see the potential of what had been a dream of western […] Read moreFirst time Sask. Angus exhibitor gets itch to show more after racking up awards
A first time foray into the big time netted a Red Angus breeder the premier exhibitor award at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, Jan 14. “I’ve only ever shown two Red Angus. I thought I would give it a whirl,” Mike McDonald said. He had attended the show in past years as […] Read more
Canada’s WTO appeal of COOL set for Feb.
LETHBRIGE — The World Trade Organization has set aside Feb. 18-19 for public hearings on U.S. country-of-origin labelling. The hearing will be in Geneva, Switzerland, and could take up to two years to complete. The WTO said public viewing is available via closed circuit television. For more information, visit www.wto.org/library/rss/latest_news_e.xml. Canada and Mexico requested the […] Read more
Lingering effects of BSE continue to limit American beef exports to Asia
DENVER, Colo. — The United States posted record beef exports in recent years, but sales might have been better if not for BSE. While 2012 was a record export year and 2013 is shaping up to be even better at $6 billion worth of sales, the curse of BSE still taints market opportunities, said Phil […] Read more
