More than 60 million people in 117 countries daily visit a McDonald’s restaurant and expect consistent quality and reasonable prices. Whether it is offering kosher beef in Israel or vegetarian meals in India, the company strives to use locally produced foods that are safe to eat, said Jose-Luis Bretones, director of the worldwide supply chain […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Farmers urged to keep hay weed free
Too much hay is moving around the countryside full of weed seeds, says the manager of Clearwater County’s agriculture service board in Alberta. Kim Nielsen said the province offers a certified weed-free hay program to prevent the introduction of new weeds to private and public land, but it isn’t well used. “It is amazing to […] Read more
Yearling Classic kicks off feeder run with 13,000 head sale
CHAIN LAKES, Alta. – The fall feeder run got an early start when 13,000 yearlings were sold at a special sale Aug. 6. Organized by the Southern Alberta Livestock Exchange, the Yearling Classic Sale sold 35 lots of commercial cattle from 17 consignors via video at Chain Lakes Provincial Park. The largest single sale of […] Read more
New award recognizes food innovation
Every morning, the bakers at Prairie Mill Bread Company mix dough made from locally produced grain and honey. Every loaf is measured at two pounds, four ounces and each one is kneaded and shaped by hand. That attention to quality earned John and Karen Juurlink a $10,000 award and recognition from the province in the […] Read more
4-H heifer rakes in Stampede wins
OLDS, Alta. – With a shy smile, Chad Crest knew he had the supreme championship in the bag at the Calgary Stampede. The 18-year-old dairy producer from Athabasca, Alta., had already won the grand and reserve champions at the 64th annual provincial 4-H show held in Olds July 16. During the final showdown for junior […] Read more
Electronic ID pays off in sheep, problems remain
OLDS, Alta. – Ronald den Broeder can sit at his laptop and learn more about his 900 ewes than he ever imagined was possible. He is one of 48 Alberta farmers who volunteered to test an electronic identification and trace-back system for sheep. All Canadian sheep must be individually identified by 2012. Alberta Agriculture is […] Read more
Lack of scrapie surveillance program hinders trade south
Canadian breeding sheep and goats are still restricted from the United States, seven years after BSE closed the border to ruminant animals, because Canada has an inadequate scrapie surveillance program. Wyoming state veterinarian Jim Logan told the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) summit in Calgary July 19 that Canada needs to develop a producer driven […] Read more
Ruminant trade still suffers BSE setback
International trade was relatively easy for sheep and goats going into breeding flocks in the United States before BSE was found in Canada. Now, the lack of a full scrapie surveillance and eradication program has lost Canada that lucrative trade, says veterinarian Lynn Tait. Canada has developed new markets for semen and embryos since 2003, […] Read more
New market takes on European flavour
Alberta’s Sunterra Market has opened its ninth store, this time on the southern edge of Calgary’s downtown core surrounded by glass walled offices and condominium towers. The store marks 20 years for the company in the retail food business and has been on the drawing boards for three years. Sunterra markets are part of Sunterra […] Read more
Alberta gives weeds new designations
Alberta has changed its Weed Control Act with an expanded list of 75 undesirable plants. Three weed categories, restricted, noxious and nuisance, have been replaced with two categories of prohibited noxious weeds and noxious weeds. There are 46 prohibited noxious weeds and 29 noxious weeds. Prohibited noxious weeds are either not currently found in Alberta […] Read more
