The deaths of six horses at this year’s Calgary Stampede are regrettable but will not force an end to the rodeo, said the organization’s president David Chalack. “It is absolutely regrettable. One animal lost is too many so we work with the Calgary Humane Society and the SPCA to come to an understanding of how […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Extreme cowboys create thrills with everyday chores
The extreme cowboy challenge is a hang-onto-your-hat event where skilled horsemen race against the clock to show off their ranch skills. “You have to do everything just like you would on the range,” said Craig Cameron, creator of the Extreme Cowboy Race that made its Canadian debut with the Calgary Stampede Cowboy Up Challenge July […] Read more
Sheep producer’s shearing needs transformed into part-time job
Tracy Jarratt never intended to be a sheep shearer. About seven years ago, she was given four sheep and decided to shear them herself when she could not find anyone to do the job. The Irricana, Alta., resident now shears small flocks of sheep, llamas and alpacas part-time. She is also a hand weaver and […] Read more
Canola diseases lurk in weather
LACOMBE, Alta. – This could be a bad year for sclerotinia and blackleg in many canola growing regions, say Agriculture Canada plant disease experts. However, it’s not a done deal yet. “The key thing will be what the weather is like during flowering and if the tap shuts off and we start to see temperatures […] Read more
Canola needs help
LACOMBE, Alta. – When it comes to nitrogen, canola is a heavy user. A six year project at six western Canadian locations tested the extent to which herbicide and fertilizer could be removed from cereal and canola crops with little consequence. “We learned in canola it is a fairly high input crop and there is […] Read more
Ranchers tout Gypsies
CALGARY – Dale and Cheryl Nygaard opted for new when they decided to add horses to their Saskatoon area ranch. They had read about the Gypsy Cob horse in a magazine, and an internet search found a herd of 125 in England that could provide the quality they wanted. They bought six mares from the […] Read more
Tag scanning study examines efficiency, accuracy
Tests on radio frequency ear tags and electronic readers show the tags are read successfully most of the time. A study involving nine auctions in Canada and another one involving six markets in Alberta hope to learn which systems work best and if they benefit the beef industry. The national study scanned more than 130,000 […] Read more
Flash flood turns Alta. ranch into soggy prison
Wendee Cristante has devoted her life to rescuing horses but after floods ravaged southeastern Alberta June 18, she needed rescuing.Cristante is the leader of the Canadian Clyde Ride Team, a draft horse show team. This spring, she moved to a ranch owned by George Ehret in the Cypress Hills area to prepare three of her horses […] Read more
Organic growers start work share garden program
DOG POUND, Alta. – After 100 years on the same patch of farmland, the Buckler family decided it was time to try something different.In 2005, siblings Charlie, Tim and Helen built a market garden 24 kilometres north of Cochrane, Alta., on land great-grandfather David Buckler homesteaded in 1905.His address was General Delivery, Dog Pound, Northwest […] Read more
Mob grazing helps ranchers restore pasture
COCHRANE, Alta. – Nick and Janet Warner turned to the mob for help when getting their pastures in shape for an extensive custom grazing program.The couple, who operate Lochaven Farm near Cochrane, used a technique called mob grazing, in which large numbers of animals graze small paddocks.The cattle are left in the area until all […] Read more
