WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. – British Columbia livestock producers are still struggling with the province’s tougher meat inspection regulations.Since 2007, it’s been the law to process all meat for sale to the public in an inspected facility.However, many producers say that a lack of plants in remote areas has all but killed the farmgate sales on […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Producers get jump on sending bison to market
VALHALLA CENTRE, Alta. – Improved genetics, hard culling and good feed have cut six months off the time it takes the Hanson family to finish their bison in their northern Alberta feedlot.Serle Hanson of Hanson Bison Ranch in Valhalla Centre said their spring calves used to be finished and ready for slaughter the following June.Last […] Read more
Greenhouse business sprouts from hobby
MADDEN, Alta. – Craig and Libby Smith’s farming dream has grown from a small greenhouse to more than 18,000 sq. feet of space producing flowers, herbs and vegetables.They bought a bare quarter section of land northwest of Calgary near the hamlet of Madden in 1998 and by 2000 had started a small greenhouse that has […] Read more
Alta. unveils aid plan for snowstorm, flooding damage
The Alberta government has announced $203.5 million in disaster recovery money for communities hard hit by severe spring snowstorms and flooding. The $200 million Southern Alberta Disaster Recovery Program offers assistance to people and municipalities across the south following severe flooding caused by a series of intense rainstorms June 15-21.Another $3.5 million is set aside […] Read more
Grizzly deemed threatened species
Grizzly bears have been designated a threatened species in Alberta.“Grizzly bears in Alberta are at a certain amount of risk for a number of reasons,” said Mel Knight, minister of sustainable resource development, in a June conference call.In 2002, a recovery plan was initiated for the bears that included population and habitat information. The bears […] Read more
Stampede takes action on animal welfare
The Calgary Stampede has set up an animal care advisory panel in attempts to improve animal safety.The panel started meeting earlier this spring to ensure adherence to codes of practice, the animal protection act and specific Stampede rules.Stampede president David Chalack said the goal is to protect the 7,500 animals that participate in the rodeo […] Read more
Cattle ranchers think green
ALEXIS CREEK, B.C. – Al and Bev Madley knew their ranch needed an environmental facelift long before going green was fashionable.Their effort to green up their pastures and better manage their water in one of Canada’s driest regions was recognized last year when they won the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association national environmental stewardship award.Canyon Creek Ranch […] Read more
April snowstorm blamed for June disaster
Alberta farmers left more than 700,000 acres unseeded due to excess moisture, say crop insurance officials.Southern Alberta abandoned 450,000 acres when six weeks of heavy snow and rain kept farmers out of fields that normally grow high value crops like potatoes, dry edible beans, corn and sugar beets.Merle Jacobson of Alberta Farm Financial Services said […] Read more
Alberta hog plant reopens
All restrictions were lifted at an Alberta slaughter plant after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency ruled out foot-and-mouth disease and swine vesicular disease in a load of pigs delivered June 21.Olymel at Red Deer was cleaned and disinfected and resumed business June 23.Routine inspection of hogs prompted federal officials to shut down the plant when […] Read more
Southern Alberta struggles with wet
BOW ISLAND, Alta. – Southern Alberta looks like an emerald oasis of green grass this spring but water is shimmering beneath the plant canopies.Since April 1, about 300 millimetres of moisture in a normally semi-arid region have created wet fields, drowned crops and deep sloughs.“It is more moisture in a spring period than anybody has […] Read more
