Farm stewardship improvements covering integrated crop management, manure handling and grazing projects could qualify for money under the government’s Growing Forward program. Alberta producers must complete an environmental farm plan to qualify for funding on a 50:50 cost share basis, said program co-ordinator Jennifer Neden of Alberta Agriculture. The program launch has been delayed from […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Incentives offered for water management
Alberta farmers who develop a long-term water management plan could be eligible for government money. Water management is one of 21 programs under the federal-provincial Growing Forward scheme. In Alberta, many of the water programs have been available for eight years, said Murray Tenove of Alberta Agriculture, but changes have been made for applications and […] Read more
CCIA defends tag price hike
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. – Alberta producers want to know why the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency increased the amount of money it collects on every radio frequency ear tag to 60 from 20 cents. During an Alberta Beef Producers zone meeting in Fort Macleod, Larry Sears of Stavely questioned the need for the extra money. “I […] Read more
Alberta beef producers vote on levy collection
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. – More beef check-off money would be collected from cattle sales if Alberta’s brand inspection agency was in charge. That was the opinion of those who voted during a fall Alberta Beef Producers meeting in Fort Macleod Nov. 2 to support giving Livestock Inspection Services (LIS) the authority to collect the $3 […] Read more
Refundable checkoff could pressure Alta. lamb group
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. – Alberta lamb producers are not only trying to sell more lamb to Canadians but are trying to sell the merits of their organization to producers. The small organization with an annual budget of $157,000, is caught in the crossfire of a bigger battle among beef groups over a refundable checkoff. Alberta […] Read more
Big, red renovation
CARSTAIRS, Alta. – The landmark barn at Riddle Ranch near Carstairs was a major selling point for Garry Goudie when he was shopping for a farm two years ago. The 80-year-old barn is now receiving a facelift that respects the history of the ranch and is environmentally friendly. “I think this old barn is a […] Read more
Audits show cull compliance
Random audits are underway to ensure those who agreed to remove breeding sows from their herds actually did so. The Canadian Association of Swine Veterinarians has been contracted to conduct the audits. The 40 audits that have been completed found all farms were in compliance. The cull breeding program was a $50 million federal initiative […] Read more
Best in dairy at Westerner
RED DEER, Alta. – The Canadian dairy industry continued to showcase its strong position in the livestock world Oct. 31 with one of its largest ever showings of prime Jersey and Holstein cattle. The Westerner Dairy Showcase, held each October in Red Deer, has become a pit stop between the World Dairy Expo in Madison, […] Read more
Unique features in Alta. cattle feeder insurance
NANTON, Alta. – A cattle price insurance policy launched in Alberta in September is designed to ease some of the volatility in the beef market. “Price insurance protects you against a drop in price in Alberta,” said Emmet Hanrahan, project manager of the risk management division of Alberta Financial Services Corp., which is administering the […] Read more
Firm uses DNA to trace pork
An Alberta pork processor is the first Canadian company to adopt DNA technology for tracing the origins of food. Sturgeon Valley Pork in St. Albert started working six months ago with the international DNA company IdentiGEN to identify and trace individual fresh meat cuts. The logo “DNA Traceback, Guaranteed Alberta Pork. It’s in our DNA” […] Read more
