D-day is drawing closer for Simon Goodwin. “Nov. 30 is my year end. Then I’ll sit down and make a decision whether we can stay in business,” said the hog farmer from Calmar, Alta. Goodwin is not the first to think about getting out of the pork business, which is battered by low prices, high […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Belgian breeder hits big time
A love of Belgians prompted Gerald Hendry to buy his first draft horse in 1994. He liked the gentle giants so much, he became a Belgian breeder and has expanded his Kronau, Sask., herd to 25 breeding horses. The years of careful selection and calculations paid off when his three-year-old Belgian mare was named best […] Read more
Quality Holsteins take spotlight
Supplying the world with top end dairy genetics is the tradition at Rocky Mountain Holsteins. Holstein bidders from around the world crowded into a sales tent or joined via the internet to bid on highly rated females from across Canada at the Rocky Mountain High sale held July 2 at the farm west of Calgary. […] Read more
B.C. looks at beefing up cattle sector
British Columbia has established a task force it hopes will generate new ideas to help rebuild the province’s sagging beef sector. “The focus is on regulatory change and initiatives and steps that we can take within the current resources that the ministry has available,” said provincial agriculture minister Steve Thomson. There is no additional government […] Read more
Ducks get top billing on ranch
Ranching next to a Ducks Unlimited wetland project that includes 50 ponds has required David and Karen Reinhardt to be willing to make concessions on their property near Strathmore, Alta. Known as the Honan-Fresno project, the conservation plan first started in 1947 and was funded by California sportsmen. Honan was the name of the original […] Read more
Alberta speeds up crop insurance claims
Alberta producers who plan to let cows graze their crops must call crop insurance offices. They will likely receive permission over the phone and won’t have to wait for an adjuster’s visit. Agriculture Financial Services Corp. is working with producers to assess the impact of dry conditions on crops and livestock across the province. Adjusters […] Read more
WI ponders younger image
Women’s Institute members are carrying on the tradition of volunteer work, but are finding it a struggle to convince younger women to join the cause. Long known as an organization for rural women across Canada, WI works to stay current with modern issues while maintaining core values of education and social networking for women. The […] Read more
Women handle big wheels
Getting a job on a construction crew is a major career change for 15 women enrolled in a heavy equipment operator program through Olds College and Women Building Futures. The program is designed to train women to run heavy construction equipment as well as understand what to expect in a traditionally man’s world, said Leslie […] Read more
Finances need care in drought
CLARESHOLM, Alta. – Dry conditions are forcing farmers to make hard decisions this year. Now is the time to examine the farm’s balance sheet and find financial options, says a tax specialist. “If you are going to stay in the industry, how can you adjust to stay in?” Merle Good of Alberta Agriculture asked a […] Read more
Drought requires diligent range management
CLARESHOLM, Alta. – Most Alberta pastures are late this year because of cold weather and half the normal precipitation. For many regions, no decent rain has fallen in a year and eight municipalities in northeastern and central Alberta have declared themselves agriculture disaster areas: the municipal districts of Wainwright, Provost and Bonnyville and the counties […] Read more
