Disposing of plastic silage bags, jugs and twine is a growing challenge. All plastic can be recycled into products as diverse as polyester clothing, carpeting and fence posts, but twine, silage bags, grain covers and containers present a special challenge. “It is very valuable material, but it is very dirty and recyclers don’t want it,” […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Waste not
The highway view of Schooten Custom Feedyard is one of a well maintained farm with tidy buildings, orderly pens of cattle and neat rows of rich black compost. “This is a better way to show the public the image of how we handle our manure,” said Shane Schooten, who farms north of Lethbridge with his […] Read more
Food scraps feed soil
From potato peels to Halloween pumpkins, Shirley Lupino will gladly take it all. The Olds, Alta., College composting technician works with Mountainview Regional Waste Commission and the college to manage organic waste from households, farms and the campus. The composting centre has been operating since 1995 as a research facility, but it also accepts material […] Read more
Sask. Angus family offers scholarships
REGINA – A potential $15,000 in scholarship money for junior beef producers has been offered by a Saskatchewan farm family. Blairs.Ag Cattle Co., owned by Kevin and Noreen Blair and cousin Darren and Deb Blair, decided it was time to give something back after years of success in the agriculture business. The solution was a […] Read more
New Alta. livestock rules
New Alberta livestock legislation comes into effect Jan. 1. One law deals with livestock identification and the other with animal health. Adrienne Waller, counsel for Alberta Beef Producers, said the Livestock Identification and Commerce Act received royal assent in 2006 and is a consolidation of the Brand Act, Livestock Identification and Commerce Act and Livestock […] Read more
Pork producers grapple with brand
Pork producers need to find ways to encourage people to buy Canadian meat if they are to save their industry. Alberta pork producers developed a strategy earlier this year but it already needs a rewrite because of changing market conditions, analysts told the organization’s annual meeting Dec. 4. “It is not just about Canada or […] Read more
Pork producers seek new customers
LETHBRIDGE – The average Canadian pork consumer is often middle-aged with an income of more than $50,000 who wants to buy domestically produced meat. Serving that group and finding new fans is one of the many challenges the pork industry faces as it seeks to build a wider customer base among those who can afford […] Read more
Alta. producers leery of strategy
Beef producers remain anxious over Alberta’s Livestock and Meat Strategy. The government strategy, which was first announced in June, resulted in considerable debate at the Alberta Beef Producers annual meeting Dec. 8-10, where delegates were assured it is a catalyst to put the once powerful industry back on its feet. Alberta agriculture minister George Groeneveld […] Read more
Gelbvieh breeders want commercial recognition
OLDS, Alta. – A purebred show that caters to commercial beef producers is the aim of a Gelbvieh weekend. Held in Olds Dec. 6, the event was part of the Alberta British Columbia Gelbvieh Association annual meeting. It featured a commercial Gelbvieh heifer pen show of replacement females that were uniform in size and consistent […] Read more
Meat consumption up, but beef losing out
A 20 year decline in beef demand has been blamed on U.S. and Canadian producers who did not give customers what they wanted. “The dollars that come into this industry are going to come from consumers and that is the only source of new growth and prosperity and opportunity,” Kansas State University agriculture economist Ted […] Read more
