RED DEER – Setting a target of a 90 percent farrowing rate on a hog farm is possible but maintaining that level is the real success story. “There are people who work to get the farm working and there is stockmanship,” said Egidijus Mickevicius of Pig Improvement Canada. Mickevicius and Pat Monaghan of Paragon Pork […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Alta. plots land use strategy
RED DEER – When Alberta’s land use plan is completed, all provincial jurisdictions are expected to fall in line. Alberta has a natural resource-based economy with a growing population and land use conflicts are growing, said Morris Seiferling, the assistant deputy minister in charge of the land use secretariat that will implement the provincial plan. […] Read more
Washington feedlot owner miffed by COOL
A Washington feedlot owner is suing the United States Department of Agriculture over its country-of-origin labelling law. “We think it is a flawed law. They should set aside the COOL rule as it pertains to beef and rewrite it,” said Cody Easterday Oct. 31. He said the law contradicts the North American Free Trade Agreement […] Read more
Advocate has land value advice
RED DEER – A call to the Alberta farmers’ advocate office can provide information on land values across the province to producers negotiating energy leases. More than half the time at the office is spent helping rural people work with energy companies, the surface rights board and the Energy Resources Conservation Board, said farmer’s advocate […] Read more
Water problems have many possible causes
RED DEER – A drilling crew is working on a gas well and within days the neighbouring farm well loses pressure or the water starts to stink. The first reaction is likely to blame the energy company but hydrogeologist Alec Blyth of the Alberta Research Council says that might not be justified. Blyth told the […] Read more
Energy companies blamed for spread of clubroot
RED DEER – When clubroot is found around entry points to farm fields, energy companies are often blamed. Clubroot is a disease that affects canola, mustard, cabbage, broccoli, radish, turnips and camelina. It has been discovered in at least 12 Alberta counties, particularly around Edmonton and in southeastern Alberta, devastating yields and killing plants. Keeping […] Read more
Weed problems growing in West
RED DEER – Weeds across Western Canada are getting worse and as more land is disturbed, new enemies appear. “Wherever there is human activity, whether it is recreational or industrial, that is where you are going to find weeds,” said Marian Jones with the Alberta department of sustainable development. “Our vistas are no longer natural […] Read more
Drilling, exploration cause rural discord
RED DEER – Alberta’s energy regulator wants to put on a friendlier public face. “At one time the regulator would set policy without any regard for the stakeholders,” Marilyn Craig of the Energy Resources Conservation Board told the Alberta Synergy meeting in Red Deer Oct. 28. “That has changed.” Craig said increased exploration and drilling […] Read more
Livestock plan gets cautious support
COCHRANE, Alta. – Alberta producers continue to debate the pros and cons of their province’s new meat and livestock strategy. A compromise resolution passed at an Alberta Beef Producers zone meeting Oct.27 called for the organization to support the province’s proposal even if it has flaws. “We recognize there are issues with some of the […] Read more
E. coli vaccine gets full approval
A vaccine for cattle to reduce the amount of E. coli passed in manure has received full approval from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Designed as a food safety vaccine, it will be manufactured and marketed by Bioniche Life Sciences under the trade name Econiche. Vaccine supplies will be limited during the early manufacturing period, […] Read more
