Horse slaughter in Canada has roughly doubled to 100,000 horses per year since the United States banned horse slaughter there last year. That’s according to a report from the Alberta Equine Welfare Group whose membership includes the RCMP, livestock groups and veterinarians. Mexico is also increasing its horse slaughter. U.S. exports to Mexico have risen […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Seed samples require scrutiny
LETHBRIDGE – At first glance every sample on display at a seed show looks identical. Closer examination of each entry under glass reveals a few broken seeds, some chaff or maybe some insect parts. A discerning judge can pick out seeds that received too much nitrogen or those exposed to weathering. More than 400 samples […] Read more
Firm focuses on oilseeds for food, feed
LETHBRIDGE – A plate full of a brown, ground up material that looks like dirt is actually a high value livestock feed derived from sunflowers. It is just one of the products coming from Montana Specialty Mills based in Great Falls and Conrad, Montana. The 60-year-old company processes oilseeds for a variety of livestock feed […] Read more
Natives plan giant farm
LETHBRIDGE – The people of the Blood reserve have decided to take back their southern Alberta land and run Canada’s largest farm on their own. Working through the Blood Tribe agriculture sector created in 1991, the band council hired consultant Shawn Stang as chief executive officer to help the band put their land to work […] Read more
Act soon on farm succession
RED DEER – Passing on the farm can be a touchy subject for some families, but the sooner a succession plan is made the better. Each farm needs a personalized plan, said financial adviser Murray Pituley at the Western Dairy Seminar in Red Deer March 5. “Get independent advice based on your circumstances. Get advice […] Read more
Farm leaders welcome familiar face
One of the strongest Conservative majorities in recent memory should work in agriculture’s favour, say Alberta farm leaders. “Agriculture wasn’t really addressed in the election, which was disappointing, but with the relationships we have built we hope we can keep it in the forefront,” said Russ Pickett, president of the Western Stock Growers’ Association. He […] Read more
BSE answer still elusive
RED DEER – Every bit of information gained from BSE research is another piece in the jigsaw puzzle of brain diseases. Researchers at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at Lethbridge joined a contingent of international scientists trying to understand the origins and pathways of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, those degenerative neurological diseases affecting many species, including […] Read more
Food recalls hurt meat demand
RED DEER – More food recalls are making people nervous, says a University of Alberta researcher. People’s reactions to reports about meat recalls often result in slightly lower consumption even though there is little chance of harm to anyone, said Ellen Goddard, head of rural economy at the university. “We know that realistically these things […] Read more
Egg agency combats cholesterol reputation
RED DEER – The public still links egg consumption to high cholesterol levels, so a new campaign is underway to work with health-care professionals. Posters proclaiming the benefits of eating eggs will be delivered to doctors’ offices and more nutrition literature will be released on a national basis to show eggs do not increase the […] Read more
More farmers want on list for CWB vote
news The Western Barley Growers Association doesn’t want voting in future Canadian Wheat Board directors elections to be limited to CWB permit book holders. A resolution passed at the association’s recent annual meeting proposed that ballots should be available to farmers who have produced 40 tonnes of grains, oilseeds or pulses in the past two […] Read more
