A hearing date for a preliminary injunction against the rule allowing older Canadian cattle into the United States has been set for Feb. 19 in Sioux Falls, S.D. The R-CALF challenge against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s minimal risk rule comes three months after the border opened on Nov. 19. The regulation allows Canadian cattle […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
U.S. grapples with wild horses
PALOMINO VALLEY, Nev. – The evocative image of the wild mustang as a perfectly proportioned beast running free on the open range is a romantic notion. The reality is that wild horses are apt to be shaggy creatures with less than perfect body structure and temperament. “I don’t think there are any true mustangs,” said […] Read more
Death knell rung for cattle cycle: expert
RENO, Nev. – The traditional cattle cycle that market watchers have followed like clockwork for the past 70 years is near death. “The cattle cycle we have all grown up with is on life support,” Randy Blach of Cattlefax told a seminar Feb. 5 at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention in Reno. As a […] Read more
American beef industry faces uncertain times
RENO, Nev. – American beef producers have entered uncharted territory with a weak dollar, rising costs and high global demand with limited market access. Global trade in commodities such as skim milk powder, rice, palm and soy oil are up but beef is relatively flat, said Brett Stewart, an analyst with Cattlefax. As well, the […] Read more
Ethanol byproducts beneficial when properly used
RENO, Nev. – Twelve ethanol plants are located within a 60 kilometre radius of Howard Mogler’s Iowa feedlot. After a dozen years of blending ethanol byproducts into cattle feed rations, he has learned a thing or two about these alternatives. He also dismisses the bad news stories about sulfur poisoning of calves, foaming liquids and […] Read more
Alberta readies new animal health act
RED DEER – A new Alberta animal health act requiring quicker response to disease outbreaks or other emergencies is expected to be in force this fall. “The faster you can respond, the less impact the disease will have on the province as a whole,” said Gerald Ollis, chief provincial veterinarian. The Animal Health Act was […] Read more
Alta. cattle health study to focus on reproduction
A new cattle health surveillance project is being launched in west-central Alberta. The Sundre Petroleum Operators Group (SPOG) is leading the program, which follows the original study that assessed livestock health in an area with high oil and gas activity. The original study covered eight beef herds and one dairy herd in the Sundre, Olds […] Read more
Development threatens Alta. ecosystems
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. – A grizzly bear sighting is a sure sign of a healthy ecosystem. But a consultant studying the effects of human development in southwestern Alberta says the big bruin is in jeopardy in the region as more roads, more energy exploration and more residential development destroy not only the bear’s habitat but […] Read more
Water, manure practices studied in Alberta
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. – A five-year study to assess the effectiveness of recommended practices for handling manure and other water supply threats starts this spring at two Alberta locations. Andrea Kalischuk of Alberta Agriculture said past studies show agricultural practices can have a detrimental effect on water quality. The test sites in Lacombe County and […] Read more
Trials explore grassland restoration methods
FORT MACLEOD, Alta. – A University of Alberta student hopes to prove native grasses can be restored one plug at a time. Doctoral candidate Steven Tannas is working on four field study sites in southern Alberta in an effort to grow rough fescue and other native plants on well sites after the ground has been […] Read more
