INNISFAIL, Alta. – Ed Palkot sees red every harvest and after 65 years on the combine, the Innisfail senior would not have it any other way. Since he started farming in 1942, the implement of his choice has been Massey Ferguson. He retired from full-time farming in 1994, but is back every year to help […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Brand inspector’s dream realized in history book
High RIver, Alta. – Hank Pallister was a collector of friends and stories. Just before he died in April 2005, he had planned to collect those stories in a book to tell the social history of ranching in southern Alberta. For almost 20 years, his columns had appeared in Alberta Beef magazine, weekly newspapers and […] Read more
Beef must meet consumer demands
Gail Hall considers herself a food activist who wants to buy nutritious, locally grown food. A professional caterer and food consultant in Edmonton, Hall is part of the baby boomer population whose members realize they have lived more than half of their lives and are seeking healthy foods to increase longevity. “We have more money […] Read more
Americans deny approval for E. coli vaccine
A Canadian vaccine designed to prevent cattle from shedding a potentially fatal E. coli strain has been denied approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The vaccine manufacturer Bioniche Life Sciences plans to meet with American officials during the next few weeks to provide additional information on the efficacy of the product so it can […] Read more
BSE lawsuit moves ahead
A group of Canadian cattle producers has moved a trade challenge against the United States one step further. An international trade tribunal in Washington, D.C., heard a multimillion-dollar claim against the U.S. government under the North American Free Trade Agreement Oct. 9-10. The case was filed in August 2004 by more than 120 producers, mostly […] Read more
Profits elude Canadian meat packers
The lights may go out in more Canadian beef plants as rising costs, labour shortages and excess slaughter capacity chew away at packer profitability. Brian Nilsson, co-chief executive officer of XL Foods and Nilsson Bros., said the consequence could be more cattle moving south for slaughter. He gave his assessment of the beef packing sector […] Read more
American cattle groups oppose open border
A resolution of disapproval against the U.S. Department of Agriculture rule to open the border to older Canadian cattle and beef has been introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The move to halt trade through the legislative process rather than seeking court injunctions did not surprise Canadian officials who are watching the […] Read more
Aussies fight for edge in trade
For export-savvy Australia, the world is its marketplace, gained through free trade agreements and a take-no-prisoners attitude in negotiations. As more bilateral agreements are written between Australia, Mexico, China and Malaysia, countries like Canada are conspicuous by their absence. Canada may not get into as many free trade agreements because the government is not willing […] Read more
Changing meat market hurts Canadian exports
Changing dynamics in the world meat market have taken a toll on export dependent Canada over the past five years, say two international market watchers. A weakening American dollar, strong new competitors, changing demands for red meat and export markets lost due to animal disease added up to major market disruptions, said Fiona Boal, who […] Read more
Pork tries new promotion
Canadian pork producers and processors are attempting to raise the fortunes of a sagging industry. Pork Marketing Canada was launched Sept. 26 as a partnership between producers, packers, processors, retailers and food service businesses to encourage Canadians to try pork again, said Roy Kruze, new manager of the organization based in Calgary. With hog prices […] Read more
