A British Columbia farmer considers himself lucky to be alive after a grain bin aerator fan narrowly missed him when it fell down. Walter Linder, who manages a grain farm at Creston, was working in a bin July 16 when a 1,500 pound aerator fan slowly came down as a metal safety strap appeared to […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Dairy promotions make milk fun for teens
A milk drinking caveman and a glass of chocolate milk that gets no respect are two approaches the dairy industry has adopted in attempts to encourage Canadians to drink more milk.”Our real challenge was that milk had lost its luster,” said Katherine Loughlin of Alberta Milk. “It was an old product that had been around […] Read more
Legumes fix nitrogen, reduce feed costs
LACOMBE, Alta. – A symbiotic relationship exists between soil, bacteria and plants to convert nitrogen into nutrients that plants can use. “There is air in the soil and that air is 78 percent nitrogen. Unfortunately the plant can’t use it,” said Arvid Aasen of the Western Forage/Beef Group during a recent pasture school in Lacombe. […] Read more
Angoras born in mohair suits
OLDS, Alta. – With curling tendrils of soft hair covering their eyes and smiling faces, Angora goats look more like toys than living creatures. The glowing cream coloured fibre is the most valuable part of these quiet-natured goats shown during the Mountainview County Fair at Olds. Producing healthy, well developed Angoras with high quality fleece […] Read more
Brother, sister team win with Charolais
OLDS, Alta. – When it comes to showing cattle or facing off at the hockey rink, Brooklyn and Brayden Paget are always competitive. Working with their parents, Darren and Loretta, the family runs New Country Livestock at Donalda, Alta., producing purebred Charolais, a few Simmentals and commercial cattle. Showing cattle to promote their breeding program […] Read more
Canada rejects U.K. meat products
Canada has closed its borders to animals and meat products from Great Britain after foot-and-mouth disease was discovered on two farms Aug. 3. About 570 animals have been killed as a quarantine precaution. No other disease incidents have occurred since and British officials are optimistic the problem has been contained. Canadian producers need to be […] Read more
Anthrax cases continue in some areas
More anthrax cases have been confirmed in Manitoba’s Interlake region. Cases have been confirmed on 15 different premises in the municipalities of Armstrong and Rockwood, said Sandra Stephens of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The disease has been found in horses, cattle and goats. No further cases have been found in Saskatchewan or Alberta but […] Read more
Truck’s role in history often undocumented
IRRICANA, Alta. – When a group of antique truck enthusiasts gathered at Westaskiwin, Alta., in 1991, they melded their penchant for restoring old vehicles with an appreciation of Alberta’s social history. “We are trying to preserve the old trucks and we are trying to get the story of the trucking pioneers,” said Harry Reding, a […] Read more
Grass management key to ranch’s future
CLARESHOLM, Alta. – Owning a ranch in wide open spaces was a lifelong dream for Brian and Shaunere Lane. After years of planning and saving, the couple acquired Brown Creek Ranch from local rancher Margaret Carroll in 1997. Located 33 kilometres west of Claresholm in the southwestern Alberta foothills, the land was once part of […] Read more
Alta. centre celebrates 100 years of research
LACOMBE, Alta. – Agriculture Canada’s Lacombe research centre has evolved from a central Alberta experimental farm to a world class research centre that prefers to remain a practical grassroots laboratory rather than an ivory tower. With researchers more comfortable working in boots and jeans in the field, the centre has released dozens of crop varieties […] Read more
