BOW ISLAND, Alta. – After battling the wheat stem sawfly for more than 100 years, a new solid stem wheat could provide some respite for prairie farmers. AC Lillian, a new variety with seed available this fall has yields and protein content similar to AC Barrie with a stem full of pith to starve out […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Breeders of rare cattle seeking successor
Consecutive years of drought and problems brought on by the discovery of BSE are forcing an Alberta ranching couple to retire, bringing an end to 40 years of trying to build a better beef animal. Chuck and Jean Raines named their breed the Mountaineer Breton Spots, creating an animal that is two-thirds Angus with a […] Read more
Unusual breed requires marketing tenacity
OLDS, Alta. – When rancher Paul Froehler decided to try his hand in the beef business instead of finding an off-farm job, he soon learned the pitfalls. “Value-added is a hard way to make money,” he said. He operates the Canadian Celtic Cattle Company, in which he and partners raise beef from Highland, Galloway and […] Read more
Court spells out border opening reasons
Further litigation to keep the American border closed to Canadian cattle and other ruminants is unlikely following the July 25 release of a document from the United States Court of Appeals. The written decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle, Wash., said the lower court based in Billings, Montana, erred in its […] Read more
Beef producers should brace for Brazil: analyst
In the new world of beef, Canadians next worry should be the growth of the Brazilian cattle industry. “There are two big questions: Where is the ceiling and when will fresh Brazilian beef come into North American markets?” said Eduardo Blasina before more than 450 people at the international livestock congress July 15 in Calgary. […] Read more
Man’s best friend? Goats, say owners
OKOTOKS, Alta. – After dogs, goats might be man’s next best friend. For exhibitors at the West National dairy goat show at Okotoks, raising goats is a labour of love whether they are leading out the floppy eared Nubian or the nearly earless LaMancha. There were more than 100 entries representing five breeds for the […] Read more
Compressed hay business relies on quality, traceback
LETHBRIDGE – After 20 years, timothy production remains a success for Alberta hay growers. But Canadian livestock does not get a nibble of this specialty forage exported almost exclusively to Japan and South Korea. About 300,000 tonnes of timothy hay leave 10 Alberta processing plants each year for Asia, where it is fed as a […] Read more
Couple hopes beekeeping becomes sweet deal
OKOTOKS, Alta. – Adding value to a farm product can be fun but it also involves hard work and vision. For beekeepers Cherie and Art Andrews, setting up a honey store on their 80 acre farm south of Okotoks means a list of chores every day. There is tending their 250 hives scattered on 10 […] Read more
Cattle industry watches closely as trade resumes
Slaughter ready cattle began moving to American packing plants this week after the overturning of a March 2 temporary injunction that halted movement of live cattle. News of an open border granted unanimously by a panel of three appeal court judges in the Ninth Circuit Court in Seattle, Washington, on July 14 was received as […] Read more
Red tape awaits cattle shipments
Canadian cattle exporters who want to send cattle to the United States must fulfil detailed requirements as they prepare slaughter and feeder animals for shipment. Producers must provide the exact age of their cattle. If unavailable, the animals will be subjected to a dentition check to guarantee they are younger than 30 months. They must […] Read more
