BANFF, Alta. – Plentiful supplies of sunshine and water in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley offer major incentives for people moving to area. However, a 2004 study warned that water supply will not be able to keep up with population increases, said Wenda Mason of Land and Water B.C., the agency responsible for monitoring the province’s […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
U.S. BSE case calls testing into question
A positive case of BSE on American soil has raised questions about how the United States tests for the disease. U.S. Department of Agriculture officials have launched an investigation into the origins of the infected cow, rumoured to be from Texas. Brain samples taken from the animal were tested and pronounced negative last November. After […] Read more
Resumption of beef trade still up to American courts
A positive BSE case in the United States is not expected to affect the ongoing fight to resume trade in live cattle with Canada. “This simply does not change our position relative to reopening the border. We’re going to continue to aggressively pursue that litigation to a successful result,” said U.S. secretary of agriculture Mike […] Read more
Rapid tests dominate at BSE labs
International concern over diseases such as BSE is pressuring scientists to develop better diagnostic tools. “Everybody is hoping for a breakthrough,” says Shane Renwick, director of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s animal health laboratory service. “It is something that would be extremely valuable, helping the industry worldwide and helping us put a lid on this […] Read more
Canada uses precise BSE testing procedure
When it comes to confirming a potential BSE case, Canada’s policy is to test, retest and test again. “The chance of human error is very low,” said Shane Renwick, director of animal health lab service with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Renwick is one of a few scientists who saw the BSE sample from Canada’s […] Read more
Skeptics sound alarm over live test claims
The watchword is caution when it comes to discovering a BSE test that can be done on a live animal. The recent announcement of a live test from a Calgary company has some scientists warning against too much optimism. “There is a lot of research going on around the world and some projects in Canada. […] Read more
4-H member finishes with grand champion
TABER, Alta. – Blare Friesen ended her 4-H career on a high note when she won grand champion steer at the Taber and area show and sale June 4. The 16 year old from Vauxhall, Alta., has been in the program for eight years and decided to retire so she can devote more time to […] Read more
Calgary firm claims live test for BSE
A Calgary company has announced the world’s first live test for BSE. Bill Hogan of the newly formed Vacci-Test Corp. is confident the test will pass international scrutiny so the product can go on the market this fall. “We have political hurdles to overcome … we don’t have any more scientific hurdles. We have the […] Read more
Trained taste testers get to bottom of food
SUMMERLAND, B.C. – Most people can taste a food or drink and know whether they like it or not, but it takes a trained taster to determine whether wine tastes like geraniums, or a new juice blend might please children. At Agriculture Canada’s Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland, the sensory evaluation program uses humans […] Read more
Surging rivers flood farms, homes in Alta.
Unprecedented rainfall over two weekends has turned Alberta rivers into torrents of water that drag away trees and property and flood homes. Those living along the swollen rivers say this is the worst they have seen. “They’re saying this is a 200 year flood,” said Kim Nielson, rancher and agriculture fieldman with Clearwater County in […] Read more
