CAROLINE, Alta. – Sandwiched between two national parks and sharing land with other users, Clearwater County in west-central Alberta has its own set of challenges when trying to control weeds on native range. Home to 1,200 farmers, the 8,200 sq. mile county is between Banff and Jasper national parks. There is extensive logging, oil and […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Dandelions symptom of bigger problem
CAROLINE, Alta. – A carpet of bright yellow flowers in a pasture may be a symptom of other problems, says a range management specialist. “Dandelions are the symptom. They are not necessarily a problem by themselves,” said Albert Kuipers, forage manager of the Grey Wooded Forage Association in central Alberta. “Nature hates a void so […] Read more
Fruit, veggies easiest way to improve health
OLDS, Alta. – If people ate more fruit and vegetables, they would be healthier and less reliant on supplements. “The best known functional foods are fruits and vegetables,” said researcher Joe Mazza at the Alberta Natural Health Agricultural Network meeting in Olds. Part of his work at Agriculture Canada’s research centre in Summerland, B.C., is […] Read more
Essential fatty acids important: doctor
BANFF, Alta. – When an eight-month-old baby arrived at the University of Alberta hospital with oozing skin lesions and overall poor health, a quick thinking doctor diagnosed the problem as a fatty acid deficiency. “The mother had been feeding this kid Coffee Mate as the main source of nutrition and it has no essential fatty […] Read more
Alberta beef industry told to get processing
The Alberta government will not invest in packing plants to salvage its livestock industry struggling through an 11th month of BSE market sanctions. “It will be an initiative of the private sector,” said Alberta agriculture minister Shirley McClellan. The province plans to work with the industry while it waits for an announcement on when the […] Read more
Ranchers cope in post-BSE era
WOOD MOUNTAIN, Sask. – On a day when most ranchers should feel upbeat, Terry and Barbara Moneo approached their 15th annual spring bull and female sale on April 16 with trepidation. The BSE crisis has probably cost the long-time purebred Angus breeders and owners of Peak Dot Ranch about $500,000 since the borders closed to […] Read more
Composting good option for horse manure
AIRDRIE, Alta. – There are more than 300,000 horses in Alberta and each one drops about 15 kilograms of manure plus a few litres of urine a day. Before long, the horse lover is staring at a manure pile that has become a breeding ground for insects, parasites and water contamination. “Even with a little […] Read more
Marbling gene test a crystal ball on herd
It is hard to believe that a hair with the root attached can reveal an animal’s feed efficiency, but that is the basis of a new genetic test. Beef and dairy producers can collect hair, semen, blood or milk and submit samples to see if their animals carry a desirable form of the leptin gene. […] Read more
U.S. allows bone-in meat cuts
Canadian livestock producers are relieved that the United States has expanded its list of Canadian meat products allowed into the U.S., but they still have questions. Arno Doerksen, chair of Alberta Beef Producers, said no specific market value has been attached to the increased product list, and there is still no indication when live animals […] Read more
BSE aid helps some more than others
When Saskatchewan beef producer Eugene Embree calculated his share of a billion dollar BSE support program, he soon realized he was entitled to less than $1,000. The euphoria of prime minister Paul Martin’s announcement to bail out livestock producers hurt in the BSE crisis was soon tempered with reality as livestock producers counted their inventory […] Read more
