A ravenous grey insect is chewing its way across Alberta canola fields. The cabbage seedpod weevil, an immigrant from the northwestern United States, has been found in fields across southern Alberta. Recent reports of sightings have also come in from Maple Creek, Sask., but scientists in that province are hoping to contain the problem. In […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Western icon dies
Grant MacEwan, the grand man of letters who wrote of the prairie experience in more than 55 books, died June 16 in Calgary at the age of 97. For former Western Producer editor Keith Dryden, life with MacEwan as agriculture editor at the farm paper was memorable. MacEwan had run for a Liberal seat in […] Read more
Rumor says AIDA is brokeBarley group to decide next move against wheat board
The Alberta Barley Commission and individual producers have lost their constitutional appeal against the monopoly powers of the Canadian Wheat Board. The federal court of appeal has decided against overturning the 1997 court decision that ruled the wheat board did not contravene the Canadian constitution. The commission has yet to decide its next move, said […] Read more
Overhauling the pot roast
When it comes to preparing an old-fashioned roast beef dinner, many people are reluctant because they might turn expensive meat into shoe leather. And for households with two or three people, a roast beef is often a waste because no one wants to eat the leftovers. This spring the Beef Information Centre is working with […] Read more
Angus registrations keep rolling along
If 1999 was stellar for Canadian Aberdeen Angus Association numbers, 2000 is taking them to another plane. By this May, there were more purebred Angus cattle registrations than had been recorded in all of 1999. The association has had nine years of steady growth. In 1999, more than 65,000 purebred Angus cattle were recorded; 47,000 […] Read more
Cattle performance depends on genetics
RED DEER – Scientists don’t shout “eureka” every time a new discovery is made about the genetic code. Instead, each small revelation takes researchers closer to understanding how genes reveal themselves in individuals. Stephen Moore, who holds the beef genomics chair at the University of Alberta, is involved in genetic mapping of cattle. He tracks […] Read more
Alpaca, llama fibre focus shifts from fluff to curls
RED DEER – After 13 years of selling llamas on the runway, the Legacy Classic sale has become more than a showcase for a pretty face. This year’s sale average for alpacas was $8,840, down from last year’s average of $12,000. The llama sale average nearly doubled to $5,800 from 1999’s $3,900. “This was a […] Read more
Targhee sheep thrive on the range
PICTURE BUTTE, Alta. – Stan Lundberg faces the wrath of an angry ewe every time he picks up one of his Targhee lambs. He doesn’t mind its glowering and growling because that’s the kind of mothering he wants from his Targhees. The breed was developed in Idaho in 1926 by high plains producers who wanted […] Read more
Farm gives sick horses TLC
For a retired thoroughbred like Demi, every day at Horse Haven Farms is like a visit to the spa. A successful racehorse cum show jumper, Demi had developed an attitude problem. He was banished to the100-acre Horse Haven at the edge of Calgary city limits this spring. Under the care of horse trainer Lloyd Ray, […] Read more
Bankruptcy leaves grass seed company’s future in jeopardy
The bankruptcy of an American-based forage seed company has left stranded a group of Alberta farmers and company employees. Nevada-based AgriBioTech Ltd. declared bankruptcy in February. Its Canadian operation, ABT Canada, is now up for sale. Pickseed Canada has a letter of intent to buy the Canadian arm but company spokesperson Shannon Summers said it […] Read more
