A quarter of a century’s worth of work with manure has earned a Lethbridge Research Centre scientist the 1999 Emerald Award. Investigations by Agriculture Canada’s Chi Chang into environmental concerns about manure from intensive livestock operations has helped prairie provinces improve codes of practice and manure management strategies. Chang and his colleagues began a long-term […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Inventor’s wheels always turning
NANTON, Alta. – If Harold Andrew runs across an old wheel, discarded wood or a part from an ancient farm implement, he can probably figure out how to breathe new life into it. When he and his wife Florence retired to Nanton from their Parkland, Alta., area farm 26 years ago, Harold felt at loose […] Read more
Involve farmers, educate consumers on biotech
Farmers should be involved in decision making when genetically modified products are on the table, says the head of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. However, when farmers cannot pay their bills, they wonder how they can be heard by the multinational companies that develop these products. “We are beginning to see signs of uneasiness from […] Read more
Canola exports may be at risk
Canada’s canola exports are in jeopardy if other nations refuse to accept genetically altered products. “The canola industry is 81 percent dependent on the export market for seed, oil and meal,” said Dale Adolphe, president of the Canola Council of Canada. About 44 percent of Canadian canola is exported as seed, while close to 40 […] Read more
No simple GMO answer
Dairy farmer David Older is nervous about biotechnology’s unknowns. He sees better yields and healthier stands at harvest time as the main benefits to be reaped from insect-resistant corn and glyphosate-resistant soybeans. Yet he is nagged by questions about unknown consequences for the environment and human health. The Ontario farmer said the moral questions looming […] Read more
Gene tinkering irks Europeans
The French farming system cannot survive without biotechnology, says a representative of a multinational farm chemical company, yet distrust of this new-age agriculture remains widespread. “Our guys won’t trust science,” said Herve de Trogoff, director of DuPont’s global cereal enterprise. While there is no official moratorium on biotechnology in France, there is powerful resistance to […] Read more
City slickers learn how to farm
AIRDRIE, Alta. – With more than 1,000 acres left to combine, Jim Engren took a day off from his Airdrie farm to show 1,200 Calgary kids how a farmer does his job. “I’m racing against frost and we haven’t even got some of the swathing done,” he said as he jumped off his tractor. He […] Read more
Canada gains from Mexico trade action
A Mexican trade action against American beef imports has turned into an opportunity for Canada. Exports to Mexico have increased substantially since the duty was imposed, said Cam Daniels of the Canada Beef Export Federation. “We’re getting a lot more inquiries from Mexico,” he said. In 1998, Canada sold 2,771 tonnes of beef and 1,300 […] Read more
Change will spark more U.S. feeders
Anticipated changes to Canadian animal health rules should open the gate to more American feeder cattle heading north. Industry representatives recently met with federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief to find ways to pull a thorn out of the American cattle producers over issues regarding bluetongue and anaplasmosis restrictions. Overtures to relax rules on cattle from […] Read more
Record prices paid for feeder calves
The rush is on to price this fall’s calves to grab some of the best money paid in recent memory. Large volumes of feeder calves are moving through the ring or via satellite auction, commanding as much as $1.80 per pound for 300 to 400-lb. calves. From Kamloops to Winnipeg, the auction markets are jumping. […] Read more
