SMITHERS, B.C. – Canada still relies too heavily on a single market to buy its beef. That market is the United States and the past year has been fraught with trade disputes because the Americans accuse Canada of dumping, selling beef into the U.S. below the cost of production or Canadian market prices. “The development […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Land claim issues worry ranchers
SMITHERS,B.C. – Agriculture must continue to have a strong voice during land settlement negotiations, say members of the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association. “The principle we cement into these treaties will define B.C.’s future landscape so it is essential we get it right,” said Duncan Barnett, who works part time for the association on land claim […] Read more
More money to conquer weeds urged
SMITHERS, B.C. – As thistles and knapweed spread over British Columbia, frustration grows among agricultural groups. “We’re at a stalemate with the government,” said Doug Haughton, chair of the noxious weeds committee for the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association. The government budgeted $218,000 this year to fight a growing list of noxious weeds but cattle producers say […] Read more
Alberta ranchers feel betrayed
DRUMHELLER, Alta. – The skies were grey and the mood black as Alberta cattle producers rode on horseback to protest the passage of a controversial grazing bill. The 300 leaseholders wanted a word with Alberta premier Ralph Klein, who was inside the Royal Tyrell Museum of Paleontology with other western premiers in mid-May. He didn’t […] Read more
Feedlots expected to pay more for replacement calves
SMITHERS, B.C. – Tight feeder markets are forecast for the coming year, which could prompt competitive bidding among feedlots, an industry analyst says. Record numbers of heifers have been slaughtered in Canada so the supply of new calves will be tight. Feedlots will have to start buying more lightweight calves. “We have pushed a lot […] Read more
Beef promotion takes money
SMITHERS, B.C. – The cattle industry does not intend to fiddle as demand for its product fizzles. But stretching the dollars to generate beef demand is the greatest challenge, a group was told at the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association meeting here. The beef industry’s five year development fund of $5.2 million runs out this year, […] Read more
Alta. grazing leases change despite ranchers’ protest
DRUMHELLER, Alta. – A controversial law that changes grazing lease policy has been approved by the Alberta legislature just before it adjourned for summer. The Agricultural Dispositions Statutes Amendment Act, Bill 31, will not become law until regulations have been written this summer and fall, said Tom Thurber, who led a government committee to examine […] Read more
Vulcan beams up Star Trek traffic
VULCAN, Alta. – A lone cowboy scans the pages of a newspaper left behind at the Burger King, while Lieut. Commander Jordie LaForge, chief engineer of the Starship Enterprise (of Next Generation stock), watches nearby. Neither is caught in a time warp. This is Vulcan, a prairie town of 1,500 people which has embraced the […] Read more
Llamas, alpacas in spotlight
Ten-year-old Emily Wall walks nervously up to the judge with her yearling alpaca in front of a crowd of people she doesn’t know. From that point, judge Jane Tellier checks the alpaca’s teeth and feels the depth and quality of fleece. She expertly feels the animal’s body to check its bone structure and has a […] Read more
More studies will delay opening European beef market
& Reuters News Agency news Canada and the United States plan to strike back at the European Union after it refused to abide by a World Trade Organization order to allow imports of hormone-treated beef. The May 13 deadline passed with the ban still in place. The next move in this decade-old trade dispute involves […] Read more
