Up to $2.5 million has been committed to Olds College to start the development of value-added projects over the next five years. “If we’re going to have new value-added development in this province, we have got to make sure the underlying science and technology, research and development capability is present,” said Avac president Bruce Healy. […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Malls save fast-food chain from oblivion
When the going gets tough, the tough go to the mall. Setting up restaurants in shopping malls was the salvation of A & W Canada, said the company’s chief executive officer Jeff Mooney, who has worked for the chain since 1973. The fast-food chain’s renewal of fortunes was based on willingness to take risks and […] Read more
Nutritional benefit touted in pork ads
ACME, Alta. – In the age of the remote control, many people surf past television commercials. This is apparently not the case for a series of ads placed by Alberta’s pork producers where TV proved to be a valuable promotion tool. The success of the Roy and Bif commercials last year drew more than 200,000 […] Read more
Livestock regulations get another going over
Alberta’s intensive livestock regulations are going back to the country for further evaluation. The authors of the regulations want to get the rules right the first time, said Aaron Falkenberg. He is head of an advisory group overseeing the proposals. “We’re trying to build consensus ahead of time,” he said. It is hoped the legislation […] Read more
Proper storage temperature key to meat quality, safety
LACOMBE, Alta. – For almost 20 years, Agriculture Canada scientists at Lacombe have subjected steaks and pork chops to a battery of tests that probe and poke every square inch of the meat. They’ve chilled it, cooked it, tasted it and spoiled it to find the safest way to handle meat that ensures food safety […] Read more
Alberta pork board splits into two entities
ACME, Alta. – The Alberta Pork Producers Development Corp. is separating its marketing and promotion divisions into two independent companies. The Western Hog Exchange will become a non-profit company that buys slaughter hogs while the Alberta Pork Producers Development Corp. will handle pork promotion, research and lobbying. This latter side of the corporation is called […] Read more
Industry wants aid fine-tuned
ACME, Alta. – Fearing their colleagues will be bankrupt next year, some Alberta pork producers want the provincial government to retool its farm disaster program. Special loans and provincial aid from the Farm Income Disaster Program are not enough to bail people out of the one of the worst price declines in history. Two consecutive […] Read more
Pork producers to press gov’t for better price investigation
ACME, Alta. – The hog price disaster of the last six months still has producers reeling. Prices remain about 25 cents per kilogram below the cost of production and during a producers’ meeting here, about 60 kilometres northeast of Calgary, farmers resolved to get to the root of the problem. That may require a national […] Read more
Canada vows action on beef
Canada will retaliate if the European Union fails to meet a mid-May deadline set by the World Trade Organization for opening its borders to beef produced with growth hormones, warns the federal government. “Should the EU fail to comply with the WTO ruling, Canada will seek further recourse under the WTO, including compensation or suspension […] Read more
Familiar grading helps sell meat
For the Canadian beef industry, the name’s the thing when it comes to selling into international markets. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has asked Ottawa to rename beef grades and create grading equivalency with the United States Department of Agriculture grading system. “USDA Choice is the benchmark,” said Cindy Delaloye of the Canadian Beef Grading Agency. […] Read more
