The beef industry has declared chicken public enemy number one with a vow to use advertising that puts the bird on the run. The Beef Information Centre celebrates 25 years of operation but the industry has not changed where it counts – getting people to eat more steaks. In fact, beef consumption has dropped to […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Border protest goes ahead despite deal
and Sylvia MacBean Freelance writer news SWEETGRASS, Mont. – As each vehicle pulls up to the window of the United States customs office at this Montana border crossing, near Coutts, Alta., it is waved through after drivers answer the usual questions. They are told not to worry about the people in coveralls and caps who […] Read more
Cattle producers await U.S. ruling
& Reuters News Agency news Christmas 1998 might bring a welcome gift or a lump of coal for Canadian beef producers, depending how the American department of commerce rules on countervail duty and anti-dumping suits filed against live cattle imports. A decision from the department is expected Dec. 22. In testimony before the United States […] Read more
Hog farmers donate meat rather than sell at loss
Greg Meek has to catch his breath while he explains to urban reporters what it feels like to lose more than $30,000 a month on his hog farm. The Acme, Alta., farmer is part of a group of 12 who decided to donate 100 hogs to the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank rather than sell them […] Read more
Alberta irrigation act almost ready
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – A new irrigation act will streamline the flow of water and business for the 13 irrigation districts in Alberta. Irrigation is nearly a century old in this province and the role of the districts and the demands for water have changed. The act was reviewed last year in public meetings and by […] Read more
Cattle sectors work together on I.D. programs
Three different cattle sectors are joining to streamline national identification programs. Beef and dairy, along with the Quebec beef and veal industries, are working to establish a reasonably priced, efficient and accurate means to trace their animals back to their herds of origin by 2000. The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency is developing an approval process […] Read more
Ranchers nervous about species bill
David Pope and Norm Ward fall silent when asked if any endangered species live on their southern Alberta ranches. “I’m not even going to admit they are there,” said Ward, who ranches near Granum. Ranching families who have lived on the same land for three generations are aware which species share their land. But they […] Read more
Irrigators have working model
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – When Bill C-65 died on the order paper last year after a federal election was called, it didn’t kill the concept of an endangered species act. “There is going to be an endangered species act. We can’t stick our heads in the sand and say it is not going to happen,” said […] Read more
Cattle cycle on course for expansion, says analyst
Cattle producers might feel like they are clamped in the vise of low prices, oversupply and low demand, but this turn of the cattle cycle is right on track with those of the past. This is the third year of the liquidation phase and now is the time to expand, said market analyst Anne Dunford […] Read more
Ranchers to pay more
Alberta cattle producers voted to raise their checkoff by 50 cents, increasing the levy to $2 on each sold animal. The approval came at producer meetings held across the province this fall. The checkoff collected by the Alberta Cattle Commission is spent on research, beef promotion and lobbying government. A budget showing the increase will […] Read more
