Three men representing diverse farming interests have been named to the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame. Jack Gorr Gorr has been involved in grain industry politics, having served as a director of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers and Western Barley Growers Association. He was part of the Gilson task force which resulted in reforms to […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Montana anger could spark action in Washington
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – An anti-dumping petition from a small group of disgruntled cattle producers in Montana may have wide implications. The petition has gone before the American department of commerce where it will be examined for 20 days. If the department decides the complaint has merit, an investigation could be launched into the charges […] Read more
Ranchers see red over land lease allotments
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – Alberta ranchers want to scrap a controversial provincial government review of grazing lease policy. More than 850 ranchers filled a ballroom at a local hotel Oct. 7 to tell politicians the proposed changes won’t work. In spite of assurances from review committee chair Tom Thurber that the report is only a […] Read more
U.S. accuses Canada of cattle dumping
The Canadian beef industry received a blow last week when an American group filed a trade action with the United States commerce department on Oct. 1. The Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Foundation alleges Canada is dumping product into the U.S. and that it gives subsidies for beef and live cattle. The group has focused its complaints […] Read more
Dugouts work best when cows aren’t allowed to wade
Dugouts can be good sources of quality water if they are properly maintained. The best way to do that is to take the water to the animals rather than allow livestock to wade into dugouts. “We’re trying to encourage producers to pump water to their cattle rather than direct watering from the dugout where they […] Read more
Farmers reach across border
BANFF, Alta. – About $1 billion worth of trade happens every day between the United States and Canada. Most is overlooked and many disputes are relatively minor. But those disputes made farmers at a recent grain summit here agree there is room for improvement in the trading environment. Farmers representing all the major commodity groups […] Read more
Farm group blames border clashes on free trade agreement
BANFF, Alta. – When Ken Maki sold his 900-pound yearlings for $58.50 per hundredweight last week, it made the Montana cattle producer wonder if things could get worse. “You might say we gave them away,” he said. American producers like Maki, suffering the pain of low commodity prices, are looking for someone to blame. As […] Read more
Innovative thieves prey on farmers
Livestock thieves have discovered a new way to bilk producers out of their cattle. Alberta’s newest RCMP livestock investigator said as more farmers enter lease agreements with people they don’t know, more of them are being cheated in paper transactions. Cpl. Ed Turco, an 18-year veteran in rural communities who became livestock investigator Aug. 4, […] Read more
Public invited to discuss farm taxes
Farm taxes are coming under review by the Alberta government. A series of public meetings will be held this fall to discuss recommendations on assessment and taxation of farm property, said a government announcement. The municipal government act was passed in 1995 and adjustments to farm tax policy were requested. Taxpayers will be asked to […] Read more
Citizens committee to explore biotech
A citizens committee plans to unravel the mysteries of food biotechnology this winter. The University of Calgary is pulling together a 15 member committee of people from across Canada to discuss the implications of genetically engineered foods. The committee is selected from about 150 applicants who submitted resumes after the proposal was advertised across the […] Read more
