The Saskatchewan arm of the federal Liberal party is coming to Ottawa this week to try to convince their government that rail deregulation is going too far too fast. A resolution from a Regina-area Liberal riding association to the March 19-22 national Liberal Party convention, adopted by the Saskatchewan Liberal Association as a priority resolution, […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Weather forecast: dry, drier
Very dry sums up moisture conditions in Alberta where snow cover has been almost non-existent in an El Nino controlled winter. “A good wet April could go a long way toward putting us back to normal,” said Al Howard, soil moisture specialist for Alberta Agriculture. Soil conditions this spring depend on how farmers managed the […] Read more
Little spring runoff likely, reservoirs OK
Much of Saskatchewan’s grain belt will see little runoff this spring, but reservoirs should fill enough to allow one spring irrigation. “Fortunately, the position is that we are in fairly good shape on lakes and reservoirs because of the high runoff of 1997,” said Alex Banga of Sask Water, the crown corporation that manages Saskatchewan’s […] Read more
Pitic 62 wheat rates number one with Alta. rancher
HIGH RIVER, Alta. – An old wheat variety has found a niche in the swath grazing program of one Alberta rancher. Doug Wray of Irricana has used Pitic 62 for swath grazing for the last four years. His family grew it as a utility wheat years ago and discovered it made excellent greenfeed. A semi-dwarf […] Read more
More mileage found in nuisance tires
AIRDRIE, Alta. – Paul Steffanson, a semi-retired farmer from High Level, Alta., has figured out a new use for old tires. He proposes turning them into fences, corrals, barricades, wildlife barriers or dikes. He has patented the design concept and is looking for a partner to help take his hobby to the business development stage. […] Read more
What does your headache like?
DENVER, Colo. – Most headache sufferers don’t need a picture of their brains to prove they’re in pain. Recent information about the cause of headaches is opening the door to new treatment programs, said Judy Lane, a neurologist who runs a headache clinic at Colorado State University. “A CAT scan shows you the anatomy of […] Read more
Feedlot Alley to cut back?
A draft bylaw that proposes a slowdown on intensive livestock operations in designated areas of the County of Lethbridge is being taken to the public. The southern Alberta municipality dubbed Feedlot Alley, has the highest concentration of intensive livestock in Canada and received national attention because of reports about the tonnes of manure produced annually […] Read more
Lawyer advises how to avoid complaints
BANFF, Alta. – Thorough knowledge of local and provincial regulations is essential when building a new hog barn or cattle feedlot. Applications to build such facilities can divide communities, said Keith Wilson, an Edmonton lawyer who specializes in agricultural issues. Often a core group of three or four people band together to launch pressure and […] Read more
Hoss Hammer signs off in Alberta
After 42 years on the air and four million kilometres on the road as a farm broadcaster, Hoss Hammer signed off Feb. 28 at the Farmers Ladies Bonspiel in Red Deer, Alta. The voice of Hoss Hammer has been heard over the airwaves at CKGY 1170 in Red Deer for 23 years. In an interview […] Read more
Fifteen-year-old cattle breeder takes the sales ring by storm
When Mike Imler’s bulls walked into the ring at the Calgary Bull Sale, auctioneer Dan Skeels told people to bid now because they won’t be able to afford this breeder’s herd sires five years from now. Judging from the competitive bidding for the two-year-old Simmentals, Skeels may be right. This year’s sale was a triumph […] Read more
