As the demand for better beef grows, Galloway breeders want to make sure they aren’t left behind. The hardy Scottish cattle are among the original British breeds imported to Canada. Like other British cattle they were developed for beef production only and have a reputation for producing well-marbled meat. Although their numbers are small, Galloway […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Leftover sheep parts pose quandary for producers
INNISFAIL, Alta. – Disposing of sheep offal has become a processors’ headache because renderers don’t want to risk coming across scrapie. Alberta rendering plants won’t accept lamb and sheep byproducts from Canada West Foods at Innisfail because of the controversy linking bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, to scrapie in sheep and subsequently to […] Read more
European agriculture entering age of change
The challenges facing European farmers are split across geographic lines. Among the 15 nations of the European Union the main farm issues are declining government subsidies and surplus production, as opposed to central and eastern European countries where lack of government support and poor crop yields impede progress. Erwin Reisch, of the University of Hohenheim […] Read more
Alberta’s irrigation districts make plea for more power
PICTURE BUTTE, Alta. – For nearly a century, irrigation has made southern Alberta bloom by delivering water to thirsty crops on 1.4 million acres of land. A review committee set up to revise the irrigation act of 1967 heard from farmers and others with a stake in irrigation projects at public meetings July 22-24. Many […] Read more
Markets strong despite strike
A two-week-old strike at Canada’s largest beef processor hasn’t disrupted cattle markets at home or offshore. Slaughter cattle have been shipped to other plants like Lakeside-IBP at Brooks, Alta., XL Foods in Calgary or the United States. Among feeders, bids have been competitive from other buyers besides Cargill. Jim Graham, a partner in the family-operated […] Read more
New Zealand farmers more efficient without subsidies
When farmers are taken off the government dole, they are forced to think in a different way. New Zealand faced that scenario in 1984 when the newly elected Labour government decided it could no longer afford the subsidies paid to agriculture. Farm subsidies dropped from 34 percent to three percent of farm income, said Nicola […] Read more
Quality wool key to llama breeding future
RED DEER, Alta. – When Vicky Ginsberg judges a llama show, she thinks of these exotic, wide-eyed animals as just another form of livestock. A llama breeder from Ohio, Ginsberg watches how the animal walks, how it carries itself and whether it has that elusive quality of presence. It should be alert, have bright, curious […] Read more
Big prizes make Stampede interesting
Big crowds, big shows and big bucks made this year’s Stampede another success. More than $700,000 was paid out in rodeo purses and in the barns big money went to winners in the 41 livestock shows as well. A Charolais cow with twin heifer calves and a Limousin bull were the supreme beef breed champions […] Read more
Americans conclude Canadian beef is not disruptive: review
An American trade review of the North American beef industry has come out in Canada’s favor. Released last week, the report said United States beef and cattle imports are in balance. While Canada accounts for the majority of American beef imports, it does not disrupt the market. “The NAFTA does not appear to have resulted […] Read more
Money coming for Alberta farmers
Payments worth $50 million under the arable acres supplementary payment program begin this month. Federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief and Alberta minister Ed Stelmach announced the payment last week. Payments started July 7 to about 30,000 farmers and the remaining 20,000 eligible applicants should have cheques by September. The arable acres program makes payments on […] Read more
