Saskatchewan Wheat Pool has purchased a southern Alberta feed mill at Picture Butte. Butte Feeds, a privately owned company, transfers July 1 to Cangro, a subsidiary of the pool. Operations will continue under the name Butte Feeds, producing rations for cattle, hogs and other livestock. The mill is in the heart of the Alberta feeding […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Institute investigates property rights issues
A property rights institute has opened in Calgary to explore issues ranging from a farmer’s right to sell grain into any market, to the effects the endangered species act may have on ranchers. The Canadian Property Rights Research Institute opened May 20 and is led by a board of directors representing agriculture, real estate, energy […] Read more
Alberta Agriculture sets up help for processors
A corporation that helps companies get a toehold in the world of agricultural processing opened May 28. Named AVAC, A Corporation Adding Value to Agri Products and Services in Alberta, the non-profit company was announced in December to speed up the province’s potential in developing processed foods and non-food products like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or fibre. […] Read more
Reform strength lies west of Sask. border
Coming in second best has granted the Reform party its wish to become the official opposition in the next parliament. The catch is the majority of the party’s 60 seats came from west of Saskatchewan with the largest number in Alberta, where 24 out of 26 Reform candidates easily won. Also, the party’s share of […] Read more
Slaughter cattle exports hit record, feeder exports down
PENTICTON, B.C. – Even with near record reductions in the Canadian cow herd, exports have remained the bright spot for the cattle industry. Sales of slaughter cattle to the United States set a record of almost 1.3 million head in 1996. That includes steers, heifers and culls. Feeder exports are down but the trend shows […] Read more
Polls show Reform leading in Okanagan
PENTICTON, B.C. – As a senior citizen leaves the Reform campaign office in Vernon, he grasps the candidate’s arm and makes a final request. “There’s one thing I want you to do for me when you get back in office. Ban those polls during an election. They cause nothing but trouble.” Reformer Darrel Stinson pro-mises. […] Read more
Ag minister often brings bad news
PENTICTON, B.C. – Since his appointment as British Columbia’s agriculture minister, Corky Evans has become the messenger nobody wants to hear. “I’ve been visiting different farm groups for the last year and informing them of withdrawal of services or the changes in how services will be delivered,” he said in an interview at the B.C. […] Read more
Natural gas bills almost doubled for some Albertans last winter.
Last winter’s record cold that put Albertans in the deep freeze also cost them more money. Natural gas bills almost doubled for some when the winter rate for gas went to $2.492 per gigajoule despite protests from consumers at an Alberta Energy and Utilities Board hearing Feb. 14. The energy and utilities board which approves […] Read more
Canadian demand for lamb sends price to record high
The Canadian lamb market is on fire. Unprecedented demand over the last three years has driven up prices to $1.40 a pound. That has meant lots of sheep and lambs moving from the Prairies to Eastern Canada. “Prices have never been this high,” said sheep specialist Wray Whitmore of Alberta Agriculture. Producers prefer to see […] Read more
AWP builds in southeast
Alberta Wheat Pool is building two new grain facilities in the southeastern part of the province. The high volume steel facilities at Blackie and Brooks are scheduled to open next year. Total cost is $10.3 million. Both sites offer a Mobiload unit, a licensed grain facility on wheels. It can draw grain from bins on […] Read more
