CALGARY – Seeding has been on again, off again this spring with soil moisture ranging from saturated to dusty. With recent flooding in the Assiniboine and Souris River basins, Manitoba’s soil profile is moist to wet, said Vasille Klassen of the province’s department of agriculture. In the flood zone of western Manitoba, soils are saturated […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Companies trade elevators in push for centralization
CALGARY – Three grain companies in Alberta have swapped elevators in efforts to streamline operations. Effective May 5, Alberta Wheat Pool’s facilities at Bentley, Drum-heller and Killam were transferred to United Grain Growers in exchange for UGG elevators at Mundare, Delia and Etzikom. Pioneer Grain took over pool elevators at Torrington and Nanton. The pool […] Read more
Bug-resistant potato approved in U.S., corn expected to follow
CALGARY – Genetically modified potatoes and corn resistant to insect pests that could save farmers millions of dollars in chemical costs have been approved in the United States. A genetically altered potato resistant to the Colorado potato beetle received approval as a safe product May 5 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Developed by Monsanto, […] Read more
Crow payouts will vary widely: PFRA
RED DEER, Alta. – Saskatchewan farmers may be receiving the largest share of the Crow Benefit payout, but the range stretches from $7 to $42 an acre. An official from the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration told Alberta Agriculture economists here that 98 percent of Saskatchewanians receiving money from the Western Grain Transportation Act subsidy will […] Read more
Composting gets computerized
OLDS, Alta. – Composting in this central Alberta town means more than throwing a few kitchen scraps into a box in the backyard. Outside the Olds College composting centre, long windrows of steaming compost are lined up for researchers to poke, probe and analyze. For compost centre manager Tom Clark, it’s a beautiful sight. “Composting […] Read more
Water ‘priceless’ but should have a cost, says expert
RED DEER – A price for water? Those are fighting words for many southern Alberta farmers and ranchers. Water is scarce on the dry southern plains of Alberta. When a 40 cent per acre-foot charge was proposed last year during hearings over new water legislation, farmers protested so intensely the idea was shelved. But one […] Read more
Alberta outlines guidelines for charter schools
CALGARY – As many as 15 charter schools could open in Alberta this fall under guidelines released by the province. Proposals are now under review and could be approved by June, said Garth Norris of Alberta Education. Charter schools are designed to provide an innovative or enhanced education program to improve student learning in ways […] Read more
Agriculture Canada starts fees for some inspection services
CALGARY – User pay for inspection services has been introduced by Agriculture Canada. As of April 24, Agriculture Canada has been charging user fees for services such as meat grading and the issuing of import and export permits. Wayne Morris of Agriculture Canada said the government will safeguard regulations to ensure food safety. In many […] Read more
Venereal disease still in western herds
CALGARY – A diligent clean-up campaign to eliminate bovine trichomoniasis is allowing earlier detection of the venereal disease, but that doesn’t mean it has disappeared from Western Canada. The first two cases of bovine trichomoniasis were reported in British Columbia last fall and cattle producers are advised to continue testing for the sexually transmitted disease […] Read more
Las Vegas beckoning from Alberta’s backyard
CALGARY – Blackjack pits and spinning roulette wheels are no longer the domain of Las Vegas where thousands of Canadian tourists flocked each year for some sun, fun and titillation. Now Canadians can save themselves the cost of an airline ticket to Nevada and spend their money at home in casinos that have all the […] Read more
