Small breweries around the world seek hops that are grown in different soil and climates to create unique flavours
CHILLIWACK, B.C. — Chilliwack was once the largest hops growing region in the British Commonwealth but the crop slowly fell out of favour. Thanks to the exponential growth of craft breweries around the world, farmers are interested in planting them again. Chilliwack Hop Farms started as a hobby and has grown to more than 300 […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
National sheep database holds potential if more records used
RED DEER — The Canadian sheep industry is building a record-of-performance program that needs more participants. GenOvis Canada, a national sheep database that records breeding records, weight gains and other valuable economic traits, allows producers to compare their own flocks with others. However, more information is needed to produce meaningful results with estimated progeny differences, […] Read more
Cattle raised without antibiotics require increased management
Raising cattle without antibiotics or artificial hormones requires commitment and attention to detail. “People make the biggest difference in managing cattle in this kind of system,” said David Saretsky of the family-owned cattle marketing company Cantriex Livestock, based at Ponoka, Alta. The company selects and raises cattle for beef programs that re-quire that animals are […] Read more
Europe a leader in reducing antibiotic use
Restrictions on the use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine in Europe have been in place since 2015 so farmers must find other ways to treat serious problems like bovine respiratory disease. Antimicrobials classified as critically important in human medicine are almost unavailable for food producing animals. They may be used only as a relapse treatment […] Read more
Where’s the beef — and where’s it going?
The world of beef is undergoing big disruptions with renewed trade between United States and China, a cattle slaughter ban in India and political upheaval and corruption scandals in Brazil’s processing sector. Nevertheless, beef is holding its own among global consumers, said analyst Don Close of Rabobank. “Beef has had a phenomenal year and a […] Read more
Fire help available for B.C. ranchers if province requests: Ottawa
The federal government says help is available to British Columbia cattle producers affected by recent forest fires if the province asks for it. Agri-Recovery and other risk management programs are available if the province asks for help, Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAuley said July 12 in Calgary. “We will be there for them. That’s what these […] Read more
B.C. forest fires threaten cattle
A provincial state of emergency has been declared in British Columbia, where more than 200 forest fires are raging. About 10,000 people have been evacuated and emergency plans are underway to protect livestock. “There are a lot of cattle and a lot of range that we know is being affected. We know that we have […] Read more
Alberta 4-Her wins national volunteer leader award
Life is all about community for Caroline Boddy. Her contributions to her adopted community of Forestburg in east-central Alberta and 4-H earned her the 2016 national volunteer leader of the year by a panel of judges, who made their selection from a pool of provincial winners. Boddy has been involved with 4-H since her childhood […] Read more
Producers show off at sheep show
RED DEER — Travelling overland to Red Deer was well worth the trip for sheep breeders from Ontario and British Columbia who walked away with the supreme champion ewe and ram at the All Canada Sheep Classic. More than 400 purebred sheep representing 16 breeds were on display at the June 29-July 1 show. Robin […] Read more
Beef roundtable launches comment period
The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef has launched a 60 day public commit period from June 29 until Aug. 29 on its sustainability indicators for the beef processing sector. When all comments are received, they will be posted and another 30 day round in the fall will be held to refine the program. The roundtable […] Read more
