Lethbridge County declared a local state of emergency today due to overland flooding as snow accumulations begin to rapidly melt. The Municipal District of Taber made a similar declaration over the weekend for the same reason. Some provincial highways around Taber were temporarily closed in recent days and numerous municipal roads remain closed due to […] Read more
Author Archives
Alta. raises penalties in impaired driving laws
Alberta’s new laws on impaired driving come into effect April 9 and include higher penalties for drivers found to be impaired by either alcohol or drugs. Drivers with a blood alcohol level of .08 or more, or those impaired by drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol, will have their licences suspended for 90 […] Read more
Marshmallow candy recalled
Ikea brand marshmallow candy is being recalled by Ikea Canada due to possible contamination from mice at the manufacturing plant. Product sold in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia is being voluntarily recalled as of Feb. 27. The candy, also labelled as Godis Paskkyckling in Swedish, is in 100 gram packages with 2018 date […] Read more
Care and handling manual for rabbits released
The Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Rabbits was officially released Feb. 15 by the National Farm Animal Care Council and the Syndicat des producteurs de lapins du Quebec. It is the first code ever developed in Canada for rabbits and is among many developed by the NFACC for other types of […] Read more
Prominent cattle industry figure dies
John Vander Heyden, a well-known figure in southern Alberta’s feedlot industry, died Feb. 12 at the age of 85. Born in Gemert, Netherlands, Vander Heyden moved to Canada in 1957 and settled near Picture Butte, Alta. He and his wife raised six children while establishing and operating Vander Heyden Ranches Ltd. That initial operation remains […] Read more
Feds announce regions eligible for livestock tax deferral
Livestock producers affected by drought, flood or excess moisture conditions in 2017 may be eligible for 2017 tax relief. Agriculture Canada on Feb. 6 released the final list of regions designated under the Livestock Tax Deferral Provision, adding regions in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The initial list, posted Nov. 6, 2017, also listed regions in […] Read more
Alta. declares February distracted driving month
Talking on a hand-held phone or texting while driving can cost Alberta motorists $287 and three demerit points. That penalty is important to remember, particularly in February, which has been designated as “distracted driving month” by the provincial government. Alberta statistics indicate driver distractions contribute to 20 or 30 percent of collisions. Distracted drivers are […] Read more
Bovine growth hormone whistle blower dies at 84
Shiv Chopra, a former researcher with Health Canada who made headlines over objections to a veterinary drug, died Jan. 7 at the age of 84. Chopra and a fellow scientist, Margaret Haydon, claimed they were being pressured into approving the use of a bovine growth hormone that can boost milk production in dairy cows. The […] Read more
German fire causes livestock vitamin shortage
A global shortage of vitamins A and E for livestock use is forcing feed manufacturers to revise formulations. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said today that the shortage was caused by an Oct. 31 fire at the BASF plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Supplies are expected to remain below optimum levels well into the first quarter […] Read more
China-Canada meat deal includes pilot project
The federal agriculture department revealed more details Dec. 7 about greater access for Canadian beef and pork in the Chinese market. Following a trade mission by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that concluded yesterday, there is an agreement to launch a pilot project on the export of chilled and fresh beef and pork from “Canadian establishments […] Read more
