Alberta students will be back in classrooms in September unless there are major changes in the current pandemic situation. Premier Jason Kenney today announced education plans under “scenario 1,” described as “near normal daily operations with health measures.” The province has developed a re-entry tool kit for parents and students that outlines health measures to […] Read more
Stories by Lethbridge bureau
Alta. plans to twin southern highway
A stretch of Highway 3, a busy travel and transport route in southern Alberta, will be twinned starting in 2021. The provincial government today announced funding for the project, which will see 46 kilometres between Taber and Burdett, Alta., made into a twinned highway over a three-year period. The project is part of the province’s […] Read more
Multiple salad products recalled due to potential contamination
UPDATE: The food recall warning issued on June 28, 2020 has been amended to correctly identify the affected products. The corrections for these products are marked by an asterisk (*) on the list available via the link below. The Fresh Express brand of chopped salad is being recalled due to possible cyclospora contamination. Cyclospora is […] Read more
Farmer sausage recalled
Brandt brand mini-smoked farmer sausage is the subject of a recall due to contamination with listeria monocytogenes. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said June 15 that the product was distributed in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec. It comes in various sizes and has best before dates of July 8, 2020. The recall was triggered by […] Read more
Funding helps beekeepers cover COVID costs
Alberta beekeepers will have access to $1 million in government funds to offset the costs of colony replacements this year. The money, available through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership and introduced by Alberta Agriculture, is earmarked to help beekeepers cover higher costs for new colonies; costs that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will be made […] Read more
B.C. inspecting boats for mussels
Boat inspection stations are opening in British Columbia this week as the province defends against invasive mussels travelling on watercraft. A provincial government news release today said inspectors with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) will check boats for aquatic invasive species at various locations. It also said everyone should clean, drain and dry their […] Read more
COVID over-pricing charges laid in Alberta
Hand sanitizer for $39 a bottle? 3M masks for $120? And $25 for Lysol spray? Those prices for items in demand during the pandemic are deemed exorbitant by the Alberta government, which has laid charges against a Calgary company that was asking those prices. The unnamed business was charged with ignoring an order to stop […] Read more
Sask. cattle group push direct beef sales
The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association is beefing up direct sales of beef. Given disruptions to cattle processing due to COVID-19 outbreaks among workers at packing plants, the association said it wants to facilitate beef sales straight off the farm as a way to help ranchers and make product available to consumers. It is assembling a […] Read more
Ag recycler marks 10 years
CleanFarms, the industry-funded agricultural materials recycling entity, has collected 51,600 tonnes of plastic and other non-organic waste over its 10 years of operation. That’s the weight of about 65,000 cows. Or 7,000 elephants. The group announced its collection total today to mark its 10th anniversary. The materials include plastic jugs and containers, used grain bags, […] Read more
Farmers warned about well leases
Three Alberta energy companies are seeking lease payment reductions from landowners or have unilaterally reduced paid amounts and the Alberta Farmers’ Advocate Office has issued warnings to farmers and ranchers about these attempts. Ember Resources Inc., AlphaBow Energy Ltd. And Lynx Energy ULC are reviewing their annual compensation payments to landowners and seeking reductions in […] Read more
