In what is being called the biggest betrayal in political history, nine members of Alberta’s official opposition party crossed the floor to join the governing party. Former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith joined Progressive Conservative premier Jim Prentice in a joint news conference to announce a “unification” of Alberta’s conservatives. “It is a significant step to […] Read more
Stories by Mary MacArthur
B.C. approves Site C dam on Peace River
The British Columbia government has approved construction of the controversial Site C hydroelectric dam on the Peace River at an estimated cost of $8.8 billion. Construction of the dam, near Fort St. John, is expected to begin next summer and be completed by 2024. During the announcement, B.C. premier Christy Clark said the hydroelectric dam […] Read more
Documentary planned to counter anti-GMO arguments
Farmers who are concerned about losing a valuable biotechnology tool are urged to support a pro-GMO movie. Rob Saik, chief executive officer of Agri-Trend Group of Companies, said farmers are in danger of losing genetic modification unless they tell politicians and consumers the importance of the technology. “If agriculture doesn’t stand up and speak up, […] Read more
Tenth poultry farm tests positive for avian flu in B.C.
Poultry in a 10th British Columbia farm have tested positive for avian influenza, bringing the total of poultry dead to 233,800 birds. On Dec. 13, 53,000 birds from a table egg layer barn in Langley, B.C., tested positive for the highly virulent strain of H5N2 avian influenza. This is the first time birds in Langley […] Read more
Industry promoter remembered for love of bison
Thomas Ackermann, an energetic promoter of the bison industry, died in a farm accident Nov. 27. He was 46. Ackermann was chief executive officer and marketing manager of Canadian Rangeland Bison and Elk, chair of Bison Producers of Alberta and vice-president of the Canadian Bison Association. “He was unbelievably dedicated to the Canadian bison industry,” […] Read more
Higher prices, bigger loans
Greater risk | Cattle producers who expand or rebuild their herds need risk management tools
EDMONTON — High-priced cattle are making the industry buoyant, but they are also making it more challenging to line up financing when buying. “We’re living in a very different world than we were two years ago,” said Ruth Sarin of Edson, Alta., who operates a background feeding operation. “It’s sending us to seek more financing […] Read more
Canola, wheat beat expectations
Statistics Canada report | Total production lower than 2013-14, better than expected
There wasn’t a collective yawn when Statistics Canada released its final crop estimate Dec. 5, but there may have been collective eye rolling. Instead of reacting negatively to Statistics Canada’s estimates that canola and wheat estimates were higher than previously estimated, the market took it all in stride. Statistics Canada pegged canola 1.5 million tonnes […] Read morePrice insurance program popular with producers
It’s taken a little time, but the new livestock price insurance program is catching on with cattle and hog producers, says the head of the program. “We went to a lot of auction markets and bought a lot of coffee to have people listen to us,” said Bill Hoar, AFSC co-ordinator for the Western Livestock […] Read more
Trade restricted after bird flu breakout
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has placed most of British Columbia’s poultry industry under restricted movement to limit the spread of the deadly avian influenza. Five chicken and turkey farms near Abbottsford and Chilliwack in B.C.’s Fraser Valley have tested positive for the deadly strain of avian influenza H5N2. About 166,000 birds have either died […] Read more
Canada, South Korea ratify free trade agreement
Canada, South Korea ratify free trade agreement
Canadian cattle and pork producers received an early Christmas present with the ratification of the Canada-South Korea Free Trade Agreement. The Dec. 3 ratification means Korean tariffs on Canadian beef and pork will start to reduce Jan. 1, 2015, and once again be competitive against Canadian and Australian ex-porters. The agreement means the 40 percent […] Read more
