NEWBROOK, Alta. – When XL Foods sells beef to Japan it is price, not age verification, that seals the deal, said the head of one of Canada’s largest packing plants. Lee Nilsson, co-chief executive officer of XL Foods, said he asked a Japanese client why he chose Canadian beef. “I point blank asked him ‘are […] Read more
Stories by Mary MacArthur
Expanding meat firm still eyes domestic market
NEWBROOK, Alta. – Alberta owned XL Foods sold meat into Canadian niche markets to survive while competing against multinational beef processing plants owned by Cargill and Tyson. Now that XL Foods has bought the Tyson Foods’ slaughter plant in Brooks, Alta., making it a dominant packer in Western Canada, it plans to continue selling Canadian […] Read more
Confining sheep in corrals works best for Alta. producer
WETASKIWIN, Alta. – Martin Kaiser says he cannot afford to graze his sheep with land prices at more than $300,000 a quarter,. The only way Kaiser can raise sheep within the shadow of Edmonton is to keep them in corrals and use the land to grow more profitable crops. “I think you only have two […] Read more
Alberta cattle circles welcome packer sale
The sale of Tyson Foods’ Lakeside packing plant to Canadian-based XL Foods is the best thing that’s happened lately to the Alberta cattle industry, said one of the province’s largest feedlot operators. Cor van Raay said the American owners of the Lakeside plant were close to closing the money-losing operation and that would have devastated […] Read more
BSE case is five-year-old Holstein
A British Columbia cow confirmed June 23 as Canada’s 13th BSE case has been identified as a five-year-old Holstein, said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. No part of the animal’s carcass entered the human food supply and no risk material entered the animal feed system. The animal’s age is consistent with previous Canadian cases, which […] Read more
Birds inspire name
A group of prairie chickens flying up from the ditches near Hanna, Alta., was the inspiration behind the name of a new variety of needlegrass. Jay Woosaree said when he saw the birds flying along the prairie, he wanted the name of the grass to represent habitat and wildlife. He developed Grouse green needlegrass through […] Read more
More farmers get carbon credit cash
Another Alberta company has made its first carbon credit payment to farmers. AgShare, a Calgary-based agricultural company, distributed its first carbon credit payments to farmers in June. Farmers received $8.75 a tonne after AgShare deducted its portion of the money for aggregating, verifying and selling the credits. Farmers receive carbon credits by following agricultural practices […] Read more
Equipment compensation overlooks consignments
Farmers who sell equipment on consignment at a dealership are not eligible for compensation under Alberta’s Farm Implement Act if something goes wrong. Adrian Driessen found that out the hard way. He lost $36,000 when he wasn’t paid for three tractors sold through Blocker II Equipment in Westlock, Alta., even though the Farmer’s Advocate office […] Read more
CFIA confirms 13th BSE case
An adult cow from British Columbia has tested positive for BSE, bringing the total number of cases of BSE in Canada to 13 since 2003. The cow died on a farm in western British Columbia and was removed by a dead stock removal service, one of the groups that participates in the national BSE surveillance […] Read more
Tin Lizzie not the car for me – Editorial Notebook
Forget the Model T; the Cadillac is the car for me. With plush leather seats, brass headlights and an engine that purrs, the 1911 Cadillac won my heart from the beginning. Last week a group of reporters got the rare privilege of driving antique cars at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum as part of a promotional event […] Read more
