LEDUC, Alta. – Bob Wasieczko got more than he paid for at a recent auction sale. He believes the air seeder he bought likely has spores from clubroot, a serious canola disease. The Thorsby, Alta., farmer bought the air seeder from an auction near Leduc and he knows the farmer had clubroot on at least […] Read more
Stories by Mary MacArthur
Alta. welcomes snow despite seeding delay
Theo Thirsk isn’t worried about the poor spring weather pushing back his wheat seeding schedule. Thirsk seeded 350 acres of wheat last fall. He is getting anxious to seed his peas, though. “That was supposed to be last week’s job,” said Thirsk of Kelsey, Alta. A late spring blizzard delayed seeding for hundreds of farmers […] Read more
Health premiums eliminated in Alta.
The Alberta government has responded to years of complaints by announcing it will end health-care premiums Jan. 1, thanks to a continued economic boom. “We can afford to do it,” provincial finance minister Iris Evans said while presenting the province’s annual budget April 22. Evans forecast a $1.6 billion surplus on revenues of $38.6 billion […] Read more
Alberta day-care centres get money to expand
Child-care centres across Alberta have been given an injection of cash to ease the shortage of spaces, especially in rural areas. The provincial government said money would be used to create 3,500 new child-care spaces in 51 communities across the province. Audrey Morello, head of the early childhood development department at Gardner College in Camrose, […] Read more
Farm auctions awash in optimism
KINGMAN, Alta. – Post-auction shock wasn’t a problem for Pat and Harvey Adamson the day after their farm auction as buyers returned to the yard to pick up augers, tractors and fence posts. “It was nice,” said Pat. The couple’s three sons and their families came back to the farm for a week, digging through […] Read more
Celebrating women in agriculture
EDMONTON – Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, grain and motherly love, was one of the most beloved ancient gods. She was loved for teaching common people how to grow, harvest, preserve and prepare grain and corn. The women at the University of Alberta’s Ceres sorority, know the role of women in agriculture should still […] Read more
Famous buffalo dies in mishap
Bailey, a shaggy brown buffalo that was just as comfortable inside its owner’s home as its corral, has died. It was eight years old. Bailey died April 4 after its back leg was trapped in the metal bars of a feeder at an acreage near Spruce Grove, Alta., said owners Jim and Linda Sautner in […] Read more
Vaccinate for anthrax, urges CFIA
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging cattle producers in areas where anthrax has been a problem to vaccinate against the disease this spring before sending them to pasture. “It affords very good protection,” said CFIA veterinary program officer Dr. Lynn Bates. “On farms that have had anthrax, we recommend they vaccinate every year for […] Read more
Alberta land agent law returns to court
Two courts have turned him down, but Ray Strom hopes a federal court will rule that an Alberta law governing land agents is intended only for those acting on behalf of energy companies. On May 6, Strom, who represents landowners in oil and gas lease arrangements, is expected to ask a federal court in Edmonton […] Read more
Antique tractors spur memories
EDMONTON – Everybody likes it when vacationing parents return with presents. Sid Lyle hopes her father brings back a Porsche tractor from his trip to Denmark. “It has a distinct front end,” Lyle said as she sat behind the Strathcona Vintage Tractor Association display at the Northlands Farm and Ranch Show in Edmonton, held March […] Read more
