Harry Hays was federal agriculture minister for only two years, but the colourful Alberta Liberal left his mark long after he was defeated. During his time as minister from 1963 to 1965, Hays established the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, expanded crop insurance, originated a national farm accounting system, helped farmers import exotic […] Read more
Stories by Mary MacArthur
Frank Flaman
Frank Flaman walks past the snow blowers, post pounders and golf carts outside his Nisku, Alta., head office. What he really wants to show off are the five kinds of solar ovens propped against the building. Flaman believes the simple metal and Plexiglas ovens, about the size of a small suitcase, could revolutionize living conditions […] Read more
Canada confirms 11th BSE case
A 13-year-old cow born and raised on a farm east of Red Deer has become Canada’s 11th case of BSE, Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials announced Dec. 18. The cow, which was born in March 1994, had been losing body condition, but the problem was believed to be abdominal and not BSE, said CFIA senior […] Read more
B.C. rancher unhappy with TB compensation
A British Columbia rancher feels she is not being adequately compensated for her cattle herd, which was ordered destroyed after her bull tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. Lynn Weinhardt said she and two third-party adjustors hired by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency initially agreed the remaining 47 cows, two bulls and 17 calves had a […] Read more
Trade ban stings growers
Potato growers in Alberta might soon feel mashed if the American and Mexican borders aren’t reopened. Alberta seed potato growers have been unable to export potatoes to the United States and Mexico after golden nematode was discovered in two Alberta fields in October. Officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture, […] Read more
Trial hinges on agent definition
EDMONTON – A court case to decide whether farmer advocate Ray Strom is guilty of impersonating a land agent sounded more like an English lesson than a trial. Even Court of Queen’s Bench judge L.D. Acton said defence lawyer Kevin Feth’s arguments reminded her of school. “You’re going to have me back in Grade 8 […] Read more
Winter wheat acres up this year
Prairie farmers grew more winter wheat this year than they did in 2006, according to newly released Statistics Canada data, increasing acres to 1.5 million from 1.2 million. And Rod Fedoruk, president of the Winter Cereals Development Commission, says the best is yet to come. “Winter wheat has a following here and it’s just coming […] Read more
Lutefisk feast pays off
KINGMAN, Alta. – To Larry Berglind, the pale slabs of jelly-like fish piled high on his plate taste like Christmas. Lutefisk, the dried cod delicacy reconstituted in lye and water, may smell like old socks and turn silver forks blue, but it’s been a Christmas tradition for Swedes and Norwegians across the Prairies for years. […] Read more
Hog barns desperate for workers
EDMONTON – Last June, hog farmer Herman Simons applied to hire a temporary foreign worker through a government program for his hog barn. He was told it would take about 16 weeks. It’s December and he’s not holding his breath he’ll find a worker soon. “It’s a work in progress,” Simons, chair of Alberta Pork, […] Read more
Alberta hog producers seek industry solutions
EDMONTON – Just like Canadian hog producers, Danish hog producers don’t make money selling hogs. Danish hog producers make their money selling pork, said Karl Christian Moller, chief analyst with Danish Crown, one of the world’s largest pork producers. Danish Crown, a Danish hog co-operative with $8.6 billion in sales, has bought slaughterhouses around the […] Read more
