Mary MacArthur

Two weeks after a group tried to block a shipment of cattle owned by an R-CALF member from being slaughtered at Cargill’s High River packing plant, Cargill announced it will no longer slaughter cattle owned by the American trade protectionist group. “We do have a general policy in place that we will not knowingly do […] Read more

Governments and the cattle industry are close to completing plans for a national BSE program that would pay producers to withhold cattle from the market, said the executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. “We looked at immediate set aside options to take some of the fat cattle that will be ready in the next […] Read more

EDMONTON – Any future BSE aid program should include a floor price to prevent the bottom from falling out of the cattle market as it did with the first federal and provincial BSE assistance, said Alberta’s auditor general. “In the future they’re going to have to accommodate a floor price,” said Fred Dunn Aug. 3 […] Read more

Forage crops may do better if seeded without a cover crop, says an agronomist with an Alberta research group. Jenifer Heyden, forage and livestock agronomist with the Battle River Research Group, said early research in demonstration plots show forages planted without a cover crop have thicker, healthier stands than those planted with a cover crop. […] Read more

An Alberta producer is hoping three-year field trials at Olds College will provide the proof he needs to show his organic soil enhancer improves soil quality and gives plants a boost. Initial tests in the lab and greenhouse at Olds College showed promising results for Agri-Boost, said Sam Lentz of Leduc. Lentz has worked on […] Read more

Organizers of five proposed packing plants in Alberta have joined to form a confederation to try and save money and get the attention of the provincial government. “The provincial government doesn’t listen to individual co-ops like us. They can ignore one, but they can’t ignore five,” said Neil Peacock, chair of the Peace Country Tender […] Read more

PONOKA, Alta. – It’s the 10th stop on Cam Ostercamp’s Beef Initiative Group road show across Alberta and Saskatchewan to raise awareness of the need for more BSE testing. Despite a cold day, about 300 people huddled on the metal seats in the grandstand of the Ponoka Stampede grounds for more than two hours July […] Read more

Alberta bison producers reeling from a combination of low prices, drought and BSE have been slammed again with a fire at one of only two federally inspected packing plants that slaughter bison in the province. A fire at North West Foods in Edmonton July 5 destroyed much of the slaughter facility that killed 60-70 percent […] Read more

Producers hope a new checkoff on Peace River region forage seed will boost research and profitability, said a member of the new organization that will collect the money. Randy Graw said the checkoff would help producers compete in the worldwide forage market. “The grass seed market is global and if you don’t keep up with […] Read more

RIVIERE QUI BARRE, Alta. – Farm families may feel inspired to break into song while they walk across their field or drive down the road, but few are able to write Alberta’s official song. While looking out the front window of her Alberta farmhouse to a pasture of grazing cattle, Mary Kieftenbeld was inspired to […] Read more