Mary MacArthur

Some people may see the jumble of old tractors, thrashers and mowers along the edges of farmyards as an eyesore. An Australian researcher sees farm machinery graveyards as an important piece of prairie heritage. “The places have been largely overlooked in its significance to agriculture heritage,” said Di Smith, with Flinders University in South Australia. […] Read more

Bison meat sales have almost dried up for one of Alberta’s largest bison exporters since the American border was closed after the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in a single cow. “It’s affected us in a huge way,” said Tara Lunzmann, office manager of Canadian Rangeland Beef and Bison. Before May 20, when the border […] Read more

The shock waves caused by a ban on Canadian beef exports are affecting business far beyond the Canadian farm. Ron Scarth, the Canadian salesman for Merritt Equipment Co, of Denver, Colo., said business has dropped of 85 to 90 percent since the closing of the American border on May 20. Merritt builds most of the […] Read more

The closing of the U.S. border to Canadian cattle has had limited impact so far on Alberta cattle feeder organizations that lend money to producers to buy cattle. “It hasn’t affected us directly yet,” said Ted Quist, a director with the Feeder Associations of Alberta. The managers and board members of the 61 local feeder […] Read more

With so much depressing news with mad cow disease, John Ryan felt it was important to share a little good news. For the past two years Ryan has sold premium young beef at a premium price. The animals are raised high on the mountains in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and aren’t weaned from […] Read more

The inclusion of elk and deer into a BSE compensation program is a nice gesture, but it will do little to help elk producers struggling with low velvet prices and few meat markets, says an Alberta elk producer. “On the whole, it won’t do a lot of good,” said Lykele Meidema of Wetaskiwin, who is […] Read more

Details continue to be finalized on the federal and provincial BSE compensation program, says the head of Alberta Agriculture’s rural services division. John Knapp said the compensation program for animals slaughtered since the closure of the border have been broken down into smaller categories. In cattle, payments are made for several groups including steers and […] Read more

By Sept. 1 it will be illegal to load, transport or move cattle to a Canadian farmer, feedlot, cattle dealer, auction market or packer without an approved ear tag, says a Canadian Cattle Identification Agency official. While recognized CCIA ear tags have been required by law for a year, the rules have not been enforced […] Read more

EDMONTON – Minutes after the Alberta government announced its latest aid package designed to boost the price of fat cattle, the markets responded and prices crept up a few cents. “There’s been a couple early signals within the last half hour. It’s way too early to claim this is a success, but the theory is […] Read more

When Lorne Cole drove down Highway 9 in east-central Alberta recently, the grasshoppers were so thick it sounded like popcorn exploding when they hit the windshield. The Special Areas range management specialist had never seen, or heard, anything like it. “The hoppers are bad and they’re widespread,” said Cole, who scoffs at people who worry […] Read more