Mary MacArthur

MAYERTHORPE, Alta. – Harvey Hagman hasn’t second guessed his decision to sell his calves in July. “It wasn’t a hard decision to make. We couldn’t find any hay,” Hagman said. “We had to do it to survive.” When he could find hay, the economics of feeding calves on expensive feed didn’t make financial sense to […] Read more

Prairie grain exports heading west ground to a halt last week after pickets went up at Prince Rupert, the one remaining open port on the British Columbia coast. The Canadian Wheat Board’s west coast marketing plan moved to Prince Rupert this fall after members of the Grainworkers Union in Vancouver were locked out Aug. 25. […] Read more

STONY PLAIN, Alta. – Doug Laurie is not like a border collie quietly gathering a flock of sheep. He’s more like a terrier latched onto a pant leg until he gets some attention. Every day since July, Laurie has pestered government officials, sheep specialists and hay producers in an effort to help save the Alberta […] Read more

The Alberta government has rejected a proposal from the province’s hog marketing agency to loan producers’ money in lean times that would be paid back when prices are higher. “We’ve basically been turned down flat,” said Mack Rennie, general manager of the Western Hog Exchange, the marketing arm of Alberta Pork. The estimated $30 million […] Read more

BLACKFALDS, Alta. – Wim and Judith Janssen have proved you don’t have to be big to be successful farmers. The central Alberta farm couple raises 7,700 chickens on six acres of land. Unlike most laying hens in Alberta, Wim Janssen’s chickens do not live in cages, but have access to the open floor space in […] Read more

When the Alberta government took over responsibility for approving intensive livestock operations, the disapproval was long and loud. Municipalities wanted to retain the right to determine where a barn or feedlot could be located. Nick Paladino, supervisor of planning and development with the County of Lethbridge, said he doesn’t miss the complaints associated with ILO […] Read more

KINSELLA, Alta. – Cows fed almost half their traditional amount of feed increased weight and maintained body condition during a two-month feeding trial, said an Alberta Agriculture beef specialist who helped design the trial. Not only did the cattle eat 35 percent less feed than they are traditionally fed, but one trial saved an average […] Read more

KINSELLA, Alta. – Peter Zahacy came to the feed trial demonstration to see how far he could stretch his meagre supply of feed. What he learned was how much he overfeeds his cows. “I didn’t realize we could bring our cows through with so little feed,” said Zahacy of Edmonton, adding that all of his […] Read more

Nisku, Alta. – After more than 1,000 mailed-in workbooks, nine workshops, a handful of public meetings and a day-long public forum, Alberta MLAs charged with developing legislation for recreation trails in the province are months away from a draft plan that will likely satisfy no one. Trying to get a room full of hikers, farmers, […] Read more

WETASKIWIN, Alta. – The place reputed to be Canada’s largest farm supply store sells carpets, bathtubs, horseshoes, lawn furniture, dog food, salt blocks and coveralls. About the only things you won’t find are groceries and bras. “The guys would blush if they had to sell ladies dainties,” said general manager Bert Horvey, during the grand […] Read more