Mary MacArthur

Continuing losses at its Brandon plant and tight profit margins in the pork business squeezed profits at Maple Leaf Foods last year. “Our difficult financial results in 2000 relates almost exclusively to a single factor, being the start-up issues surrounding our Brandon fresh pork facility,” said Michael McCain, president and chief executive officer. “We expect […] Read more

The sale of an Alberta hog slaughtering plant to a Quebec-based company shocked pork industry watchers last week. “I was certainly surprised,” said Manitoba Agriculture industry analyst Janet Honey, when asked about the sale of Premium Brand’s Red Deer, Alta., slaughter plant to Olymel. It was no secret the Red Deer, Alta., facility was for […] Read more

NISKU, Alta. – Successful farmers’ markets don’t just happen, says American marketing specialist Monika Roth. They take the right combination of vendors, products, location, ambiance and community. But Roth said farmers are the most important factor. “If you don’t start it with farmers in mind, it takes longer to get the market going,” Roth told […] Read more

Opponents of an 80,000-head hog operation in central Alberta haven’t given up their fight to stop the barns from being built in their community. “It’s still consuming us day and night,” said Lana Love, of the Flagstaff County Family Farm Promotional Society. Last week justice John McClung of the Alberta Court of Appeal reserved his […] Read more

A new book published by an Alberta environmental think tank will become the bible for landowners dealing with the oil industry, says a surface rights consultant. “This is the most comprehensive, informative publication ever put together for landowners,” Karl Zajes said about the Pembina Institute’s new publication When the Oilpatch Comes to your Backyard: A […] Read more

Wagyu cattle production in Canada and the United States will never match the growing Australian herds that supply most of the lucrative Japanese market, said a member of the American Wagyu Association. Australian cattle producers find it profitable to raise Wagyu cattle, which are prized in Japan for their marbled beef, Charles Gaskins told producers […] Read more

EDMONTON — Albertans will continue to pay high electricity prices for several more years, says the former president of Alberta’s rural power association. “What concerns us is it’s going to take three to four years before there’s much change in the price of electricity,” said Herman Schwenk of Coronation. That’s how long it is expected […] Read more

A billion-dollar Alberta government cash injection to offset sky rocketing natural gas prices was the savior of the greenhouse business, said its president. “It’s been our saving grace,” said Lyle Conway of Eckville. “Prior to getting this rebate, five greenhouses already closed their doors,” said Conway, president of the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association. “It was […] Read more

Cattle and horses in Alberta may be in danger of dying because of a lack of snow, said a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals official. “Lack of water can kill in a couple of days. Lack of feed can take weeks,” said Doug Rombough, enforcement co-ordinator for northern Alberta. Rombough said the […] Read more

This year’s North American spring oilseed acreage outlook depends on which side of the Canada-United States border you are on. Canadian farmers are expected to cut canola acreage, while American producers are forecast to expand soybean area. The reasons are low canola prices, U.S. government programs and the rising cost of nitrogen fertilizer. “The price […] Read more