Mary MacArthur

Saskatchewan hog producers are enjoying the fallout of the Alberta hog price war, says a director of the province’s hog marketing agency. “They all view it as good news for the short term,” said John Germs, of Saskatoon. Producers are enjoying a $16 a hog premium on their cheques but they know it won’t last. […] Read more

WINNIPEG – The Canadian Grain Commission is keeping a close eye on a Nisku, Alta. canola crusher after farmers complained they were not paid for oilseeds they sold to the company. A spokesperson for the commission said it has not called Canola Industries Canada Inc.’s bond to pay farmers because the troubled crusher entered into […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – Rick Wood-Samman is hoping recent changes to game bird regulations will help beautify Alberta. Under new regulations anyone can now raise the colorful ring-necked pheasants without a game bird licence. “I’d like to see a few birds around. They’re kind of nice to see,” said Wood-Samman, who operates Dirt Willy Game Bird […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – The Alberta government has launched legal action over the “unfairness” of the Canadian Wheat Board’s delivery contract program, said the province’s deputy minister of agriculture. “We hope we can create or cause to create contract programs that are fair to farmers,” said Doug Radke, hours after filing documents in the Federal Court […] Read more

PIBROCH, Alta. – On paper at least, it looked as though the Hutterite colony here had found its gold mine. But after three years of raising ostriches, and several disasters, Wally Walter has seen first-hand a downside to raising the giant African birds. “That’s why we got into it. Everything looked rosy.” While Walter bought […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – The Camrose Agricultural Society is hoping a computer program will help attract rural business to the area. The ag society is using a geographic information system to learn more about the region. By doing this, it will know what businesses are best suited for the area, said Judy Finseth, the ag society’s […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – The task of divvying up millions of dollars in recently announced federal and provincial agriculture money will fall to a committee, said Alberta agriculture’s policy secretariat. “This is not going to be bureaucratically run,” said Gordon Herrington. Recently, the two levels of government released agreements on how the agriculture safety nets in […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – The survival of Alberta’s newest farm lobby organization hinges on attracting new members, said the president of Wild Rose Agricultural Producers. “If we survive depends on the voluntary support from producers,” said Ron Leonhardt. The organization’s budget is $19,000, a far cry from its more than half million dollar budget four years […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – While two farm commodity groups have left a coalition that expects to bid on the federal government’s grain hopper rail car fleet, others are joining the group. The Alberta Soft Wheat Producers Commission voted to join the group of prairie commodity organizations looking at the feasibility of producers buying the 13,000 hopper […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – “I can’t get my husband to wear all this regalia,” moaned Fran Howell. “I can get them to wear the apron, gloves and rubber boots, but that’s all.” These were the opening lines to a skit performed at the Alberta Women’s Institutes convention here recently, but the same words have been echoed […] Read more