Mary MacArthur

Allegations of missed marketing opportunities. Complaints about low prices. Comparisons between monopoly control and marketing freedom. If this sounds like another instalment of the debate over the Canadian Wheat Board’s future, look again. This time, it is the Canadian hog industry which is immersed in a debate about the future of marketing boards. While the […] Read more

When Richard Wright sits down with farmers to discuss hog barns, the debate often turns to the Canadian Wheat Board. There are always some farmers who want the board’s export marketing monopoly to remain but others around the table feel the board has outlived its usefulness. “The same thing is happening here,” said Wright, referring […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – There is a lack of information on breast cancer in rural areas, says the co-ordinator of a program on breast cancer information. “There’s no surprise, newly diagnosed women in rural areas have the most difficulty accessing information from a local source,” Joanne Pawelek told the Alberta Women’s Institute convention. Pawelek is the […] Read more

LACOMBE, Alta. – After almost 40 years the Women of Unifarm have voted to separate from the main farm organization. “We were always a family. We’ve grown enough that we feel we can stand on our own as women and not have to be dependent on the main body,” said president Florence Trautman. “It was […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – Shortly after joining the Alberta Women’s Institutes in 1952, Doris Northey dreamed of becoming president. She had just heard Martha Beilish, the first woman senator from Alberta, talk at the provincial convention. “I thought ‘I would like to be president of this organization,’ ” said Northey. Forty-four years later Northey was elected […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – Melanie Simmet thinks she has a good idea for her own business, but she doesn’t know how to get beyond that. “I don’t know where to get started. How should I promote the business and how do I learn to do business books?” The Camrose woman wants to design web pages for […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – Alberta’s agriculture minister expects a decision to be made this week on whether forage producers will get a payout for the loss of the Crow Benefit. Walter Paszkowski said the federal minister of agriculture is bringing a package to the federal cabinet meeting that includes allowing forage producers to receive compensation for […] Read more

MILLET, Alta. – Alvin and Heather Kemp may not have the biggest dairy farm in the area, but it makes them a good living. “I’m quite happy with where I’m at, I’m happy with less,” said Alvin sitting at the kitchen table piled with farming magazines. Six years ago the couple took over the dairy […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – Alberta’s first cheques under its new disaster relief program have been mailed to farmers, says a government spokesperson. Cheques averaging $30,316 each have been mailed to six farmers in the northeastern part of the province after the area suffered one of the driest years and lowest cattle prices on record, said Ray […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – A smooth-talking thief with an eye for high-quality saddles is criss-crossing Alberta, stealing from horse owners and rural businesses, RCMP say. In connection with recent reports of theft, police are looking for Dale Arnold Adamkewich, who escaped from a British Columbia jail earlier this spring. A thief has been targeting businesses, said […] Read more