Mary MacArthur

EDMONTON – The federal government’s grain marketing panel took on a human touch two weeks ago with a presentation from a United Church agricultural task force. Instead of focusing on the Canadian Wheat Board, dual marketing, spot prices or political interference in the grain industry, Terry Lee Degenhardt talked about the importance of saving family […] Read more

EDMONTON – Alberta pork producers are close to striking a deal with Alberta’s two packing plants on the price the plants pay for hogs, said pork chair Roger Charbonneau. “I’m cautiously optimistic that we may have a deal,” said Charbonneau after Easter weekend negotiations. A deal is close with one packing plant, but there are […] Read more

EDMONTON – It is a miracle farmers are in business at all, judging by a report that says single-desk selling costs farmers $20 a tonne on their sales, says a federal task force panelist looking into the future of grain marketing. “I wonder how farmers are still in business after looking at the report,” Avery […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – For the first time, weeds resistant to two groups of herbicides have been found outside Manitoba, said Alberta Agriculture’s weed specialist. A Camrose farmer discovered in his field a patch of wild oats resistant to two types of herbicides, said Linda Hall. “The thing that is different about this particular wild oat […] Read more

EDMONTON – An Alberta farmer has gone on a hunger strike to pressure the Canadian Wheat Board into issuing grain export permits. Tom Jackson of Ardrossan announced his hunger strike at the end of his presentation to the Western Grain Marketing Panel. Jackson wants either the federal agriculture minister or wheat board officials to issue […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – The canola disease blackleg has been found in the Peace region of northeastern British Columbia, said a B.C. ministry of agriculture plant pathologist. Virulent blackleg was identified for the first time in at least 16 sites in both the north and south Peace regions of B.C., said Gayle Jesperson. “We were quite […] Read more

EDMONTON – Canadian beef exporters are gearing up for possible sales of livestock to Britain in case British authorities decide to slaughter thousands of that country’s herd in an attempt to calm consumer fears about mad cow disease. Herb McLane, executive vice-president of the Canadian Beef Breeds Council, said they have received some calls from […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – Alberta’s hog packing plants want lower prices if they are going to stay in business. “We need immediate relief,” said Greg Whalley, administration manager of Fletcher’s Fine Foods in Red Deer, one of two Alberta hog slaughtering plants. Whalley said hog prices need to be about four or five percent lower in […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – Federal budget cuts have forced provincial pork marketing agencies and packing plants to do their own grading. “Hiring our own graders is cheaper than the present federal system,” said Paul Allers, a director of Alberta Pork Producers Development Corporation, the province’s monopoly hog seller, at one of its regional meetings. Under the […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – Alberta’s hog marketing agency is taking a closer look at dual marketing in case it is imposed on them by the provincial government, said an agency director. “The provincial government did it to Manitoba. Is it possible in Alberta? You be the judge of that,” said Paul Allers during an Alberta Pork […] Read more