Mary MacArthur

CAMROSE, Alta. – Some producers charge that Alberta’s grain marketing plebiscite question was worded to elicit an anti-wheat board response. “I’m quite concerned about the manipulation that has gone on in the developing of this plebiscite,” Camrose farmer Alan Hoult told a plebiscite information meeting. The producers on the committee that developed the question were […] Read more

RICHMOND, Ont. – The price of milk quota and the stability of the dairy industry will dictate how quickly Adrian and Arnold Schouten fill their dairy barn. Last year the brothers built a state-of-the-art 400-cow dairy barn. But the barn is only half full of milking cows and the brothers aren’t rushing to fill it. […] Read more

OTTAWA – It’s not quite like looking for a needle in a haystack, but it’s close. Scientists in Ottawa are trying to pinpoint a microscopic fungus that is slowly spreading across mushroom beds reducing mushroom yields by 75 percent. “The fungus takes over the mushroom beds,” said Ann Pouliot with the project at the Eastern […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – Alberta’s agriculture minister has warned the Canadian Wheat Board and grain companies to stay away from the grain marketing plebiscite. And if they don’t, Walter Pasz-kowski said the provincial government may enter the fray. The minister said the upcoming plebiscite asking farmers how they want to market their barley and wheat should […] Read more

KITSCOTY, Alta. – Alberta’s largest cattle organization plans to dip into its $3 million nest egg in order to appease its critics, said the chair of the organization’s finance committee. “The $3 million has become a matter of embarrassment,” said Karl Schneider of the Alberta Cattle Commission during its annual delegate meeting here last week. […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – There are a few new rules for Alberta farmers wanting to vote in the upcoming grain marketing plebiscite Nov. 14-24, said the chief returning officer. Harold Hanna released more criteria this week about voting eligibility in the non-binding plebiscite on whether producers should be allowed to sell their wheat and barley outside […] Read more

FERINTOSH, Alta. – By his own judgment Bob Klassen should be voting yes in the upcoming Canadian Wheat Board plebiscite. The central Alberta producer farms 6,000 acres of land, is electronically linked to the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade and gets weather updates every 10 minutes over his computer screen. The market […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – The Alberta government has promised to stay out of the debate surrounding the Canadian Wheat Board plebiscite, said the minister of agriculture. “We’ve said all along that this is a grassroots process and grassroots will make the decision,” said Walter Paszkowski. “We’ve asked the major stakeholders such as government, or the wheat […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – A coalition of Alberta commodity groups wanting wide-open grain marketing is staying tight-lipped about plans in the upcoming Canadian Wheat Board plebiscite. “We’re not sure what we want to talk about regarding strategy,” said Alanna Koch, executive director of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers. “We wouldn’t want to blow our impact,” she […] Read more

CAMROSE, Alta. – The rising price of barley may have barley growers smiling, but it has feedlot operators sharpening their pencils. The cash price of barley around central Alberta this week is about $130 a tonne ($2.83 per bushel) compared to $94 per tonne ($2.04 per bushel) at the same time last year. “When the […] Read more