EDMONTON — Albertans don’t need a crystal ball to predict an upcoming election, and rural councilors aren’t relying on soothsayers to ensure their message is relayed to politicians. Instead, the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties has launched a campaign to help rural councilors get their message to politicians during the expected provincial election. […] Read more
Stories by Mary MacArthur
Associate ag minister fills in for ill Olson in Alberta
EDMONTON — Everett McDonald, a northern Alberta MLA, has been appointed associate agriculture minister while agriculture Verlyn Olson recovers from diabetes treatment. “Yesterday I underwent an islet cell transplant and am happy to report that I am doing well and resting,” Olson tweeted. McDonald, a former reeve of Grande Prairie County, will take over Olson’s […] Read more
Report recommends improvements in rural Alta. health care
EDMONTON, Alta. — Rural residents will have more say in how their health care works, promises a new rural health care review released Wednesday. Alberta health minister Stephen Mandel released the report during the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties convention. The report makes 56 recommendations how to improve health care service in rural […] Read more
Organic buyers hold growers to high standard
Grain quality is a top concern for buyers, requiring farmers to know their product and present accurate samples
BEAUMONT, Alta. — Grain buyers want organic grain, but they don’t want just any organic grain, they told producers at an Organic Alberta grain workshop. Organic grain might be in short supply but that doesn’t mean buyers will buy tough or diseased product, they said. Tom Allen, a grain buyer with Sunrise Foods of Saskatoon, […] Read moreInfrastructure cash for municipalities
The Alberta government has added another $400 million to its Municipal Sustainability Initiative grants, which are designed to help municipalities build infrastructure projects. Municipal affairs minister Diana McQueen said the additional funding will boost the 2014 MSI funding to $1.6 billion. “This funding is designed to help our partners meet their capital infrastructure commitments and […] Read more
Use multiple methods for organic weed control
BEAUMONT, Alta. — Organic farmers must use all the tools at their disposal to kill weeds growing in their crops, said a University of Saskatchewan weed scientist. However, the first year of a study found that organic farmers who use a combination of weed reduction strategies can achieve almost the same level of weed control […] Read more
Quality bulls see bullish demand
The high water mark has risen in the cattle business, and it is floating bull sale prices to some of its highest levels in years. Brian Good, director of field services with the Canadian Angus Association, has seen sharp spikes in bull prices before, but he has never seen bull sale averages as high as […] Read more
Butcher says flexibility improves direct beef sales
BEAUMONT, Alta. — Farmers who want to sell beef directly to customers need to know their meat, says an Alberta Agriculture business development specialist. After years of talking to farmers about direct sales and selling his own meat at farmers markets, Bert Dening has learned that consumers know little about cuts of meat or how […] Read more
Natural, local, hormone free rate high in meat sales
BEAUMONT, Alta. — More than 1,000 customers drive to Darcy’s Meats in an industrial park to buy meat each week. There are no walk-up customers, just those who want fresh, local meat and are willing to drive out of their way to buy it. “They are always looking for something different than the grocery store,” […] Read more
Efficiency key in organic beef production
The industry needs organic finishing, processing and distribution to lower costs: producer
BEAUMONT, Alta. — There is good margin in the organic beef industry for some people but not for everyone, says organic beef producer Tim Hoven. He said the organic beef industry must become more efficient feeding, finishing, slaughtering and distributing its product if it is to survive and thrive. “There is not enough money in […] Read more
