Manure doesn’t always land in a nice pile on the ground. Sometimes it ends up on jeans, jackets, shirts and hats. The author of several books on stain removal says most manure stains can be removed from clothing with the correct cleaner and a little elbow grease. Reena Nerbas of Blumenort, Man., who has written […] Read more
Stories by Mary MacArthur
Coyote hunt poses no threat
Hunting competition won’t affect coyote numbers in Alberta, says biologist
Alberta’s coyote population is in no danger from a coyote hunting competition, says a wildlife biologist. University of Alberta professor Lee Foote said less than 20 coyotes would have been shot in a recent coyote hunting competition, which raised the ire of animal activists. There is no accurate coyote count, but Foote estimates more than […] Read moreComputer model would predict flood risk
RED DEER — Risk management specialists hope a project that would predict the risk of flooding in southern Alberta will receive financial approval. The $2 million risk analysis model will use existing water, soil and drought data to build a computer model that will predict flooding, said Rick McConnell, a director with Dymac Risk Management […] Read more
More guarantees wanted for producer cars, short lines
RED DEER — Alberta farmers want the federal government to order the major railways to allocate 20 percent of its cars to producer car shippers and short-line railway operators. A resolution that passed unanimously at a recent Alberta Federation of Agriculture meeting said such a move would allow small grain industry players to compete. Reg […] Read more
Alta. farmers debate suing railways
RED DEER — A resolution to allow railways to be sued for poor performance was defeated in a tie vote during the Alberta Federation of Agriculture meeting. Round Hill farmer Bernie von Tetternborn said grain companies and farmers need to have some way to hold railways accountable if they don’t meet their contracts to haul […] Read more
‘Odd and unusual’ images sought for updated Alberta bird book
Ellis Bird Farm working on new, expanded book about bird feeding
Ellis Bird Farm is looking for photographs as it updates its backyard bird feeding book. Farm manager Myrna Pearman said she has plenty of pictures of common birds eating at feeders but is looking for odd and unusual pictures. “I know photographers may have spent time at feeders and may have captured some of the […] Read moreClubroot continues spread across Alberta
Survey shows 36 counties and municipalities have found 383 new infected fields
Four new Alberta municipalities reported clubroot for the first time last year, bringing the total to 28 with confirmed cases of the disease. The new municipalities are the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River and the counties of Clearwater, Smoky Lake and St. Paul. It’s a sign that clubroot is continuing to spread across Alberta […] Read moreWheat midge outlook gives cause for optimism
A surprisingly small number of wheat midge larvae have been found in Peace River area soil core samples, which suggests the insect likely won’t be a problem this year. However, Agriculture Canada entomologist Jennifer Otani says farmers need to continue monitoring for the pest, which can cut wheat yields in half. The Alberta Insect Pest […] Read more
Sawfly outlook good for Alta.
Wheat stem sawfly damage in Alberta is expected to be limited to small pockets of the southern part of the province this year. Field surveys show low populations in most of the surveyed areas, including the traditional sawfly areas in the Special Areas and the County of Forty Mile. The damage rates are based on […] Read more
Poultry producers hike biosecurity
Prairie poultry officials urge producers to take care after bird flu discovery in B.C.
Poultry producers are re-examining their biosecurity measures to prevent avian influenza from spreading across the country. Producers in Alberta have been warned to increase their biosecurity measures, said Alberta Chicken Producers executive director Karen Kirkwood. Alberta’s emergency management team, which represents the province’s chicken, turkey, hatching egg and table egg sectors, implemented emergency procedures when […] Read more
