EDMONTON — Like father, like son. Charlie Gould has followed his father, Stan, into the Alberta 4-H Hall of Fame. Charlie Gould was inducted into the Alberta 4-H Hall of Fame Oct. 5 after 42 years as a member and leader of the Rosalind Beef Club. His father, Stan, was inducted into the Hall of […] Read more
Stories by Mary MacArthur
Angus, Simmental win at Farmfair
HF Thunderbird 1464 steals thunder | Poplar Meadows Angus pockets $2,500 in prize money
EDMONTON — Tanya Belsham just about didn’t make it to Farmfair this year. The family’s truck and tack trailer were totalled when they hit black ice just out of Houston, B.C. They found another truck and trailer, reloaded their tack and made it to Edmonton in time for Farmfair International. It’s a good thing they […] Read more
New genetics attract international buyers
Market development | Buyers from nine countries have spent $5.6 million since program launched in 2010
EDMONTON — It’s Rafael Ramirez’s fourth trip to Farmfair International to buy cattle, and he’s looking to buy more. On this trip, the Mexican is looking to buy semen to augment the genetics of 80 head of Charolais and Angus. It’s Julio Gonzales’s third trip to Farmfair. Last year, he bought 100 bred heifers and […] Read more
Simmental lives up to Flirtin lineage
Grand champion female | The ‘awesome’ cow family has good udders, good feet and bones and solid bodies, says owner
EDMONTON — A winning cow family kept on winning at Farmfair International. A black Simmental cow, owned by Rancier Farms and Westman Land and Cattle, won grand champion female at the Supreme Champions show. In 2008, the cow’s grandmother won the same competition and two years later the calf at its side went on to […] Read moreJudges enter big leagues
EDMONTON — It was like being called up from the farm team to the professional league. Cathryn Thompson of Calahoo, Alta., Denton Tatarin of Hairy Hill, Alta., and Alex Shuttleworth of Balzac, Alta., made the leap this year from judging 4-H and breed shows to working the multi-breed show at Farmfair International. The University of […] Read more
ABP considers mandatory levy
PONOKA, Alta. — Talking about an organization’s mandatory re-view is like doing taxes. It’s necessary, but you’re glad when it’s done. Alberta Beef Producers is required to review every five years its regulations and laws that govern its mandate and operations. Meetings this summer produced seven recommendations to change and improve the cattle organization, including […] Read more
Temporary foreign workers often pursue new life
Temporary Foreign Worker Program | General manager at Alberta facility is now a Canadian citizen
RED DEER — The Temporary Foreign Worker Program isn’t just about giving employers access to foreign workers. For the foreign workers, it’s access to a new life. Christo Hurtado took a leap of faith and moved his family from Mexico to southern Alberta for work at a feedlot. It was also a chance at a […] Read moreAgriculture will have to recruit from new groups, say analysts
RED DEER — There are no easy solutions to the farm labour shortage, but matching current trends in underemployment may be a start, says a director with the Conference Board of Canada. One of the biggest trends is a desire for part-time work, Michael Burt said during an agricultural labour summit. “It may be a […] Read more
Canadian and Turkish officials wait for borders to open
EDMONTON — Two-way livestock trade between Canada and Turkey is not open yet, but a Turkish delegation in Alberta hopes to have a head start when trade becomes possible. Grant Winton, senior director of international relations and marketing with Alberta Agriculture, said the federal government has negotiated an export agreement between Canada and Turkey, but […] Read more
Livestock genomics company now self-sustaining
Funding cutbacks are usually a time of tears, not celebration, but Delta Genomics is celebrating the end of its government funding. The livestock genomics company, which began at the University of Alberta and is now almost completely self-sustainable, celebrated its independence Nov. 13. “This is a recognition of the (Western Economic Development) funding and its […] Read more
