Industrial zones preferred RMs are considering land use bylaws to restrict areas where Health Canada approved facilities can be located
Rural municipalities have little say about whether medical marijuana facilities can be located in their area, but some municipalities hope to regain control by changing their bylaws. Suzanne Oel, a councillor with the Municipal District of Foothills in Alberta, said the MD is reviewing its land use bylaws to ensure marijuana production facilities are in […] Read moreStories by Mary MacArthur
Letnick returns as B.C. ag minister during Pimm’s recovery
British Columbia has a new, old agriculture minister. Norm Letnick, MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country was re-sworn in as the province’s agriculture minister April 11. Letnick will replace agriculture minister Pat Pimm, MLA for Peace River North. The government announced this winter that Pimm is battling colon cancer. Letnick was first appointed B.C.’s agriculture minister in […] Read more
Owner, horse develop bond as they master new tricks
Builds confidence, flexibility | Playing dead, retrieving objects or giving smiles and kisses shows you can teach an old horse new tricks
EDMONTON — Caylyn Walker and Amanda Preston do the rural equivalent of farmyard party tricks. Their horses can bow, pick up a bucket in their teeth, play soccer, lie down, play dead and sit on a hay bale. Unlike real magicians who don’t share their secrets, Preston and Walker are willing to share the secrets […] Read more
Securing capital enables growth
Financing multimillion dollar venture | Sunworks Farms partners with venture capital investor
There never seems to be enough money at Sunworks Farms to really grow. Getting bigger seems to take more and more cash just to keep the wheels turning, said Ron Hamilton, owner of the organic farm near Armena, Alta. “When you have rapid growth, there is a constant pull for every dollar ever made and […] Read moreConsumer confidence requires more than facts
Educating customers | Surveys show Canadian consumers are concerned but uninformed about animal welfare issues
EDMONTON — Science has solved a lot of problems and answered a lot of questions, but it doesn’t have all the answers, says an animal welfare specialist. “Science can tell you what you can do, but not necessarily what you should do,” Dr. Michael von Massow of the University of Guelph told the recent Alberta […] Read moreTractor heist takes cops on slow speed chase
A slow speed police chase across fields involving a tractor, cop cars and a police officer hitching a ride on a borrowed snowmobile was like an episode out of the television comedy show Corner Gas. “I’m from Saskatchewan, and it sort of was,” said Blackfalds RCMP cpl. Barry Larocque. “This is the first time we’ve […] Read more
Families applaud emissions report
Heavy oil operations | Report recommends requiring gas capture by area energy companies
Alberta families who have long complained about the effects of oil and gas emissions feel vindicated by a recent report from the province’s energy regulator. “Odours caused by heavy oil operation in the Peace River area need to be eliminated to the extent possible as they have the potential to cause some of the health […] Read more
Animal welfare issue debated incorrectly: vet
EDMONTON — Livestock producers should get rid of their stock answers when dealing with animal welfare problems, says a veterinarian specializing in dealing with animal welfare issues. Dr. Tim Blackwell said livestock producers are professionals and should own their problems rather than make excuses. “Animal welfare is about doing the right thing. If you are […] Read more
Pulses dressed up as treats
Mission Impulseible | Annual competition asks food students to find new ways to use pulses
EDMONTON — It’s unlikely children could resist pulse pops and neither could the judges at a student food development competition. Pulse pops, a snack on a stick made from chickpeas, peanut butter, black beans, chocolate and coconut, won the Mission Impulseible food competition. The challenge for the winning group wasn’t creating a new food. “The […] Read more
Don’t let farm be fodder for activist video
Identify vulnerabilities | Animal activists are out to make farmers look bad, so show them a positive picture, says expert
EDMONTON — Farmers should not pretend that animal rights activists don’t exist, says the head of an animal agriculture organization. Instead, they should farm like they are on YouTube. Kay Johnson Smith, president of the Animal Agriculture Alliance, said the goal of animal rights groups is to eliminate animal agriculture. Consumers want what livestock farmers […] Read more
