A small town can’t become a tourism mecca on its own but has a better chance if it joins with surrounding towns, municipalities and individual businesses to create a reason for visitors to stop in the area. “I’m really big on collaboration,” Mike Stolte told a Growing Rural Tourism conference in Camrose this month. “The […] Read more
Stories by Mary MacArthur
Alta. wants grain sector benchmark
The Alberta government is calling for the establishment of performance measures and benchmarks for the entire grain supply chain. The publicly reported system would help identify service shortfalls and bottlenecks in a timely manner, so issues can be resolved more quickly, said an Alberta government news release March 17. The performance measures are in addition […] Read more
Redford resigns as Alta. premier
Less than two years after winning a solid majority, Alison Redford resigned as premier of Alberta at a hastily called news conference March 19. After weeks of growing discontent within the Progressive Conservative party from within and the public, Redford bowed to pressure and resigned. “Quite simply I am not prepared to allow party and […] Read more

Couple builds custom designed miniature rides
Built by hand on the farm | Miniature horse owners say carts give animals new purpose
PICKARDVILLE, Alta. — Like most good ventures, Kelly Miller and Patty Kramps’ business of selling harness and carts for miniature horses began with a need. They had been looking for a cart for a miniature horse they had rescued from the auction market, but the ones they found were either cheap and disposable or expensive. […] Read moreAgriculture funding up as gov’t supports new research initiative
EDMONTON — Agriculture funding received a boost in this year’s Alberta budget. The province has established a $200 million endowment fund for agriculture and food innovation within the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. The Agriculture Food and Innovation Account will allot $9 million a year for the next three years from the $200 million fund […] Read more
Critics question Alberta’s balanced budget claim
Debt criticized | While Alberta’s 2014 budget projects a surplus, opposition parties say it fails to consider billions spent on infrastructure
EDMONTON — The Alberta government has a “fully balanced budget” for the first time in seven years, thanks to booming oil revenue and strong taxes, says Alberta’s finance minister. “It’s been a long road to get here,” Doug Horner told a news conference to explain the 2014 budget. Alberta is expected to have an operating […] Read moreInput sought on rural economic development
Action plan | Officials will be surveying eight rural communities in Alberta this spring
Rural Albertans will be asked to help create a rural economic development action plan over the next six weeks, said Alberta agriculture minister Verlyn Olson. Five government MLAs will travel to eight rural Alberta communities in March and April looking for ideas about how to maintain and enhance the economy of rural Alberta. “We want […] Read moreN.Z. firm invests in Man. sheep farm
Sarto Sheep Farm | New Zealand processor to help producer expand to 30,000 ewes
A New Zealand lamb processing company is working with Canada’s largest sheep farm to increase its flock from 5,000 to 30,000 ewes within five years. Sarto Sheep Farm of Manitoba and Integrated Foods of New Zealand plan to form Canada Sheep and Lamb Farms with a goal to build a vertically integrated sheep and lamb […] Read moreBlight from backyards threatens field crops
Late blight control | Potato industry officials believe disease can be managed if gardeners grow resistant tomato varieties
EDMONTON — Controlling late blight in Alberta potato fields may lie in the hands of backyard gardeners. Most commercial potato growers know about the dangers of the devastating disease. But many backyard gardeners are unaware that their infected tomatoes and potatoes can spread disease for 100 kilometres on the wind and wipe out entire fields […] Read moreCensus maps pinpoint cattle
It’s no secret that Alberta’s cattle herd has shrunk dramatically in the past decade. However, a close look at each county provides a clearer picture of which parts of the province have been most affected. The biggest reductions in cattle are in the Highway 2 corridor between Edmonton and Calgary in the black soil zone, […] Read more