Farmers Colleen and Dale Whitford say what they thought was a financial blessing has become a curse. The cattle producers from Rose Valley, Sask., are not alone. Critics say the Canadian Agriculture Income Stabilization program is failing livestock producers and its flaws are now jeopardizing many small prairie farms. Despite earlier criticisms of the program, […] Read more
Stories by Michael Raine
Western company throws wide net for workers
Finning Cat needs 400 workers in each of the next four years just to maintain its workforce and western Canadian farmers are helping fill its bill. The heavy equipment company has been growing steadily, tied in large part to expanding resource sectors in Alberta, British Columbia and northern Canada. But the demands of growth are […] Read more
Field feeding saves money in winter
Producers who spread manure with winter pasture feeding systems can save a third of their costs, according to recent study results. Western Canadian cattle producers have always had a cost disadvantage compared to producers in warmer regions. The extra calories needed to maintain cows and bred heifers through winter are costs that fair-weather producers don’t […] Read more
Lack of copper blamed for goat deaths
After 850 goat deaths, Dave Smith can now say the cause was mineral deficiency, but the Choiceland, Sask., farmer says not all of his questions have been answered. Copper is always in short supply in the grey-wooded soils of the forest fringe of the Prairies, but the farmer said in more than 10 years of […] Read more
Transformer cleanup too slow, couple says
Linda Canfield and her husband Robin of Fenwood, Sask., weren’t that surprised when the old electrical transformer on a pole in their farmyard exploded on the Labour Day weekend last fall. “We had asked Sask Power to replace it two years earlier because it appeared so old, but they didn’t do anything about it,” she […] Read more
Prepare for higher loonie, farmers told
Higher interest rates and a rising Canadian dollar will require changes to Canadian agriculture, says a Canadian currency expert. “If you export production or borrow money in your business then you need to take a look ahead at the world markets and see where Canada is headed,” said Michael Levy of Custom House, a company […] Read more
Winter pasture awaits spring
SUNDRE, Alta. – In 1909 the Brewster Brothers Transfer Company established winter pastures for its pack and guiding horses at what was known by the native community at the time as the Ya Ha Tinda or Mountain Prairie. The area’s unique prairie grassland and unusually mild winters made it an attractive winter location, despite being […] Read more
R-CALF pushing for border ban
R-CALF was once again arguing in court last week that the United States should close its border to Canadian cattle and beef. The U.S. cattle group accuses in its motion to a federal court that the Canadian industry fails to meet international testing requirements for a country with BSE and fails to meet American export […] Read more
Alta. seed grower spreads out risk
SUNDRE, Alta. – Bob Mastin’s seed growing operation may have its headquarters in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, but it’s built on a foundation that stretches across Alberta. Mastin Seeds is located near Sundre, a few kilometres from the western edge of prairie grain growing country. More than 20 years ago, Mastin and his […] Read more
Cattle business returning to normal
A high dollar, a partially reopened border and an expanding slaughter capacity are all relatively new issues for the modern Canadian beef cattle industry. But despite these factors, the cattle business is getting back to normal. Anne Dunford of Canfax told producers attending the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders’ Association annual meeting in Saskatoon last week that […] Read more
