A panel of BSE experts that convened recently in Saskatoon says Canada handled the arrival of BSE well, but could have done better. Roger Morris of the King’s College in London, England is known worldwide for his research of prions, the malformed proteins thought to cause BSE in cattle. “Canada has done a marvelous job […] Read more
Stories by Michael Raine
BSE throws life ‘out of balance’ – Special BSE Report
BALDWINTON, Sask. – On the surface, little has changed on the Saskatchewan farm where federal authorities say Canada’s first domesticBSE case was born. The McCreas are putting a crop in the ground and planning their finances for another season, as they have every spring for 41 years. Mel McCrea, in his role as reeve of […] Read more
Test in the works – Special BSE Report
Scientists say breakthroughs in BSE testing are on the way. Last year’s BSE discovery in Canada drew researchers out of their labs to remind governments and the cattle industry that they are still working on rapid, live tests for the disease. Many said they were nearing breakthroughs. Scientists generally believe BSE is caused by abnormal […] Read more
Flea beetles slow, but likely coming
Flea beetles, expected to be a major pest this year, have not yet appeared this spring. Agrologists say the cold, windy weather is likely only delaying the problem. Worse, it may be weakening seed treatments as time passes. Murray Hartman of Alberta Agriculture said the late spring means “we haven’t reached outbreak levels, yet.” The […] Read more
BSE expert makes blood connection
Roger Morris shocked many in a University of Saskatchewan lecture theatre May 13 when he said the prion believed to be responsible for BSE and its human counterpart might be transferred through blood. Until recently it was believed that bovine spongiform encephalopathy could be practically spread only by eating specified risk materials such as brain, […] Read more
Crack in border closes again
WINNIPEG – A 10-day-old opening in the American border to Canadian bone-in beef, liver and a few other beef products was closed May 4. The United States Department of Agriculture settled a legal action with the Montana based Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stock Growers of America by rescinding its April 19 move that had […] Read more
Failure to test sick cow ‘a mistake’
WINNPEG – A 12-year-old Texas cow showing symptoms of BSE escaped testing for the disease because of a mistake made by U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors. Ed Lloyd of the USDA said inspectors had not followed established procedures for bovine spongiform encephalopathy at the Lone Star Beef Plant in San Angelo, Texas April 27. “The […] Read more
Weed-free fixation can be costly
The bottom line may be prettier without makeup. While black summerfallow fields are no longer in vogue, many producers are still fixated on weed-free fields. However, a veteran weed researcher says that in some cases farmers may be paying for cosmetics. John O’Donovan, an Agriculture Canada researcher at Beaverlodge, Alta., knows there may be nothing […] Read more
Agronomic bartender mixes herbicide cocktail
A new chemical cocktail may stir debate among agronomists and leave herbicide resistant weeds shaking in their roots. Francois Tardif, the scientist who is tending bar for this new style of weed control, is blending reduced rates of herbicides with various modes of action in a pre-emergent herbicide recipe. Three years ago the University of […] Read more
Brown Swiss delivers the goods
Despite the ravages that BSE has wrought on cattle prices from feeding to breeding stock, some specialty breeders say they have not felt the pinching of producer pennies. Brown Swiss breeders in Manitoba say the strong demand for their cattle and the limited supply have helped keep prices up even without export demand. Saskatoon’s Western […] Read more
