WAINWRIGHT, Alta. – When Mary McClennon injured herself while horseback riding and could no longer show her prized equines, she was forced to find another job to brighten her life. Today, the owner of Kountry Klassics Garden Centre fills her farmyard with a colorful array of plants for the five greenhouses that employs 20 people. […] Read more
Stories by Penny Yeager
Ability to contribute to pension plan a key concern
WESTLOCK, Alta. – Money is the biggest issue farm women are dealing with, according to the president of the Alberta group Women of Unifarm. “Women are getting very, very concerned. They’re telling their kids not to farm because there is no income,” said Florence Trautman. More farm women than ever are working off the farm […] Read more
Family takes breather as seeding winds down
As seeding wraps up on the Nahirniak farm, Marjorie and her family have time to chat around an open fire. It’s the first campfire of the year and presents a relaxing scene combined with the refreshing scents of blossoming fruit trees and visions of robins hunting for worms on the farmyard grass. As Marjorie has […] Read more
Fletcher’s plan to build bacon plant delayed
Fletcher’s Fine Foods still plans to construct a $12 million bacon plant in Edmonton although delays are expected. The site, which once held a Gainers meat packing plant, has environmental problems the company has to tackle first, said George Paleologou, a vice-president with Fletcher’s. “We fully intend to proceed obviously. We’re trying to work with […] Read more
Truck box rides may be banned
Hopping into the back of a pickup truck may not be such a free ride after the Alberta government reviews whether to ban the practice. Provincial infrastructure minister Ed Stelmach and department officials are studying evidence from police and several industries. Government officials may recommend fining passengers riding in pickup truck boxes or giving drivers […] Read more
Organic growers fear gene-altered canola will kill market
Ray Bauml figures he could get up to $15 a bushel by selling his organic canola to European markets. He expects the crop would work well if seeded with alfalfa on his sandier land and that it would add diversity to his crop rotation. That was his plan earlier this year. But now Bauml and […] Read more
New Alta. ag minister will have full plate
From controversial government bills to farm aid money, Alberta’s new agriculture minister will have numerous delicate issues to deal with, according to a department official. Ty Lund, environment minister before the cabinet shuffle last week, replaces Ed Stelmach as agriculture minister. Stelmach now has the infrastructure portfolio. “I think there are a lot of things […] Read more
Health activist works the telephone lines
TWO HILLS, Alta. – Nancy Mereska serves chocolate cake and tea from a silver set in her farmhouse kitchen while proudly showing family pictures and offering to share recipes. The grandmother of 13, wearing comfortable moccasins and a ready smile, hardly seems like an activist. But the founder of Rural Citizens Supporting Quality Health Care […] Read more
Beef producers must key in to buyer demands
Beef producers need to realize how much is at stake as consumer demand for their product steadily declines, says an industry analyst. “Of all the sectors the cow-calf producer thinks the least about consumer demand issues and, in reality, it hurts them the most. That’s the irony,” said Kevin Grier of the George Morris Centre. […] Read more
Market-value tax assessment ‘disastrous’
It will be a hard sell to convince Alberta farmers that market-value tax assessments are the way to go, admits one member of a government committee examining the option. “Market value has its advantages but it’s so complex and people are so fearful of it, they tend to look at it as something that can’t […] Read more
