Penny Yeager

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

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

Canada’s first hantavirus death this year has occurred in Alberta, a province with an abnormally high rate of infection. George Kramps, 58, of Pickardville, died May 1. He was admitted to the Westlock hospital April 9 and transferred to University Hospital in Edmonton later that day. Dr. Paul Schnee, medical officer for the Aspen Health […] Read more

ROUND HILL, Alta. – As Harvey Nahirniak gives a tour of his farm in the Round Hill, Alta., area on a drizzly spring day, his rubber boots sink into the mud. He knows the soil here isn’t yet ready to seed. A calf, with little more than the tips of its ears exposed, seeks shelter […] Read more

Two rural Alberta writers who live near the same town say many well known publishing companies aren’t interested in agricultural stories for children. But after sending out many unsolicited manuscripts and getting nothing but rejections, Laural Chvojka didn’t give up. Instead, the Delburne-area author set up her own publishing company and now sees her book […] Read more

A three-year study will determine whether livestock operations contribute significantly to waterborne parasites in the North Saskatchewan River. Cryptosporidium and giardia are under examination. Both are intestinal parasites that can infect humans and wildlife and cause scours in young calves. “With livestock production, the parasites can be found in certain livestock and therefore can be […] Read more

Violent incidents are not increasing in Alberta schools, according to the president of the Alberta Teachers’ Federation. But the nature of the altercations has changed, said Bauni Mackay. “It’s not that there’s more violence but that the intensity of the violence is greater and that weapons are involved more often,” she said. “When a school […] Read more

Alberta officials now have the teeth to remove video lottery terminals from towns whose residents want them out. “It’s an answer to my prayers,” said Rev. Kirk MacNeil in response to Bill 36. The bill, which allows the provincial government to direct the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission to remove VLTs, was introduced after a […] Read more

WAINWRIGHT, Alta. – Deb Truman says she’s glad she works out of her home. As she sits in her large, bright country dining room with a view of the cattle in the distance and the family dog sunning itself outside, it’s easy to see why. She organizes her own time, establishes her own goals and […] Read more

Fertilizer sales companies should be able to use farm plates and purple fuel in their delivery trucks, says an Independent Fertilizer Association member. “Farm vehicles haul fertilizer and they haul grain, and so do I, and the fields aren’t level and we are getting priced out of the trucking business because of competition with the […] Read more