Since scientists discovered that omega-3s can reduce the risk of heart attacks and cancer, food manufacturers have eagerly marketed the health benefits of beneficial fatty acids. With the power of a heart healthy label in mind, researchers at Agriculture Canada’s research centre in Brandon sought to produce beef with a high content of omega-3s. In […] Read more
Robert Arnason
Stories by Robert Arnason
Natural trans fats benefit humans
Not all trans fats are bad, said Spencer Proctor, a cardiovascular scientist in agricultural, food and nutritional science at the University of Alberta. “One of the biggest messages I try and get across is that we’ve done ourselves a disservice by labelling all trans fats as being bad,” said Proctor. The war on trans fats […] Read more
New wheatgrass takes on foxtail
Of all the vegetation on the planet, foxtail barley is one species that Ken Miller cannot learn to love. “I despise foxtail barley for all the damage it does. To pasture land but particularly to hay (land),” said Miller, a seed grower in Milk River, Alta. “Hay that has foxtail in it won’t be accepted […] Read more
Those battling salinity eager for AC Saltlander
Ken Miller is the only seed grower in Canada who produces AC Saltlander but he may not be the only one much longer. “It controls and reduces the size of the saline area,” said Miller, who owns Miller Seeds in Milk River, Alta. “It can turn a very nasty problem area into an asset.” AC […] Read more
Manitoba considers ATV safety legislation
Two all-terrain vehicle accidents involving children in Manitoba have amplified demands for tougher ATV regulations in the province. On Aug. 27, an 11-year-old boy died after an ATV flipped while he was driving at a farm near Portage la Prairie. The vehicle’s passenger, another 11-year-old boy, was not injured. In April, a boy, 13, was […] Read more
Manitoba group gears up to improve ATV training for youth
It’s time for government and the public to take all-terrain vehicles seriously, said Chris Fox-Decent, president of the ATV Association of Manitoba. “There were 24,000 ATVs registered in Manitoba last year,” he said. In response to the vehicles’ continued popularity, Fox-Decent said the ATV Association of Manitoba is developing a plan to properly train young […] Read more
Thieves after copper wire leave big bill behind
Thieves are making a decent return this summer from an unlikely source: electrical wire used to power pivot irrigation systems. “These aren’t lazy criminals. These are go getters,” said Brad Wells, reeve of the Rural Municipality of North Cypress, which surrounds the town of Carberry, Man. “It’s a lot of work. You’ve got to climb […] Read more
Manitoba gov’t boosts biomass
The Manitoba government has changed its emission standards to encourage the use of biomass energy. The modifications will help straw and wood heating systems compete with conventional fossil fuel systems, Manitoba conservation minister Bill Blaikie said in a statement. The regulatory changes should improve the approval process for biomass energy systems, said Ryan Coulter, an […] Read more
Dogs sniff out disease
While the H1N1 virus is no longer a front page story, an outbreak of a new strain of influenza remains a threat to humans and other species. That’s why scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture are developing a new weapon to combat the spread of influenza – disease detecting dogs. “The advantage of using […] Read more
Veterinarians take action to reduce U.S. horse numbers
American veterinarians are making it easier for horse owners to sterilize their animals. Dr. Alison LaCarrubba of the University of Missouri’s equine clinic will offer free castrations at one of the university’s farms Oct. 2 in an effort to control the state’s horse population and reduce cases of horse neglect. “We’re seeing more and more […] Read more
