The Alberta government plans to take a harder line against rural crime and today announced measures to begin that process. Provincial justice minister Doug Schweitzer said a Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence Force (RAPID) will be created that will train about 400 sheriffs, fish and wildlife officers and commercial vehicle enforcement personnel to respond to […] Read more
Farm Living
County of Grande Prairie declares agricultural disaster
Councillors with the County of Grande Prairie have declared and agricultural disaster in the region, marking what is considered to be a fourth straight year of difficult conditions. Several factors, including wet conditions that delayed seeding last spring, excessive rainfall, and cool weather have slowed production and have led to poor crop quality, the county […] Read more
Numerous veggie products recalled due to listeria risk
Numerous fresh-cut vegetable products were added Nov. 3 to a recall list by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency due to possible contamination with listeria bacteria. Forty-one different Mann’s Organic products including broccoli coleslaw, kale-beet blends, cauliflower, corn, broccoli, green beans, and veggie trays are subject to recall, all bearing best before dates up to and […] Read more
Recent Quebec farm deaths prompt safety awareness
The three deaths in four days were separate incidents involving a tractor falling to its side and power take-offs
QUEBEC CITY — Three farm deaths occurred over a period of four days earlier this month in Quebec, prompting advocates to remind farmers of the importance of safety. The deaths, all separate incidents, include a man in his 50s, a 19-year-old man and a woman who worked for the province’s agriculture department. “It’s certainly bad […] Read more
Animal abuse: the tip of the iceberg
There is an understanding that domestic violence, animal abuse, child abuse and elder abuse are interrelated
It is a troubling story that Leanne Sillars, animal safekeeping co-ordinator with the Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, vividly recalls. A woman subject to domestic abuse sought a way to leave the farm along with her children, their pets, their horses and the cow herd. She had seen how cruelly the […] Read more
Food cravings change drastically when autumn arrives
The autumn sky is bright blue by day, and black with clear twinkling stars by night. The sound of the rustling dried leaves make for the perfect Halloween ambiance. It is at this time of year that our food cravings drastically change. Most of us start to crave warm, more substantial menus, with staying power, […] Read more
Family strives for healthier food
DENZIL, Sask. — The Witzaneys love to grow food for local customers. That’s the niche market they have moved into after starting New Life Organic Foods to market their homegrown produce, which includes beef, sheep, pork, poultry, eggs and milled grains. “We really found that connection to growing food for families when we actually started […] Read more
Alta. project aims to improve farmers’ health
Findings suggest producers tend to have poor diets and don’t exercise much; they also put work over their health
QUEBEC CITY — A project in Alberta has been assessing the health of farmers, using data to help them make better lifestyle decisions. The three-year sustainable farm families program, led by the Farm Safety Centre, saw nurses measure the cholesterol, muscle mass, blood sugars, visceral fat and other health metrics of participating farmers. The assessments […] Read more
Few legal options for addicts’ bad decisions
Q: Our son is addicted to cocaine. At the moment he is in a treatment program where by all reports he is doing very well. He is at least doing better there than he has done elsewhere. Dare we be so hopeful as to think that maybe this time he will get on top of […] Read more
Keeping home fires burning required work
When Mom started fussing and fuming because the fire in the old McClary wood stove was sluggish, I knew it was time to clean the stovepipes again. Dad always dragged his feet about such matters, no doubt trying to summon up enough vocabulary to match the occasion. He succeeded admirably, especially the time I accidentally […] Read more
