Due to extreme weather conditions, your printed copy of the December 8 Western Producer may be delayed. Snow and road closures hampered our ability to get the Western Producer to Canada Post for customers in Alberta and British Columbia. You can expect up to one full day delay of your Western Producer in Alberta and […] Read more
Farm Living
Crazy ideas keep crafter busy
OAK RIVER, Man. — After a full day of work at a hardware store in Rivers, a Manitoba crafter heads home to her workshop to create unique designs. Karen Coleman recently showcased some of her items at the Mall in the Hall event in Oak River. “I don’t take orders as all my creations are […] Read more
Family footsteps lead back to the farm
NORTH STAR, Alta. — The children of Nora Paulovich and Bob Noble are defying what has become a common pattern for kids raised in rural areas. All three of them, Jolene, 27, Cara, 24, and Lee, 21, plan to continue farming and ranching together in the northern Alberta community where they were raised. The succession […] Read more
Tourism operators learn to sell Sask. attractions to public
INDIAN HEAD, Sask. — A simulation of speed dating was one of the unique tools used at an inaugural Tourism Talks session held at Indian Head recently. Tourism Saskatchewan launched the Tourism Talks series of meetings to reach out to people involved in various aspects of rural tourism. The pilot project brought together more than […] Read more
Creating treasures stitch by stitch
RIMBEY, Alta. — Quilting is a way to make something practical and pretty while sewing together friendship, purpose and community. “It’s a form of art. I love to play with the patterns and feel the fabrics,” said Carol Bailey, who operates the Wildflower Creations quilting store in Lacombe, Alta. and teaches quilting. Bailey enjoys sharing […] Read more
Improving intimacy skills takes practice
Q: When I was a young boy, my family was in serious trouble. My dad was physically abusive toward my mom and my mom handled it by being unfaithful. Both of them drank too much. The great day in my life was the moment they decided to end their relationship and apply for a divorce. […] Read more
Neonics most widespread in Ontario’s horticultural regions
Neonicotinoids are present in streams and waterways throughout southern Ontario, says a new report from Environment Canada. However, southwestern Ontario and the Niagara region are the only parts of the province with hazardous levels of the insecticides in water. In a paper that will soon be published in the journal Chemosphere, Environment Canada scientists found […] Read more
TB testing in Alta., Sask., should be done next month
About 26,000 animals are now quarantined in southeastern Alberta as testing for bovine tuberculosis continues. Testing should be finished by early January, said Dr. Harpeet Kochhar, chief veterinary officer at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Dec. 7. About 50 premises are quarantined, including five in Saskatchewan. Animals that react to skin tests are to be […] Read more
Fitness ranks low for Canadian youth
NOBLETON, Ont. — Fitness doesn’t have to cost a lot and can be as easy as parking the car farther away from the grocery store. Shyanne Spilchen, the director of Fitness 4 Youth, said regular physical activity needs to become routine. “People see exercise as a chore instead of a lifestyle,” said Spilchen, who provides […] Read more
Mobile unit helps deliver farm safety program
Ag For Life program will launch next fall and aims to deliver interactive content to rural areas across Western Canada
A mobile unit will drive home the farm safety message next year when Ag For Life launches its latest initiative. The Rural and Farm Safety Mobile Unit has been under consideration for about three years, said Ag for Life chief executive officer Luree Williamson. A $650,000 donation from Agrium, announced Nov. 16, will help get […] Read more
