Livestock Management
Lawyers for Big Sky Farms were scheduled to appear in court Dec. 9 to ask for more time to develop a plan acceptable to its lenders. The Saskatchewan-based hog company has been operating under credit protection since Nov. 10 and was supposed to present its plan of arrangement to lenders by Nov. 30 and the […] Read more
Livestock Management
Big Sky wants extension on developing restructuring plan
Winning horses at Agribition
* Two Percheron horses topped this year’s Canadian Western Agribition draft horse show. Vintage King’s Rex, exhibited by Spade Creek Percherons and Colleen Patterson of Dawson Creek, B.C., took home ribbons for junior and grand champion in its breed class, and then beat out the other breeds for the supreme champion stallion title.Simpsons Edie, exhibited […] Read more
Grain key to railway earnings
Hauling grain has provided the railways with about 20 percent of their revenue so far in 2009. Figures released by the two national railways also confirm that while freight revenues from most commodities are down so far this year, reflecting the impact of the recession, grain has held steady or increased. As of Oct. 1, […] Read more
Changes challenge show
A format change, a football game and the financial downturn conspired to lower attendance at Canadian Western Agribition, but organizers say they are happy with the event. Final attendance figures for the Nov. 21-28 Regina show weren’t available in time for The Western Producer’s Nov. 30 press deadline, but president Marilyn Charlton said she expected […] Read more
Manitoba takes financial hit on Rancher’s Choice
The five-year saga of Rancher’s Choice Beef Co-operative, a proposed cattle slaughter plant in Dauphin, Man., has come to an unhappy ending for Manitoba taxpayers. The Manitoba government invested $4.5 million in the plant, but this fall, it auctioned off the slaughterhouse’s remaining asset, its equipment and machinery, for the price of a used half-ton […] Read more
Charolais bull calf tops sale; draws $67,500
REGINA – A new breeder bought high-selling cattle at last week’s national Charolais sale held during Canadian Western Agribition in Regina held Nov. 21-28. Tim Facette and his business partner John Fitzgerald, who started Clear Lake Charolais at Tiger Lily, Alta., have decided that if they are going to start new careers as cattle producers, […] Read more
Youth judge cattle for scholarship
REGINA – To judge or be judged was the challenge for young people entering the commercial cattle competition at Canadian Western Agribition from Nov. 21-28. Working with commercial judge Will Lowe of Northwest Consolidated Beef at Strathmore, Alta., the 30 youngsters were taught how to judge commercial cattle like professionals in settings similar to what […] Read more
Familiar faces in show ring for supreme championship
As sure as the prairie winds blow, Rob Hamilton has stood in the northwest corner of the show ring for the finale of Canadian Western Agribition year after year. The supreme finale showcases all the grand champion bulls and females from Agribition, held Nov. 21-28 in Regina, and 15 other North American shows. This year, […] Read more
Views wanted on hog program
The Canadian hog industry is encouraging producers to share their views on a new federal loan program aimed at helping the industry through troubled times. The hog industry loan loss reserve program was part of a three-pronged assistance package that federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz introduced in August. The loan program was designed to help […] Read more
Goats of glory: top sellers not for sale
Landon Spokowski is a veteran goat breeder at the age of 20. He received his first two commercial does for Christmas when he was eight or nine. “That’s where it started,” he said last week while waiting for the Boer goat sale to begin at Canadian Western Agribition held Nov. 21-28 in Regina. He began […] Read more
