STONY BEACH, Sask. — Steam billows from tall shiny pots on side-by-side stoves in the kitchen at Stony Beach hall. There is as much room in this kitchen as there is in many of today’s new homes, but these cooks are feeding about 200 people instead of a single family. Counter space is at a […] Read more
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Behind the scenes at the fall supper
Hail claims rise in 2011
Prairie farmers collected more money from hail claims in 2011 than they did last year. The Canadian Crop Hail Association released estimates Oct. 28 of the claims and payouts from the just completed growing season. The association said 15,000 claims led to payments of nearly $164 million by its member companies. That compared to payments […] Read more
Lamb producers want compensation
MORNINGSIDE, Alta. – Bill Gibson figures the coyote problem in his area is the worst he has experienced in his 35 years in the lamb business. The farmer from Tees, Alta., is frustrated as he tries to match wits with wily coyotes that took 30 lambs and a ewe this year. That is three times […] Read more
Determine cause of nosebleeds to avoid horse fatality
A trickle of blood from a horse’s nostril may not seem that concerning, but it can be the first indication of serious medical problems. The most life-threatening condition is a fungal infection of the carotid artery, which is a major vessel that supplies blood to the brain. A brief anatomy lesson is necessary to understand […] Read more
Historic agricultural bill sets off House debate
Agriculture minister Gerry Ritz had the first word as he opened debate Oct. 19 on government legislation that will abolish the 68-year-old Canadian Wheat Board monopoly Aug. 1, 2012. It was low-key. “I welcome this opportunity on behalf of western Canadian farmers to open debate on the bill … that would give them marketing freedom […] Read more
Canada touted as potential leader in hunger solution
University of Guelph president Alastair Summerlee began a speech to a “feeding a hungry world” conference last week on a sombre note. “In the next hour (around the world), 200 people will die of starvation,” he said at a conference on animal agriculture sponsored by many Canadian agricultural heavy hitters including Cargill, Maple Leaf Foods […] Read more
Government has power to amend act, Ritz tells critics
Producers and farm groups that support the end of the Canadian Wheat Board monopoly are the “real farmers” in Western Canada, agriculture minister Gerry Ritz said last week. As well, he insisted that attempts by opposition MPs and CWB support groups to delay passage of the bill through parliamentary tactics or court challenges will only […] Read more
Throne speech targeting hog sector worries KAP
The recently re-elected Manitoba NDP government gets praise from farm groups for some elements of its throne speech, which commits to getting education tax off of farmland and to improving provincial flood and water management. But most were alarmed to see the government once more name the hog industry as a cause of environmental problems. […] Read more
Cattle group evaluates tuberculosis testing kits
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has received $320,000 from the federal government to evaluate new blood tests for bovine tuberculosis. Canada is considered TB free but wants better surveillance tests that are easier and less expensive to run than the current skin tests. Skin tests and post mortem inspection of animals at abattoirs do not always […] Read more
NDP fails to address wetland preservation
After a spring of record flooding in Manitoba, Ducks Unlimited can’t believe the provincial government is unwilling to protect wetlands throughout the province. The organization was hoping that Manitoba’s NDP government, elected to a fourth consecutive term in early October, would finally recognize the important role that wetlands play in flood mitigation. However, the government […] Read more
