EDMONTON – Capturing that perfect horse photo is not as easy as squeezing the shutter and hoping for the best. A few easy tricks can make any horse look better, Cheryl Smythe told 4-H members during the Farm and Ranch show in Edmonton April 10. “If you know what you’re doing, you can make a […] Read more
News
Expert brings out beauty from the beast
Feds soften label stance
Ottawa has signaled that it is willing to retreat from some of the most contentious elements of its Product of Canada labelling policy that Canadian food processors say is unworkable. At an April 19 news conference, veterans affairs minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn, minister of state for agriculture, said that after consultations with processors, he understands the […] Read more
Positioning auger made easy
EDMONTON – Hopper bottom grain trucks may mean less shoveling, but they don’t necessarily mean less hassle during the busy harvest season – until now. Like other farmers, Jim Grose found that swinging an auger under a hopper bottom grain truck was a two-person job. As one person inched the truck forward into place, another […] Read more
Proposal for variety impact analysis raises concerns
A House of Commons decision to hold hearings into whether new genetically modified seed varieties should be subject to market impact analysis before approval has unleashed a firestorm of grain industry debate. On April 14, MPs voted to approve in principle a private member’s bill proposed by British Columbia New Democrat Alex Atamanenko that would […] Read more
April showers needed
EDMONTON – Hopper bottom grain trucks may mean less shoveling, but they don’t necessarily mean less hassle during the busy harvest season – until now. Like other farmers, Jim Grose found that swinging an auger under a hopper bottom grain truck was a two-person job. As one person inched the truck forward into place, another […] Read more
Youth killed in cattle feeding accident
A farming accident near Rosetown, Sask., has claimed the life of a 15-year-old youth. Chase Cordes died April 14 at his uncle’s farm while helping his father, Ron, feed cattle. He was struck by the tractor. “It wasn’t (an unusual work situation). They’d done it a thousand times; nothing out of the norm really,” said […] Read more
Proper staff management makes efficient operation
LONDON, Ont. – Excellence in pork production is not just about the pigs, says a hog industry consultant. It’s also about the people. As a result, Hans Rotto of Ames, Iowa, developed a six-point approach to employee management. It begins with clear expectations, Rotto told the London Swine Conference March 31. “Have stated goals and […] Read more
Manitoba producers may get jump on seeding this year
CARBERRY, Man. – Trevor Dickson is eager to get on the land. In his farmyard east of Carberry, Man., the seeder is hooked up and ready to roll. “This is way earlier than last year,” he said, standing in the yard on a 20 C and windy spring day last week. The plan is to […] Read more
Trucker charged at border after dead horses found
A Manitoba truck driver may face jail time for transporting injured and dying horses from Minnesota to a slaughter plant in Alberta. Geoffrey Giesbrecht, who had already pleaded guilty to violating the Health of Animals Act following an incident at the border crossing near Emerson, Man., Nov. 7, 2007, appeared in court in Winnipeg April […] Read more
Cattle group moves closer to checkoff
One step remains in the process that will allow the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association to collect and administer beef check-off dollars in the province. The Saskatchewan legislature’s standing committee on the economy last week repealed the existing legislation and authorized the SCA to collect the national levy and forward it to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. The […] Read more
