IRON RIVER, Alta. – For Gordon Graves the farmer, the past two years of dry weather have meant poor pastures, dry dugouts and crops that struggle to make it worth combining. But the dry weather creates different problems for Gordon Graves the fire chief. The volunteer firefighter from Iron River has spent three of the […] Read more
News — page 4630
Northern Alberta farmers look on positive side
Test field pea straw before using as feed
Cattle producers who are tempted to use pea straw as an alternative feed source need to have it tested, says an Alberta Agriculture pulse specialist. A feed shortage and an increase in field pea acres in Western Canada have made field pea straw a more common cattle feed, said Mark Olson of Lacombe. “It’s just […] Read more
The other story behind canada’s FARM CRISIS – Special Report (main story)
PEEBLES, Sask. – Cecilia Olver displays a shred of optimism as she drives around the fields of the 3,200-acre farm she works with husband Brian. “We’re OK this year,” she says, reflecting on the good yields and decent prices for peas and lentils this fall. “I feel pretty optimistic this year. We were blessed with […] Read more
U.S. firm to buy Philom Bios
A home-grown high tech agricultural company is about to fall into American hands. Philom Bios, a Saskatoon inoculant manufacturer that has been in business since 1980, has signed a letter of intent to amalgamate with its main competitor MicroBio RhizoGen Corp., or MBR. Also based in Saskatoon, MBR is owned by MicroBio Corp. of the […] Read more
Farmer struggles after shunning subsidies – Special Report (story 2)
RAPID CITY, Man. – Manitoba grain farmer Peter Mellings is in an odd position when he calls on governments to beef up farm support programs. On his 1,550-acre farm in the province’s west-central region, he is struggling to survive. “I’m 43 years old and I should be putting away for my retirement but at this […] Read more
Buyer sought for Manitoba canola crushing plant
A canola crushing plant that was mothballed after its owner had financial troubles three years ago may be sold through a tax sale later this month. Taxes charged on the plant at Ste. Agathe, Man., are $250,000 a year. The taxes are a year in arrears and the receiver has chosen not to pay them, […] Read more
Bad news scenario tarnishes agriculture – Special Report (story 3)
As he addressed a convention of farm chemical manufacturers in Niagara Falls, Ont., CBC personality Rex Murphy warned that a way of life is disappearing on the Canadian Prairies. He drew a parallel between the loss of the Newfoundland cod industry and the family farm, an entity that has long been considered the base of […] Read more
Montana hunt farms lose ruling
A Montana judge has rejected a request by state game farmers to allow ranchers to operate hunt farms until a court date next July. Kim Kafka is one of the two ranchers who filed the class action suit, claiming a hunt farm ban is unconstitutional. Earlier this month, the judge denied the preliminary injunction against […] Read more
Saskatchewan cabinet gets fresher faces
Several veterans were shuffled out of the Saskatchewan cabinet last week, including longtime minister Pat Atkinson. The Saskatoon MLA had been in cabinet since 1992, serving in education, health and, most recently, highways. She was also responsible for rural revitalization. “I am a firm believer that people need to know when to go,” she told […] Read more
WTO launch called vital
and Reuters News Agency TORONTO – Canada’s federal and provincial agriculture ministers were joined by farm leaders last week in calling for an aggressive and broad launch of new world trade talks next month, for the good of the industry. In mid-November, trade ministers from around the world are scheduled to gather for a World […] Read more
