The Alberta government has learned from the previous mistake of tying aid money to the slaughter of animals, says Alberta agriculture minister Shirley McClellan. Four days after the federal government announced a federal cull cow program tied to slaughter, Alberta announced its own mature animal aid program not tied to slaughter. “If we had gone […] Read more
News
Alta develops own cull cow aid program
BSE fuels uncertainty among rural Albertans
EDMONTON – There is a sense of uncertainty in the rural community about what will happen in the cattle industry, said an Alberta rural municipal councillor. John Kolk said while there are fewer specific questions about how an Alberta cow contracted bovine spongiform encephalopathy, there is still a sense of how long the ripple effects […] Read more
Deadline nears for first phase of BSE aid
As the Saskatchewan agriculture department gears up to deliver another BSE-related compensation program, officials are still processing applications to earlier programs. Financial programs director Dave Boehm said last week he had few details on the new cull compensation program even though the department would be administering it. “We have an idea of what we think […] Read more
Vanclief ponders APF changes
In an effort to entice either Saskatchewan or Ontario to embrace the controversial agricultural policy framework, federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief is considering two changes long sought by critics. An aide to the minister said Nov. 21 that Ottawa has agreed to provincial requests that it consider adding negative margin, or operating loss, coverage to […] Read more
Manure may light up your life
Call it brown power. Various agencies, including the government of Canada, Alberta Research Council, Highland Feeders Ltd. and its subsidiary, Highmark Renewables, hope to begin turning cattle manure into energy by June 2004. The Integrated Manure Utilization System seeks to process the “high-solid” manure typical of most North American feedlots into fertilizer and reusable water, […] Read more
Sask. gets new cabinet
Saskatchewan farmers will continue to aim their beefs and bouquets at Clay Serby. Premier Lorne Calvert has ann-ounced that Serby will stay on as the province’s agriculture minister and deputy premier. Calvert also announced that longtime Regina MLA Harry Van Mulligen, who previously served briefly as social services minister, will be finance minister. “I see […] Read more
Alberta farmers head to the track
KELSEY, Alta. – On a cold winter day Nov. 20, 60 farmers started their grain trucks, pulled their augers to the railway line and loaded 70 producer cars in an attempt to change the way grain is hauled in their area. It’s the first time Rodney Anderson ever loaded a producer car. Previously the Kelsey […] Read more
Europe wrestles with lifting GM ban
BRUSSELS, Belgium – For five years, the European Union has been in legal limbo over genetically modified organisms. It hit the panic button in 1998, calling a halt to trade in biotechnology products as public opposition to biotech exploded. Green activists hogged the headlines, destroying fields planted with what they dubbed Frankenstein foods, while consumers […] Read more
Coming Events
Nov. 24-29: Canadian Western Agribition, Regina Exhibition Park, Regina (CWA, 306-565-0565) Nov. 25: Fields on Wheels conference, Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg (Transport Institute, 204-474-9842) Nov. 28: Farm Succession Planning workshop, Sheraton Cavalier, Saskatoon, 800-652-7472 or 306-975-9500 Nov. 28-30: Cowboy Christmas Festival, Westerner Grounds, Red Deer (Steve, 403-358-8259) Alberta Agriculture Food & Rural Development, Marketing with […] Read more
Chains serve Canadian beef
Three of Canada’s largest fast food retailers say they are remaining patriotic in their beef use, at least for now. McDonald’s says it will buy and serve all-Canadian beef in its restaurants until such time “as the (BSE) crisis is over.” It moved to an all-Canadian content “in support of the Canadian industry and will […] Read more
