COCHRANE, Alta. — Farmland is still being paved over as urban development continues between Edmonton and Calgary. The result is fragmentation and soaring land values as more people want to be close to a highway and the amenities of a large city, said Brent Swallow of the University of Alberta. His research found 3,127 sq. […] Read more
Tag Archives Alberta — page 3
Ranchers fear park grazing in jeopardy
Ranchers in southwestern Alberta say they want details on the future of grazing in the new Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park, an area where grazing leases have been held for a century in some cases. The Alberta government finalized the boundaries of the two parks Jan. 20 at an announcement in Pincher […] Read more
Open Farm Days ‘bigger and better’ for Canada’s 150th
Alberta’s Open Farm Days, which were held last Aug. 20-21, have been deemed a record-breaking success by the Alberta government. The event offers the general public an opportunity to visit participating farms and ranches. The province reported that last year’s event drew 18,000 visits to 92 farms and ranches. On-farm sales during the two days […] Read more
Bovine TB investigation continues in Alberta
The investigation into bovine tuberculosis continues in southeastern Alberta. Cows from quarantined herds that did not react to TB tests are being processed at Cargill Foods in High River, Alta., and JBS Meats in Brooks, Alta. The beef is safe for human consumption. Animals that tested positive and calves are being handled at a federal […] Read more
Alta. farmers wrap up sugar beet harvest
Southern Alberta’s sugar beet harvest is complete, comprising more than 820,000 tonnes of beets and an average yield of 28.67 tonnes per acre. Processing of all those beets continues at the Roger’s Sugar factory in Taber, Alta., and trucking beets from the outlying piling stations is under way, said Alberta Sugar Beet Growers executive director […] Read more
Alta. plans mandatory helmets on off-highway vehicles
Wearing a helmet when riding an off-highway vehicle (OHV) on Alberta public land may become mandatory pending government amendments to the Traffic Safety Act. Transportation Minister Brian Mason announced the plan Nov. 28, which would affect those who ride all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, dirt bikes and similar recreational vehicles. Mason said the move is designed to […] Read more
VIDEO: Alta. growers see near record-setting sugar beet harvest
TABER, Alta. — The 28,000-acre southern Alberta sugar beet harvest is nearing completion with the possibility of record-breaking yields. Arnie Bergen-Henengouwen, president of Alberta Sugar Beet Growers, said growing conditions favoured sugar beets this year. “There was a little bit of hail in the area that affected some of the acres, but overall they’re expecting […] Read more
Industry ‘head tax’ adds strain to feedlots
In the wake of the pending closure of Western Feedlots, one of the largest such operations in Alberta, a group of southern Alberta feedlot owners says a new municipal tax puts even more pressure on their ability to operate. Lethbridge County has imposed a $3 per animal unit tax on livestock producers as a way […] Read more
VIDEO: The secret to big melons; plastic
RAYMOND, Alta. — What delights the hearts of boys more than a cold slice of watermelon on a hot summer day? About 20 boys converged on Ron McMullin’s melon patch near this southern Alberta town Sept. 6 to pick and eat some of the fruit they helped plant earlier in the year as part of […] Read more
Alta. watershed programs lose gov’t funding
Watershed stewardship programs will not receive funds through an Alberta government grant program this year. The program has been running since 2006 and in that time had allocated $1.8 million for 127 community based watershed groups. However, the Land Stewardship Centre, which redistributes the provincial grant money to groups that apply, learned at the end […] Read more
