Alberta meat industry applauds larger fines for illegal slaughter that will help maintain trust in food safety
Alberta livestock producers and abattoir operators are applauding a move to increase penalties for illegal livestock slaughter and sale of uninspected meat in the province. Doug Roxburgh, a beef producer from Rimbey and current vice-chair of Alberta Beef Producers, said the changes show support for Alberta’s livestock industries. “Alberta beef producers stand behind stronger penalties […] Read moreTag Archives RJ Sigurdson
Rural Alta. communities eligible for funding
Provincial government makes $3 million available for small and Indigenous rural communities to grow their economies
An additional $3 million has been earmarked by the Alberta government for rural Indigenous and small communities to “grow their economic footprint.” The funding represents the second round of grants through the government’s Small Community Opportunity Program, said a recent news release. Last year, grants between $20,000 and $100,000 for 43 community-led projects were granted […] Read more
New flour mills planned as population surges
P&H says increased demand behind plans to build wheat milling facility in Alberta and expand an existing mill in Ontario
SASKATOON — A major Canadian grain company is building two new wheat flour mills in response to rising domestic consumption of the product. “We’re seeing the demand pinch and so we knew we had to expand,” said Mike Warkentin, director of special projects and stakeholder relations with P&H Milling Group, a division of Parrish & […] Read more
Farmers want data strategy
WHITEHORSE — Data will drive productivity growth on Canadian farms, farm organizations told agriculture ministers last month. They called for a national data strategy during a roundtable at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture summer meeting and ahead of the federal-provincial-territorial annual ministerial meeting. “The agriculture sector is in the midst of a transition characterized less […] Read more
Dairy processing expands
Glacier FarmMedia – Those behind the unique milk processing plant in central Alberta’s Lacombe County have much to celebrate. Over the past five years, the five provincial organizations under the Western Milk Pool banner have overcome regulatory barriers and a pandemic and now the $75 million facility is set to open in spring 2025. Pool […] Read more
Renewable diesel facility to run on Alberta canola
Imperial receives 12 per cent tax credit for Strathcona-based agri-processor
Glacier FarmMedia – The Imperial Strathcona Refinery in Alberta is receiving a 12 per cent tax credit for its $720 million under-construction canola-based renewable diesel facility that is said to need millions of tonnes of canola seed per year. The credit comes from the Province of Alberta’s Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit, which offers a 12 […] Read more
VIDEO: Alberta ag minister urges water conservation
The province establishes a drought command team to work on an emergency plan amidst the continuing drought threat
MEDICINE HAT — Alberta weather has faced dramatic swings recently, from record high temperatures in December to lows in January not seen in decades, but the threat of a devastating drought continues along the same trajectory. Snowpack reporting stations along Alberta’s Eastern Slopes and from the headwaters of rivers that flow into the province from […] Read more
Alta. considers expanding ag society funding
CALGARY — The Alberta government is looking at expanding funding for a program that provides $2.5 million per year to agricultural societies to repair and upgrade facilities such as arenas and rodeo grounds relied on by rural residents. “It’s definitely a consideration,” said Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson when asked about the need for […] Read more
Alta. residents to appeal biodigester approval
CALGARY — The fight by High River, Alta., and area residents against a proposed $70 million biodigester will continue despite the Alberta government’s approval of the project. Residents opposed plan to appeal the decision to the provincial Environmental Appeals Board, said Benita Estes, whose rural home in Foothills County is about 200 metres from the […] Read more
Drought another threat to beef herd
The newly appointed federal agriculture minister and his Alberta counterpart discussed a range of topics during their first meeting, which took place in Calgary the first week of August. Alberta’s RJ Sigurdson and the feds’ Lawrence MacAulay talked about challenges such as the potential of an outbreak of African swine fever and international trade protocols. […] Read more
