Twelve rural municipalities in Manitoba’s Interlake and WestLake regions have declared a state of agricultural disaster due to severe dry conditions. The RMs of Alonsa, Armstrong, Bifrost-Riverton, Coldwell, Ethelbert, Fisher, Grahamdale, Lakeshore, McCreary, Ste. Rose, West Interlake and Woodlands announced the motion in a news release Thursday. The municipalities are calling on the province to […] Read more
RMs declare ag disaster in Manitoba’s Interlake
Elanco to become No. 2 in animal health with Bayer deal
Reuters — Elanco Animal Health agreed to buy Bayer’s veterinary drugs unit on Tuesday in a cash and stock deal valued at US$7.6 billion (C$10 billion), creating the second largest maker of medicines for livestock and pets and expanding Elanco’s reach online. The deal is the latest in the fast-growing animal health market, which has […] Read more
Bayer, Elanco said aiming to reach animal health deal next week
Reuters — Germany’s Bayer and U.S. drug firm Elanco Animal Health aim to reach an agreement to combine their animal health businesses as soon as next week, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Elanco plans to pay for at least a part of the deal with its stock and any deal […] Read more
Weather forecaster draws heat from ranchers
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Weather Network “is open to learning” about the beef sector’s positive environmental impact following its controversial call for Canadians to eat less beef, says the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. The CCA met with Weather Network officials after the forecaster posted a video on its website saying cattle “require about 20 times more land and they […] Read more
Diversification drives success at Alberta alpaca farm
Alpaca-assisted therapy, children’s camps, and other programs add to revenue streams
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alpacas may look like a fun farm pet, but for Geri Wayslow, they’re a true labour of love — one that requires a whole lot of hard work and a little bit of luck to turn a profit. “It’s fun as a breeder to see what I’ve created, but more importantly, it’s about what I […] Read more
Alpaca pioneers have a YEG connection
Reading Time: < 1 minute Where do alpacas come from? Would you believe the Edmonton airport? According to Alpaca Canada, “the first large importation” occurred on Jan. 2, 1992 and YEG was their gateway to the country. “These animals had been quarantined in New Zealand for 1-1/2 years before arriving,” the organization’s website states. “A 747 cargo plane then flew […] Read more
Fish habitat clause sent swimming
Reading Time: < 1 minute Senate amendments to the recently passed Fisheries Act repealed the ‘Deeming Habitat’ provision opposed by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. The provision would have greatly expanded what could be deemed fish habitat to include any watercourse or water body with water flows able to sustain fish ecosystems. It would have meant virtually all water bodies could […] Read more
Alberta to lengthen public leases for ‘exemplary’ ranching
Ranchers who display “exemplary” stewardship as tenants on Alberta’s public lands could soon be eligible for double the term of the usual lease. The province announced Tuesday it expects the new policy to come into effect in late autumn this year and “in the coming months” will release new guidelines on what would be considered […] Read more
Two Albertans inducted into Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame
Reading Time: 2 minutes Two Albertans are among the six 2019 inductees into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. A visionary pioneer, the late Louis Latimer leaves the legacy of developing a global demand for Canadian beef genetics. Latimer was a trailblazer in using data-based selection methods and seeing the value of telling the story of his farm with […] Read more
There’s now a (good) way to deal with grain bags and twine
Reading Time: 3 minutes Many landfills don’t want it and you’re not supposed to burn it — so what do you do with old grain bags and twine? That vexing question led to the creation of the Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group and, now, a $1-million, three-year pilot project that will see about 20 ag plastic recycling depots set up […] Read more
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