Reading Time: 2 minutes The agency he heads is just five years old, but the meat business has changed so radically in that time that a whole new approach is needed, says the CEO of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency. “We’ve gone from an area or a time where we’ve had so much supply and we push it […] Read more
Meat business undergoing big changes, says agency head
CEO of Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency says ‘pull’ from the marketplace creates opportunities and challenges
‘Sustainable’ beef a golden opportunity
Roundtable president says sustainability initiative can counter
Reading Time: 4 minutes They’re still trying to nail down what it means, but Canada is at the forefront when it comes to the global effort to create “sustainable” beef, according to the head of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. “You guys are rocking when it comes to sustainability,” said Cameron Bruett. “You’re doing a fantastic job.” Bruett […] Read more
Drenched again: South inundated, but it could have been worse
The damage to infrastructure will take time to repair, and the effects on many farms and ranches will be long lasting
Reading Time: 5 minutes The night Willow Creek flooded was a sleepless one for Cecilie Fleming and husband Duncan. Every hour, the couple slogged through the rain and the mud in their yard just east of the creek and used an electric fence post to measure the rise of the rapidly swelling torrent of water. Two feet became four […] Read more
Flood damage not as bad as feared in southern Alberta
Reading Time: 2 minutes A post-flood heat wave was just what the doctor ordered for flooded producers in southern Alberta. “The hot weather is helping remarkably,” Doug Dueck, area manager for the south region of Agricultural Financial Services Corporation, said in early July. “Those that are completely underwater, they’re not going to come back. We know that. There is […] Read more
The thieves weren’t caught — but the clerical error was
RCMP Livestock Investigator Cpl. Dave Heaslip says the case still shows the value of branding cattle and recording tag numbers
Reading Time: 2 minutes To err is human. A Provost-area producer recently learned this the hard way, when he discovered cattle he reported stolen had actually been in the herd the whole time. “It was an honest mistake,” said Cpl. Dave Heaslip, RCMP livestock investigator for northern Alberta. “He’s a good cattleman. He’s got all his cattle branded, that’s […] Read more
Entomologist remembered as mentor, collaborator, researcher and friend
Entomologist’s contributions will have a lasting impact on crop production
Reading Time: 3 minutes Aman who dedicated his life to his passion for insects and his belief in mentorship and collaboration will be remembered by Canada’s entomology and growing communities for his achievements, dedication and intellect. Lloyd Dosdall, 61, an entomologist and professor in the department of agriculture, life and environmental sciences at the University of Alberta, passed away […] Read more
U of A home to new meat program
Program will teach students necessary skills to fill looming labour shortage
Reading Time: 3 minutes Most people love a good burger or pork chop, but they don’t think about the science or research involved with meat. Fortunately, there’s a group of people who do. And starting this fall, students who want to become experts in “the science of meat” will be able to enrol for a graduate degree in the […] Read more
Lamb producers tallying the cost of coyote predation
Coyotes are classed as pests, and so producers receive no compensation for lost livestock
Reading Time: 4 minutes It’s always a nightmare when a sheep producer goes out into the yard and sees that an animal has been ripped apart by predators. “Some years are worse than others,” said Bill Gibson, a sheep producer near Bashaw. “We did lose 25 lambs one year in a short period of time, and that was very […] Read more
Company expects big things from microwaving biomass
Radient Technologies uses patented microwave technology to extract high-value components from flax, rosemary, and other crops
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Alberta advantage isn’t just about oil. For Radient Technologies, it means better access to funding, nearby sources of agricultural biomass, and joining a developed sector of bio-based companies. Founded in Toronto in 2001, the now Edmonton-based company has developed a new, faster way to extract high-value natural compounds from plant biomasses. Using a microwave-assisted […] Read more
Cattle theft a reminder of the need to brand cattle and keep a close watch
Recent theft of 59 mixed breed heifers highlights the need to brand and tag cattle, says RCMP livestock investigator
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you like it and want to keep it, then you better put a brand on it. That’s the advice from RCMP livestock investigator Cpl. Dave Heaslip following the theft of 59 mixed breed heifers from the Provost area earlier this month. “As a police officer investigating, you need to think that this is a […] Read more