Reading Time: 3 minutes An Alberta group is trying to rein in the province’s wild horse population and forever end a controversial cull of the feral horses. The Wild Horses of Alberta Society (WHOAS) has just completed the first year of a five-year pilot contraception and field monitoring program, a first of its kind in Canada. The provincial government […] Read more
WHOAS reining in wild horse numbers
Olds charity is using dart guns to administer a contraceptive vaccine that greatly reduces a mare’s chance of getting pregnant
Top scientist challenges beef industry to do better
Yes, anti-meat activists distort the facts, says Tim McAllister — but ‘there is science that supports their position’
Reading Time: 4 minutes It’s no secret the beef industry is under attack from environmentalists and activists — or that they frequently distort the truth. “They have an agenda that they are trying to gain information to support — they’re looking for things that have gone awry in the industry, and there have been problems,” renowned Alberta cattle researcher […] Read more
Another close call for Alberta’s hog sector
The deadly virus was recently found in a transport trailer that was supposed to have been disinfected before crossing the border
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta hog producers are being warned to stay vigilant following the recent discovery of the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in a livestock trailer. The “weak” positive sample was found in a trailer during routine monitoring several weeks ago. “What it means for us is that we are still being exposed to the PED virus through […] Read more
New non-bloating legume can power up your pastures
After years of development, a new and improved sainfoin variety is being field tested across the province
Reading Time: 2 minutes High-legume pastures can be profitable and productive, but many cattle producers are scared to use them because of the risk of bloat. That’s why Alberta Agriculture and Forestry along with the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta have teamed up to do sainfoin trials across the province. “Sainfoin is a non-bloating legume,” provincial beef […] Read more
Grazing cattle on legumes offers unique benefits
Reading Time: 2 minutes There is a risk of bloat from grazing high-legume pastures, but it can be done with planning and attention. “I’ve heard it said that there has been more money lost due to fear of bloat than has ever been lost due to bloat itself,” said Ian Murray, an Acme rancher and chair of the Agricultural […] Read more
Little-known infection could be widespread
The infection, which can affect both animals and livestock handlers, usually doesn’t produce symptoms but can sometimes be very serious
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s an under-reported disease and people who catch it often don’t show any symptoms. But an Alberta medical doctor still wants to know more. Q fever, known as coxiella, is an infection that can affect livestock handlers and their animals. “In Alberta, we only have about six human cases a year that are recognized — […] Read more
Program that rewards stewards of the land is taking off in Alberta
More than 100 Alberta farmers have signed up for ALUS, and that number is expected to grow rapidly
Reading Time: 3 minutes The movement to pay farmers for being good stewards of the land is gathering steam, with 10 counties in Alberta now having a local ALUS program. ALUS — short for Alternative Land Use Services and pronounced ‘Alice’ — is expanding across Canada and recently became a national, registered not-for-profit. “This kind of growth and recognition […] Read more
Want to keep pollinators and beneficial species on your land? Build an eco-buffer
Edmonton Corn Maze is showcasing an eco-buffer — a community of trees and plants that provide a host of benefits for farms
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you build an eco-buffer, beneficial species will come. An eco-buffer is a planned community of trees, plants, and herbaceous species that provide pollinator and wildlife habitat, shelter for livestock, nutrient cycling, and groundwater recharge. A newly created eco-buffer, designed as part of an ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services) project, will soon demonstrate its value […] Read more
If you’re going to feed hail-damaged crop to livestock, test it first
Doing a feed test ‘is much cheaper than losing an animal,’ says beef extension specialist
Reading Time: 2 minutes Hail damage this summer is approaching an all-time high — and with many producers putting livestock on their ruined fields, the risk of nitrate poisoning is also shooting up. So be sure to do a feed test first, said a beef extension specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “A feed test is much cheaper than […] Read more
The other side of the temporary foreign worker story
Sunterra Meats has helped dozens of ‘temporary’ employees become permanent residents — and they’re revitalizing the town of Trochu
Reading Time: 3 minutes Ottawa’s decision to grandfather the number of temporary foreign workers is being welcomed by food-processing companies. “It’s good news to the extent that we won’t have to send anybody back,” said Ray Price, president of Sunterra Meats, which runs farms, markets, and a small meat-processing plant in Alberta. Federal Employment Minister Mary Ann Mihychuk announced […] Read moreCyber-Savvy Farmer
