Reading Time: 3 minutes Recently Alberta Agriculture announced a new $715,000 grant program for farm safety, part of which will be given to local ag societies for safety promotion. That’s an admirable step by the government as education is always valuable. The fear with this grant is that it will be used as an excuse by the Alberta government […] Read more
It’s Time For Farm Labour To Be Treated Equally With Other Sectors
Bison Producers May Drop Commission Status
Reading Time: 3 minutes DRAYTON VALLEY There was a clear sense of optimism in the air as producers gathered from across the province to attend the annual meeting of the Bison Producers of Alberta (BPA). It was also a gathering of the survivors as the bison market is pulling itself out of 10-year market slump. BPA office manager Linda […] Read more
Green Lobby Group’s Motives Suspicious
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canadian stakeholders have seen that baggage and want none of it to be opened here At the recent meeting of the Alberta Irrigation Projects Association conference, a panel discussion on a contentious issue was featured. The issue involved a concept called FitFir, short for First in Time – First in Right. Panelists included an irrigation […] Read more
Minister May Change Checkoff Refundabilty
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta now the exception in national support. red deer Newly minted Agriculture Minister Jack Hayden surprised attendees at the Alberta Beef Industry Conference (ABIC) in Red Deer by stating that he is considering reinstating a nonrefundable cattle checkoff in Alberta. In response to a question from the audience, Hayden said that he is prepared to […] Read more
New Minister Needs To Make Some Dramatic Decisions
Reading Time: 3 minutes The minister upon being appointed did receive an unpleasant welcoming gift -a budget cut New agriculture ministers must get a feeling of self-importance, if the endless parade of lobby groups to their door is any indication. It’s almost a ritual with competing groups wanting to get to the new minister first in the hope to […] Read more
New Ag Minister Could Change Political Fortunes
Reading Time: 3 minutes One of the tipping points for the former minister was when he told cattle producers that if they were not prepared to accept his new livestock strategy they could just as well quit the business In the last edition I speculated that we might soon have a new agriculture minister in Alberta. Little did I […] Read more
Looking Back, And Forward To The Coming Year
Reading Time: 3 minutes The only change has been in how quickly the latest new support program has become useless in providing timely help. One becomes somewhat pensive at this time of the year, reflecting on what happened during the past year and speculating on what might, or perhaps hope, will happen in the coming year. There is always […] Read more
Subdued Mood At ABP Annual
Reading Time: 2 minutes “The refundable checkoff will make it difficult for us to operate and it will affect the national organizations that depend on Alberta.” Delegates and directors to last month’s Alberta Beef Producers annual meeting gathered to make decisions they would rather not have faced. In an atmosphere of reluctant resolve, they passed motions to accommodate changes […] Read more
WTO A Boon To The Economy (For Airline And Hotel Owners)
Reading Time: 3 minutes Its been said that almost everything grown in Canada, outside of maple syrup, can be produced elsewhere cheaper. Whenever another round of trade discussions is announced by the World Trade Organization (WTO), travel agents across the country start smiling. They know from past history that dozens upon dozens of lobbyists, government officials and politicians from […] Read more
Barley The Poor Sister In The Plant Breeding Family
Reading Time: 2 minutes “Our industry is at a crossroads” Delegates to the Alberta Barley Commission (ABC) annual meeting here last month didn’t hear much good news about the current state of their favourite crop, but were heartened about the future possibilities of barley production and new end-user developments. Outgoing chair Terry Young said that one of the major […] Read more
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