Contestants gather in Stavely for auctioneer championship

By Rob VogtThe best auctioneers in the world gathered in Stavely last week, vying to make it to the finals of the International Livestock Auctioneer Championship.A total of 30 auctioneers from Australia, the United States and Canada took their turns selling 2,200 head of cattle at a sale at Foothills Auction in Stavely on Friday, July 12.The event started with … Read more

Neighbours oppose proposed feedlot east of Stavely

By Rob VogtThe Municipal Planning Commission of the Municipal District of Willow Creek will voice the concerns of its ratepayers to the Natural Resources Conservation Board about a proposed confined feeding operation east of Stavely.At its June 12 meeting, the commission read correspondence from the Natural Resources Conservation Board indicating an application at 31-14-26-4 by the Hutterian Brethren of Ivy … Read more

Garden series speaker discusses benefits of hügelkultur

By Rob VogtHügelkultur, the use of raised beds, was one of the topics at the first night of a gardening information series at the Claresholm Social Centre Monday night.A total of 14 people attended the May 6 event, which featured a presentation by Steve Redmond, an agricultural consultant.He grew up on a farm in Ontario, and earned a degree in … Read more

Province to take agriculture first approach to renewable energy

By Rob VogtThe provincial government has announced changes to the rules governing the development of renewable energy, and its says it will take an agriculture-first approach.On Feb. 28, the province announced the following changes:Agricultural lands• The Alberta Utilities Commission will take an “agriculture first” approach when evaluating the best use of agricultural lands proposed for renewables development.• Alberta will no … Read more

Help available for ranchers affected by drought, increased hay prices

2/14/24By: Emily Plihal, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Ranchers in areas of Alberta that have been affected by the drought and increased hay prices may qualify for an assistance program created to offset costs associated with breeding herds. “Both the provincial and federal governments saw the challenges ranchers were facing with the drought,” says AFSC Livestock Price Insurance Product owner Brenda … Read more

Feds, province extend deadline for drought livestock assistance

By Rob VogtThe federal and provincial governments have announced they are extending the deadline to Feb. 22 to apply for drought livestock assistance to help producers maintain breeding herds.A Jan. 25 news release states the 2023 Canada-Alberta Drought Livestock Assistance initiative is extending the application deadline, as well as expanding eligibility to 23 new regions. Funding for this joint AgriRecovery … Read more