(Gloria Solano-Aguilar photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Fines now an option for pig traceability enforcement

Canadian hog producers who don’t follow the federal requirements for animal identification and tracking of animal movements could now be fined for non-compliance, though it’s expected such fines would be a “last resort.” The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Wednesday announced new amendments to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations, allowing CFIA-designated officials […] Read more

Are you a ‘farmwife’ or ‘farminist’ or both?

Are you a ‘farmwife’ or ‘farminist’ or both?

How do you see yourself? What does being a farm woman mean to you?

Country Guide senior editor Maggie Van Camp is a widow, mom, journalist and chicken farmer who coined a new term at CAFA’s (Canadian Association of Farm Advisors) Update in Guelph in May. Maggie proposed that the culture of agriculture needs a new mindset to speak to the many women farm operators in our country, women […] Read more


Writer Lee Hart with co-operative brown trout, remembers the words “there is a fine line between fishing and standing on the bank looking like an idiot.”

A fish story, involving fish

When you're having fun, catching something is beside the point

Here’s a new idea — go fishing and actually catch something. I know it is different, but I am an outside-the-box kind of thinker. As part of my personal Canada Day celebrations I hired a fly fishing guide with a boat and did a float trip on the Bow River east of Calgary. I had […] Read more




ALUS Canada has launched its first program in Quebec, with support from a regional arm of UPA. (CNW Group/ALUS Canada)

ALUS program expands to Quebec

The Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) program has made its move into a sixth province with a new project in Quebec’s Monteregie. ALUS Canada, working with the Monteregie branch of Quebec’s Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), formally launched the program Wednesday at its first Quebec location, a farm near St-Jean-Baptiste, south of St-Hyacinthe. ALUS, in […] Read more



The city of Prince Albert, which has closed its water intake from the North Saskatchewan River, is again supplying its rural water utility, but from a different source. (CityPA.ca)

Livestock water supplies still a concern after oil spill

While cleanup and water testing continue on the North Saskatchewan River, livestock producers with river access are still advised to find alternate water sources. Jenifer Heyden, livestock specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture in North Battleford, said ministry staffers and Husky Energy did work with a few producers who were having trouble accessing alternate water sources, to […] Read more