The wild west' at it's best

Alberta farm writers can mark September 11 and 12, 1997, as two days to experience the diversity of southwestern Alberta's foothills corridor.

Themed 'Cows, Cowboys and Conservation', AFWA president Tracey Feist accepted the challenge to take the tour west.

"I had first planned on touring the Brooks area," says Feist, "but I had more requests to tour where I was born and raised. Agriculture has a strong historical tie in the Longview, Priddis and Cochrane areas. And as a group, we've never really toured that area of the province before."

A tour highlight will begin at the picturesque Mount Sentinel Ranches at Chain Lakes. Barry Adams will speak about the Cows and Fish Program, and the importance of riparian habitat management for future sustainability. Owner Francis Gardner will talk about his ranch as a demonstration site for the Cows and Fish Program. Gardner will also explore the Diamond Willow Range, a new venture to market organic beef.

Other tour locations include a Farming for the Future site, researching the viability of growing Italian rye grass in Alberta; the Cross Conservation area; the Western Heritage Centre; and the newly expanded dairy division of Alta Genetics at Cochrane.

Registrations need to be in to Feist by July 15, 1997. (See insert this issue of Scoops for additional information and registration form.)

So bring your cowboy boots and get ready to experience the real west!

Wine, wine and, well, more wine

The 1997 annual CFWF conference and tour, slated for Oct. 23-26, continues to take shape, under the theme of 'Value Added'. Here's a small sample of what's in store (subject to change) for you in the Niagara peninsula, a unique region of Ontario.

Mary and Dave Wylie of Lake's Edge Vineyard will be hosting our one-day tour on Friday, where you'll spend the day exploring some of the Peninsula's agricultural highlights. We will focus on the growth of the wine route, agri-tourism, regional cuisine, the multi-million dollar greenhouse industry, and meet farmers who have made the change from growing grapes to raising specialty livestock.

Farm management for the new millenium

Farm business management experts the world over will frame challenges to farm managers and trainers of tomorrow at the 11th Annual Farm Management Congress in Calgary, July 14-19. Representatives are expected to attend from as far away as Columbia, South Africa and Australia.

Over 100 papers from presenters from 20 countries will be available for perusal at the Congress, which includes keynote speakers who will examine the implications of change on farm managers and the people who train them.

Delegates to the Congress will also get a first-hand view of management practices on Alberta farms. Two of the five days of the Congress are designated for field trips, ranging from beef and dairy production, to food and beverage processing.

Alberta to host CSGA annual

The Canadian Seed Growers Association Annual Meeting, 'Pedigreed Stampede', will be held in Red Deer on July 9-11.

The convention will be kicked off with a variety of guest speakers addressing the expanding importance of value-added to agricultural and seed industries. Future planning and development of the seed industry will also be a major topic on the agenda.

Tours are also on the agenda, as well as a computer trade show. for more information, please contact Debbie Wallace with Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development in Edmonton, at 403-422-5867.

Farming in Mexico

Farming in Mexico points out a clash in culture and time. One can see very modern farming with airplanes spraying crops; and yet nearby, fields are full of hand laborers planting, hoeing, weeding and harvesting. We saw large trucks jammed full of workers being moved from one field to another.

Production appears to be plentiful, with excess or 'not up to standard' product fed to livestock. Farmers can be seen herding their two or three cattle in the ditches, both beside and between the four-lane highway. Once the cattle have settled in to eat, the farmers cut grass with scythes, then tie grass bundles onto their donkeys or horses and haul them home. Some were using carts.

Everyone seems to work -- women sweep the dirt streets in front of their homes; both men and women were seen hauling water in five-gallon pails.

There were many roadside open-air brick making factories; and if you can't make a peso any other way, you can go catch yourself an iguana and pose for the tourists.

What's new?

Bill Black, formerly with CKRD-TV 'This Business of Farming', has moved to Canfax in Calgary. Canfax, an arm of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, offers cattle market information.

CFAC Radio in Calgary, for many years a major voice in Calgary AM Radio, is making a comeback after years of suffering setbacks. CFAC is re-launching with a new program format, including the addition of more agricultural news, in an effort to win back former listeners.

Dianne Finstad, with CKRD-TV in Red Deer, was recently presented with an Alberta Institute of Agrologists (AIA) honorary membership.

*** Please send your What's new? items to the editor -- fax 403-926-2157, or email jkanters@telusplanet.net

AFWA greets members

Over the past year, the Alberta Farm Writers Federation has attracted new members. As well, some members have changed jobs or retired.

In any event, keeping up with all the changes is a difficult job. To that end, I thank everyone who informs me of their new job, new home or their interest in becoming a new member.

Activists take protest to supermarket checkout

British consumers opposed to genetically engineered foods are taking their campaign to the supermarket checkout lines in London, England.

Here's how the campaign works: A group of about 10-12 protesters stack their baskets high with any food containing ingredients that could possibly have been genetically manipulated. At a pre-arranged time, they join different queues at checkouts, staying as close together as possible. When protesters get through the checkout and are asked for payment, they ask the cashier to tell them if the products contain any genetically manipulated ingredients.

When the cashier is unable to do so, they explain that this is exactly the reason for the protest, and they request to see the manager. At this point, other protesters waiting outside come in with banners and music, while the rest of the group join in by either asking their cashiers the same questions, or distributing leaflets to the people in queues and around the supermarket.

After being ushered out of the store, the protest continues outside. The activists are vowing to repeat their protests each Saturday at supermarkets around London.

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