Friday at the CAA AGM

28 degrees and sunshine made for a perfect day for sightseeing to the Annapolis Valley. The directors had a long day of meetings as much was discussed.
Delegates from all across Canada and the US were led by a piper from the Westin hotel down the road to Murphy's on the water for the ambassador speeches a delicious meal and entertainment to conclude the evening.

Alberta president Colton Hamilton eagerly awaits his lobster dinner.

CEO Doug Fee is dressed in the proper attire for a lobster meal.


posted by Tim Dixon for Everything Angus On the Road.

Maritime Junior Show & Field Day

Great weather and a good crowd at the Maritime Angus Junior Show & Field Day.
Champion Heifer exhibited by Ellen Dixon, Cornwall, PE; owned by Bannockburn Valley Farm, Cornwall, PE.
Reserve Champion Heifer owned & exhibited by Colby MacQuarrie, PE.
Judge: Kirk Wildman, Sangudo, AB.
As reported via Tim Dixon

Gearing up for the Halifax AGM

Angus attention will soon turn to the CAA Annual Meeting in Halifax. First on the agenda will be the Maritime Field Day and Junior Show followed by the many AGM activities (rumors abound regarding a tall ship). For those unable to attend, EA On The Road will bring you updates and photos as President John Donaldson convenes this important event. Thanks to Tim Dixon for being our eyes and ears in the Maritimes.
Halifax weather watch:

Foot & Mouth outbreaks causing concern

The World Organization for Animal Health database is reporting an increase of Foot and Mouth disease in some parts of the world and politicians in Japan have made it's eradication a high priority. In fact organizers cancelled the 2010 sold out Ironman Japan scheduled for June 13 at Goto Nagasaki due to the threat of FMD. Goto is a predominantly agricultural area and organisers say they cannot risk the devastation that an outbreak would cause to the local economy. Some countries have also banned imports of Japanese meat products with the outbreak being called the worst in Japan's history.
The WAHID website database states the total number of animals destroyed to date in Japan at 149,322 (21,893 cattle) with the investigation continuing. China and Korea also have continuing events concerning FMD, along with others where it is classified as an endemic disease.
Statistics by country can be found HERE.

"If I had to get a job to pay for the farm, I might as well just get a job"

Words of wisdom from Grade 11 student Wyatt Hanson, Hansons Ranches, Airdrie, AB & a member of the Canadian Junior Angus Association. Wyatt was one of many concerned young farmers who participated in the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food hearings on the Future of Farming being held across Canada. Read the entire story from the Airdrie Echo HERE.

Last time for snow - promise! (maybe)

If you've heard the news you know that parts of southern Alberta are once again white - will this never end? Two weeks ago it was +28 and now it is +2. Nothing like Alberta weather.
However, snow is wet and moisture was badly needed with more rain predicted.

More snow!

Can you believe it? It's snowing again. Not quite the amount we had last week, but loads of wind as well. But moisture and mud are still most welcome.
How about in your part of the country?

Wild Prairie weather once again

It may be spring in the rest of the country but right now in parts of Alberta it looks more like the middle of winter. Nothing unusual for these parts and moisture in any form is mostly welcome, although snow is not great for commercial operations calving right now.
Reports say that areas needing it most have received a mixture of rain and snow (10 mm for Stettler area), with the effect of the storm system reaching east to Manitoba. Parts of Saskatchewan are expecting up to 50 mm of rain, with even more in Manitoba. Bring on the mud . . .
The power is flicking on and off and internet connections are down (with the good ol' portable internet stick to the rescue once again) as heavy, wet snow plays havoc with towers and wires.

Ken Munton makes Vulcan Advocate Front Page

Unfortunately, this claim to fame is because his cattle shed collapsed in the strong winds that have plagued most of Western Canada lately. Full story available HERE.
Copy as appears below:

Ken Munton inspects damage done to his open front cattle shed on Friday morning after strong winds the day before tore half the structure's roof off and collapsed much of the rest. He was in Calgary to see his granddaughter at the time of the incident, and found the mess when he returned to his acreage, which is located east of Vulcan. None of his livestock was hurt in the incident, and although Munton has wind insurance, it was too soon to estimate the total cost of the damage. Bill McMurtry, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said that wind gusts in surrounding areas, like Claresholm and Lethbridge, were reaching upwards of the 90 kilometre per hour range during Thursday's storm, which then moved over to Saskatchewan, where that province was hit by 115 kilometre per hour wind gusts, McMurtry said. Simon Ducatel photo

Parrot rescue mission flies West Jet

Besides working for Alberta Beef (and updating EA on the best Angus beef served in Calgary) Gloria Fantin is very involved in parrot rescue and education. She and a couple other parrot lovers recently made the news while flying their feathered friends via West Jet to Vancouver Island.
If you ever have a question about the birds, Gloria is a fountain of information!