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Articles by Zak McLachlan
Alberta Grains phasing out FarmCash
Alberta Grains has announced it will be winding down operations of FarmCash, its cash advance program which offers low-interest or interest-free cash advances for Alberta farmers. The structured wind-down began Thursday (Oct. 15) and operations will permanently cease in 2027, Alberta Grains said.
Lakeland College student farm lands $500,000 donation
VERMILION, Alta. — Lakeland College’s Student-Managed Farm Lab Revitalization project received a major boost in funding thanks to a longtime supporter of the post-secondary institution’s agricultural sciences programs. Judy Sweet recently presented the school with a donation of $500,000 to support upgrades to the calving barn on the Vermilion campus farm, which will help enhance agricultural teaching, applied research, animal care and industry collaboration.
Glacier FarmMedia – One piece of equipment turned plenty of heads at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock, Ont., in September. The fully electric Faresin Leader PF 2.24 Plus, a high-capacity, self-propelled vertical feed mixer wagon, is the first of its kind in the world, and it has recently made its way to Canada. You can follow all our coverage of Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show here.
Syngenta launches renamed Canadian Seedcare and Biologicals Institute
Syngenta’s southwestern Ontario research farm will be seeing some changes and a new mandate on locally useful biologicals. On Sept. 16, exactly 10 years after the Canadian Seedcare Institute was first launched at the Honeywood Research Facility in Plattsville, Ont., Sygenta hosted a special event to unveil a new name and direction for the facility.
World’s first fully electric TMR mixer arrives in Canada
One piece of equipment has been turning plenty of heads at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock, Ont., this week. The fully electric Faresin Leader PF 2.24 Plus, a high-capacity, self-propelled vertical feed mixer wagon, is the first of its kind in the world, and it has recently made its way to Canada.
Safety sells Ontario cattle producer on Arrowquip squeeze chute
Safety is key when it comes to livestock handling, according to Tim Prior from Grazing Meadows Wagyu in Brussels, Ont. Prior conducted a product demonstration of the Arrowlock 75 Series squeeze chute from Arrowquip at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock, Ont., on Sept. 15. WHY IT MATTERS The best livestock handling equipment is the one that is easy to use and safe for both operator and animal.
Former Alberta Grains chair now province’s ag minister
Alberta has itself a new minister of agriculture and irrigation after a cabinet shuffle by Premier Danielle Smith on May 21. Tara Sawyer, the United Conservative Party MLA representing Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, was sworn in as the new agriculture minister on Thursday. Sawyer replaces RJ Sigurdson, who shifts to the ministry of affordability and utilities. Sigurdson had held the agriculture post since June 2023.
Kochia spreading unexpectedly in Alberta
The invasive weed is now being spotted further north than ever before Farmers in Alberta have a growing problem on their hands, as a notorious weed has started making its way north through the province. The rapid and relentless spread of kochia, the highly adaptable and increasingly resistant weed, is moving north and taking root in places scientists thought it never would.
Kochia spreading unexpectedly in Alberta
The invasive weed is now being spotted further north than ever before Farmers in Alberta have a growing problem on their hands, as a notorious weed has started making its way north through the province. The rapid and relentless spread of kochia, the highly adaptable and increasingly resistant weed, is moving north and taking root in places scientists thought it never would.
Farmer happy with carbon accreditation system
An intercontinental collaboration has been a game changer for one northern Alberta farmer who has reaped the benefits of an advanced carbon credit system. Third-generation farmer Mackenzie Fingerhut of Fingerhut Farms in Fairview, Alta., has seen the benefits of a partnership between the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and Carbon Asset Solutions in Australia improve his farming practices in recent years.
'Don't equate us with Toronto news, culture' Ontario farmers tell western colleagues
When it comes to the 2025 federal election, what do farmers from different regions of Canada have in common? Glacier FarmMedia reporters and contributors from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba asked farmers about their election priorities, how represented by the federal government they ve felt and finally, if there s anything they d like farmers from other regions to understand about the issues they face.
Cereals Canada looking ahead to GATE facility
Glacier FarmMedia – The new hub for Cereals Canada in downtown Winnipeg is expected to break ground this year. That will let the incoming Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (GATE) facility officially open its doors in 2027. Cereals Canada hopes ithe facilty will help expand Canada’s global market for wheat and other grains through research and market development.
THE FARM VOTE: Farmers run down priorities ahead of the 2025 Canadian federal election
When it comes to the 2025 federal election, what do farmers from different regions of Canada have in common? Canadians lose sight of how big their country is — unless, for example, they get to rub shoulders with Europeans who are staggered by the time it takes to drive across a single province. It’s big — and with that comes the challenges of bridging different geographies and climate zones, regional cultures, languages, resources and economic needs.
Canadian farmers’ view of the federal government differs by province — but not by much | The Western Producer Original
When it comes to the 2025 federal election, what do farmers from different regions of Canada have in common? Glacier FarmMedia reporters and contributors from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba asked farmers about their election priorities, how represented by the federal government they’ve felt — and finally, if there’s anything they’d like farmers from other regions to understand about the issues they face.
Canadian farmers reveal concerns ahead of federal election - Part 2
When it comes to the 2025 federal election, what do farmers from different regions of Canada have in common? Glacier FarmMedia reporters and contributors from Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba asked farmers about their election priorities, how represented by the federal government they’ve felt — and finally, if there’s anything they’d like farmers from other regions to understand about the issues they face.
Canadian farmers reveal concerns ahead of federal election
When it comes to the 2025 federal election, what do farmers from different regions of Canada have in common? Canadians often lose sight of how big their country is — unless, for example, they get to rub shoulders with Europeans who are staggered by the time it takes to drive across a single province. Canada is big — and with that comes the challenges of bridging different geographies and climate zones, regional cultures, languages, resources and economic needs.
Cereals Canada looking ahead to GATE facility
The new hub for Cereals Canada in downtown Winnipeg is expected to break ground this year. That will let the incoming Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (GATE) facility officially open its doors in 2027. WHY IT MATTERS: Cereals Canada hopes its coming Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (GATE) facility will help expand Canada’s global market for wheat and other grains through research and market development.
Frustration is mounting within Canada’s grain industry as persistent rail delays continue to disrupt shipments and inflate costs, particularly at ports on Canada’s west coast. Industry stakeholders are calling for increased scrutiny and potential regulatory intervention, citing a recurring pattern of inefficiencies that impact farmers and grain companies alike. Quorum Corp.
Tariffs, trade dominate discussion at Canadian Crops Convention
Glacier FarmMedia—Tariffs, trade and Trump were the talk of the town at the 2025 Canadian Crops Convention in Edmonton on Mar. 4-6. The U.S. implemented 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods the morning of the opening day of the convention, which had speaker and attendees focused heavily on the cross-border trade conflict. Right from the start of the speaking agenda, tariffs took the spotlight.
The Canadian Crops Convention kicked off in Edmonton today, under the shadow of U.S. tariffs and Canadian counter-tariffs. But it wasn’t all gloom and doom. In fact one of the key organizers, Erin Gowriluk of the Canada Grains Council struck a positive tone, noting that many of the key issues of the grain sector remain aligned throughout North America. She spoke to Glacier FarmMedia’s Zak McLachlan from the floor of the event.
CFA tariff preparation focused on tariff exemptions, producer needs Original
The long-threatened U.S. tariffs are now in place, and Canada’s agriculture producers are bracing for the impact they will make on the industry. During the Alberta Federation of Agriculture annual general meeting Mar. 3, Canadian Federation of Agriculture executive director Scott Ross said the CFA has been working for months on a plan to help support the industry and producers around the country, focusing on three main points.
Grain Growers of Canada react to U.S. tariffs
Glacier FarmMedia—Canadian grain farmers are bracing for significant economic hardship following the United States’ decision to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian grain and grain products. The Grain Growers of Canada is now urging the Canadian government to take immediate action to eliminate the tariffs, highlighting the potential for widespread market instability, increased financial burdens on Canadian crop producers and increased food costs for American consumers.
Olds College suspends Fall 2025 intake for multiple programs
Recent changes by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada are having a major effect on many post-secondary institutions across the country, and Olds College in the heart of Alberta is no exception.
Canada’s agriculture industry could drive forward a new era of trade diversification, but the time to forge that path forward is now according to a new report. In Food First: How Agriculture Can Lead a New Era for Canadian Exports, RBC outlines a plan to expand Canada’s global market share by 30 per cent and create $44 billion in new agri-food exports by 2035.
Alberta Federation of Agriculture calls for support from government amidst tariff threats
The agriculture industry in Alberta is pivotal to the provincial and federal economy, and the Alberta Federation of Agriculture is stepping up to support over 35,000 producers it represents in Alberta. The AFA released a statement last month urging provincial and federal leaders to provide further support to the agriculture industry, which remains under threat of imposition of tariffs from the United States.
Burcon announces plant protein facility buy
Burcon NutraScience Corporation, a B.C. plant protein company and one of the names behind Merit Functional Foods in Winnipeg — which entered receivership in 2023 — has partnered with investors to purchase a so-far unnamed plant protein production facility in North America. Read Also Crop imagery is an agronomic tool of the future Steve Shirtliffe and his team are developing a system that can identify agronomic information from aerial imagery In a press release on Feb.
Prairie research projects receive $3.3 million in funding
A handful of projects focused on disease and health threats will be receiving funding from Results Driven Agriculture Research. RDAR, along with Genome Alberta, announced $3.3 million in funding for several key One Health projects, including chronic wasting disease vaccines and noninvasive testing, feral pig control and disease monitoring, and antimicrobial resistance in dairy and beef cattle, swine and poultry.
Articles by Zak McLachlan
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Clifford sentenced to life with no parole for 16 years for 2017 murder
Robert Clifford was sentenced to life with no parole for 16 years for the 2017 murder of his estranged wife and mother of two children, Nichole Clifford, in Wainwright in 2017. Robert Clifford had been found guilty of second degree murder by Judge Nicholas Devlin on January 19, 2023. Nichole Clifford (née McKeith) was stabbed 17 times by Robert Clifford after he broke in to her Wainwright home on February 23, 2017.
Wainwright man found guilty of second degree murder of estranged wife
A judge has found Robert Dean Clifford guilty of second degree murder in the 2017 murder of his estranged wife and Wainwright mother of two, Nichole Clifford. He was found guilty by Judge Nicholas Devlin in a judge-alone trial in Edmonton in the morning of Friday, January 13, 2023. It was the second time the trial went before the courts. A mistrial was declared in 2021 with a retrial beginning in late 2022.
Meet your 2021 Town of Wainwright Municipal Election candidates
Zak McLachlan is the Editor of the Wainwright StarEDGE, and has been covering sports and news in Wainwright and the surrounding area since 2013. You can reach Zak at 780-806-8404 or zak@starnews.ca.
Number of active COVID-19 cases in M.D. of Wainwright soars to 45
The M.D. of Wainwright is back on the provincial watch list, as the number of active cases in the area exploded to 45 as per Friday’s Alberta Health Services report. Wainwright had just seven confirmed active cases the day prior. With a rate of 381 cases per 100,000 population, Wainwright has once again found itself on the watch list after being removed from the watch list earlier this week.
Emergency services teaming up for Candy Cane Checkstop - Star News Inc: News
“Different than your usual checkstop, we’re going to set up where drivers can avoid us to go around if they please. We’re going to use it as an opportunity to do a couple things. We’ll do some education and information, so when a driver comes through on their own accord, we’ll just remind them not to drink and drive in the holiday season,” he said. “The second thing is we’ll be collecting donation items.
Change a rule, save a career - Star News Inc: Editorials
Well, some of them. The league announced earlier in the summer that face protection will be grandfathered in to the NHL as a part of player safety. Of course, not all players will be happy about the new visor rule. A number of rookies have already complained about it, but it’s not like it’s anything new to them. Players are required to wear a visor all the way through their Junior hockey, so it’s not that they’re used to playing without a visor.
The importance of youth sports - Star News Inc: Editorials
Statistics Canada shows that this is not only a local problem, but a national one. Since 1992, the percentage of boys participating in sports across Canada has dropped from 66 per cent to less than 55 per cent. The percentage of girls participating in sports has only droped from 49 per cent to 45 per cent, a much better trend than their male counterparts, but still a decline nonetheless.
Hockey Alberta changes the game - Star News Inc: Editorials
The premise is somewhat obvious. Anybody who watches any level of hockey can tell you that the majority of injuries in the game, however unintentional, come from body checks or some kind of contact. There are two ways to look at the situation. To the hardcore hockey fan with the typical “giv’er” attitude, the proper thing to do is start them young and teach them how to hit properly early. To the more conservative folk, banning body checking shouldn’t stop at Peewee but maybe Bantam and even Midget.
Smarten up, Canada - Star News Inc: Editorials
A recent W5 investigation showed that the RCMP doesn’t consider the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) a police force, and therefore will not share with them the national Sex Offender Registry. This doesn’t make a whole lot of sense considering the CBSA controls every single body that goes in and out of the country.
Official problems - Star News Inc: Editorials
But one rule that all can agree on is that all competitive leagues from Midget and up should implement a four-official system instead of the popular three officials. In Wednesday night’s playoff game against the St. Paul Canadiens, Wainwright Bison’s Kyle Anderson took a dirty hit from a St. Paul player. Because the referee’s back was turned there was no penalty call.
Sweet Caroline - Star News Inc: Editorials
But even with all its animosity, the world of sports displays an outstanding level of comradery and respect unparalleled to other lines of work. One of the most well-known sports franchises in the world showed the epitome of comradery earlier this week. To preface, to say that the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox don’t get along would be a massive understatement.
The boys of Biogenesis - Star News Inc: Editorials
With the newest Major League Baseball PED scandal escalating each day with reports of long-term suspensions drawing imminent, the baseball world is again faced with a big dilemma: what do we do with these players? Well, MLB commissioner Bud Selig seems to believe a lifetime ban is the last resort. Baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez has been the centre of PED allegations for the majority of his career, allegedly juicing since his Texas Rangers days in the early 2000s.
It’s about time, NHL - Star News Inc: Editorials
One had to feel bad for the teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets who, although located only a three hour drive from the Eastern Conference’s Pittsburgh Penguins, have had to change time zones and travel to the West Coast upwards of 30 times a year. Even worse, the NHL decided last offseason to leave the Winnipeg Jets in the Southeast Division, forcing them to play half the season on the East Coast, with a ridiculous amount of travel in a shortened season with three or four games each week.
Bring ‘em out - Star News Inc: Editorials
Now, for the first time since back-to-back finals losses to the Montreal Alouettes, the Roughriders have advanced to the Grey Cup. But this isn’t just any Grey Cup. For the first time in history, the Riders will be playing for the championship on their home turf - one of the loudest stadiums in Canada. Mosaic Stadium will be rocking as the Riders bring ‘em out against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, led by head coach and former Rider great, Kent Austin.
Typical Rob Ford - Star News Inc: Editorials
But this time, if the accusations are true, he may have crossed the line. A video has apparently surfaced of Ford allegedly smoking crack cocaine, which of course he has denied tooth and nail since the minute the story broke. Now, we’d all love to believe him because nobody wants a crackhead mayor. But how can Torontonians believe this guy, he can’t even keep his word to lose a few pounds?
Rogers everywhere - Star News Inc: News
Everything seemed to be going great... until they announced the new name for the building on Tuesday - Rogers Place. Rogers has dominated the headlines recently with this announcement coming just days after the media giant agreed to a 12-year multi-billion dollar agreement with the NHL for all broadcasting rights. They obviously forked out millions of dollars for the naming rights to Edmonton’s new arena, so why not put a little more thought into the name?
Super Bowl bust - Star News Inc: Editorials
But unfortunately the game didn’t show the same parity these two teams showed throughout the year. Peyton Manning and the Broncos very quickly learned a lesson as old as Joe Namath’s Blue Max glasses - defense wins championships. Manning set record-breaking numbers this year, dominated defenses throughout the regular season and has been in talks of being arguably the best quarterback of all time. Fun fact: No quarterback has ever won a Super Bowl after throwing a pick six in the championship game.
Ok! Blue Jays! Lets play ball! - Star News Inc: Editorials
The Blue Jays embrace the fact that they’re Canada’s only MLB team and spend a large portion of the offseason traveling the country giving youth baseball clinics and such events. But so far, just a few games into this much-anticipated season, they seem to be letting their country down. The Jays had a wild offseason acquiring some of the best names in baseball including the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner and knuckleball specialist R.A. Dickey.
Cell phone woes finally fading - Star News Inc: Editorials
Canada ranks number one in the world in cell phone rates, with a recent study showing cell phone companies in Canada average a revenue of almost $55 per user per month. Compare this to other first-world countries. We as Canadians are getting swindled and cheated out of hundreds of dollars each year. You would think having the “Big 3” wireless companies would cause some competition, bringing prices down a little.
To fight or not to fight - Star News Inc: Editorials
Orr seemed to lose his footing after being almost ragdolled by Parros. The two were intertwined as Orr fell to the ice and Parros on top of him. With his hands tied up, Parros hit the ice full force right on his face. The crowd went silent as the trainers rushed out to help Parros off the ice and sent him to the dressing room on a stretcher. The result of the faceplant was a concussion, but Parros was alert and responsive.
The nation who cried wolf - Star News Inc: Editorials
But this time around, the Koreans seem to be dangling dangerously close to cashing in on those threats with the U.S. territory of Guam on their target list. North Korea has already been punished by the UN in recent months after launching a long-range rocket in December and conducting an underground nuclear test in February. Now, any attack that North Korea may or may not launch in the coming month probably won’t be Korean War Episode 2, but we should still be taking these guys seriously.
Mistahiya run takes off in first year - Star News Inc: Sports
“The entire day went as planned. It definitely exceeded our expectations with the amount of support from the runners and all the vendors. The best part was just getting the overwhelming amount of feedback from everybody. It definitely gives the next race director everything he needs to make it bigger and better next year,” Leger said. “We were fortunate enough to not get rained on, and it was nice and cool for the racers.” The event also raised money for a couple local organizations.
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