Lacombe

Manitoba Agriculture's latest cattle marketing report for the week ending  February 2nd shows 

The latest report from Manitoba Auction Marts shows the average weekly price for feeder steers ranged from $278.75 per cwt for the 901+ lb category to $438.91 per cwt for the 401-500 lb category. 

Feeder heifer prices ranged from $241.33 per cwt for the 900+ lb category to $377.97 per cwt for the 401- 500 lb category.

D1-D2 slaughter cows selling for an average price of $122.28 per cwt,  while D3 cows were selling at $105.80 per cwt.

After several dry years, Alberta’s winter snowpack is well below average, many rivers are at record low levels and multiple reservoirs remain well below capacity. El Niño is producing a warm and dry winter across Western Canada and more than 70 per cent of the country is experiencing drought conditions. Alberta is at risk of a severe drought in parts of the province this year.

The BGC of Lacombe is helping students with the new tutoring, Learn On program.  

Through the program, Grade 6 to 12 students can connect with tutors and receive homework help.  

Beth Reitz, Ponoka Youth Centre Executive Director explained that Learn On is designed to give students the tools they need to complete their schooling.  

Alberta is concerned about a potential drought.

The province says at this point the winter snowpack is well below average,  with many rivers reported to be at record low levels and multiple reservoirs sitting at well below capacity. 

Alberta’s new Water Advisory Committee is a six-person advisory committee tasked with helping to prepare for a drought.

The committee is made up of a wide range of individuals and leaders with experience in agriculture, irrigation, Indigenous, industry, rural and urban issues.

The Water Advisory Committee will include:

The City of Red Deer and RCMP’s 2024-26 Annual Policing Plan survey is closing on Friday (Feb. 9).  

Through the survey, Red Deerians can share their experiences and concerns relating to crime and safety in the community.  

The plan incorporates public feedback and crime data into the outline of the RCMP’s local priorities and areas of focus over two years.   

The Town of Sylvan Lake has announced that the ice skating rink on the lake will reopen after being closed due to warm weather late last month.

The gates will open at 4:00 pm, today, Wednesday, February 7th.

The parking lots will be cleared of any snow.

The Town also announced that all other outdoor rinks will remain closed until further notice.

The Town does NOT monitor ice conditions around the lake; only the lake rinks. Please practice ice safety at all times and use at your own risk.

On Jan. 6, 2024 Red Deer RCMP issued a missing person alert for 43-year-old Candace Marie Payou.

As of Feb. 6, 2024, Red Deer RCMP stated that Payou has been located safe. They thank the public for their assistance. 

CN Rail continues to recover from the slowdown during the bitter cold temperatures of a few weeks ago.

CN's Assistant Vice President of Grain David Przednowek says in December the network velocity was at about 215 miles per day, which dropped substantially during the cold snap but has once again regained momentum.

G3 Canada has renewed its long-term partnership with the Port of Quebec for another 30 years.

The Québec City terminal is ideally located for receiving ships transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway which gives G3 the benefit of rail access, exceptional water depth, and access to the seaway twelve months a year.

The G3 terminal has a storage capacity of over 225,000 tonnes and moves grain through the Port of Québec to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South America.

The deal is now official, and all regulatory approvals have been met.

Ontario-based Linamar Corporation has completed its purchase of Bourgault Industries Ltd at St. Brieux, Saskatchewan.

The $640 million transaction was announced back on December 20th with Linamar acquiring 100 per cent of Bourgault and its subsidiaries Highline Manufacturing and Free Form Plastics. 

Bourgault now joins Linamar's Agriculture division of MacDon (a harvesting equipment leader) and Salford (a tillage and crop nutrition equipment leader).