HighRiver

Australia has officially opened its market for fresh and frozen beef from Canada for the first time since BSE in 2003.

The Canadian Cattle Association is pleased noting its one of the last remaining countries to have maintained bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) restrictions, complete their risk assessment and open their market for Canadian beef. 

CCA President Tyler Fulton says Canadian beef farmers and ranchers are proud to produce the highest quality and safest beef in the world. 

Silage is one way to preserve harvested forage for use throughout the rest of the year. The underlying principle of making silage is allowing bacteria to multiply and produce acid – specifically acetic acid.   

A former deputy premier's petition to have Alberta declare that its official policy is to remain in Canada can start rolling out across the province.

Chief electoral officer Gordon McClure says canvassers with the Alberta Forever Canada citizen initiative can begin gathering signatures.

Submitted by Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister, the petition is for a policy proposal asking people: "Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?"

Canvassers have three months to gather around 294,000 signatures on the petition.

Alberta has announced plans to invest $1.3 million to strengthen the health, biodiversity, and long-term resilience of the province's rangelands. 

Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson says healthy rangelands are the foundation of a strong agricultural sector. 

A young soccer player playing in the High River Minor Soccer Association could be cast in an ad.

According to Tony Walker, his son Mason is part of the Youth Athlete of the Year competition that will see the winner in a Sports Illustrated ad.

"Mason's been well involved in soccer over the years, and for a 12-year-old, he's overdeveloped for his age. Like, he plays with older kids." Walker explains. "There was an opportunity to be a nomination for this contest, and they only take so many nominations."

Southern Alberta community leaders met with Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs to discuss concerns impacting the region and a collaborative way forward.  

On July 24, Minister Dan Williams met with representatives from MLA Chelsae Petrovic’s office, the MD of Willow Creek, along with the Towns of Nanton, Claresholm, Stavely, and Fort Macleod.  

The mobile mammography program provides free breast cancer screening in 120 communities across Alberta.

Screen Test’s mobile unit is scheduled to visit Taber from Aug. 13 to 21, with a stop in Diamond Valley from Sept. 3 to 6.

Women aged 45 to 74 with no noticeable breast problems or symptoms are encouraged to get screened every two years and can book a mammogram without a referral or requisition.

According to AHS, regular mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer early, when treatment is most effective.

Southern Alberta has seen its share of thunderstorms and rain alerts in recent weeks, and now, a Heat Warning has been issued.

Environment Canada issued the warning early Wednesday morning, with daytime highs near 30°C and overnight lows between 14°C and 18°C.

The warning is in effect for the following areas:

Even though the final days of July are forecasted to be warm, Foothills County has had a particularly wet month.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada scientist Christy Climenhaga, this has been one of the wettest Julys in Calgary-area history.

"It has been a very cool run, and we're starting to finally get back into some warmer weather," Climenhaga said. "Temperatures looking to jump back up towards the higher 20s for the end of the week, hotter a little further north, but it looks like in the Okotoks area, you should be, kind of, in that 27 degree range."

A procession of motorcycles has departed for an annual cross-Canada ride.

The Rolling Barrage, now in its ninth year, is a cross-country ride that raises money for PTSD services for veterans and first responders.

They departed from St. John's, Newfoundland, on Monday (July 28) and are expected to finish the ride in Aldergrove, B.C., on August 16.

It has become an annual tradition in the towns the barrage passes through, with locals lining the streets to greet the procession.