Bill Alford
h@ms Marketing of Headingley, MB, held three producer meetings in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba with the clear and confident message, “We are here for producers—because we are producers.”General manager Bill Alford told us there were about 150 producers at the new Community Hall in Oakville, MB. As a producer-owned cooperative, h@ms’ unique structure
Producers who have been in the hog business for long enough will recall a time when a really good sow might wean 28 pigs per year, maybe 30. Improved genetics and updated management systems have raised that benchmark considerably, to 34 or better. Reports have come from Brazil of some sows birthing litters of
Aron and Aleah de Gier
Vertical integration comes in many forms across Alberta; some massive, some not so much.About 15 minutes west of Didsbury, a young couple with three small children hope to grow their farming business enough that it can support the whole family.Aron and Aleah de Gier were still newlyweds when they moved
Toby Tschetter liked what he heard at Saskatchewan Ag Summit 2025. He also liked rubbing shoulders with folks in other areas of the industry.“This is the perfect opportunity for other groups to get their message out to groups outside of their own. It is very inspiring to see the whole ag industry get together
Dr. John Carr, a world-renowned veterinarian, livestock consultant, and lecturer based in Brisbane, Australia, while fewer visits to Canada, remains actively engaged with producers and professionals worldwide—always ready to answer emails and provide expert advice on the issues that matter most to the swine sector.Dr. Carr recently responded to six critical questions about the
Tariffs and trade were the number one issue for Alberta pork producers during recent producer meetings, said Alberta Pork’s Executive Director Darcy Fitzgerald.“The topic on everyone’s mind is tariff issues and trade,” said Fitzgerald of the meetings in Grande Prairie, Red Deer, Drumheller and Lethbridge.“Producers are just wondering what is being done about those
Paul Marchand
At the recent h@ms Marketing producer meeting in Oakville, MB, Paul Marchand, senior risk management analyst with h@ms said one question kept coming up during his hog producer presentations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba—and it surprises him every time. “I thought it was something everyone knew. But people still ask why we focus
Kevin Brooks and a volunteer.
Kevin Brooks grew up on a traditional mixed farm in Rosthern, SK, where daily life revolved around livestock, including hogs, cattle, sheep, chickens, geese, and goats. The farm’s foundation combined grain production with livestock, giving him a deep-rooted understanding of agriculture from an early age.Today, Kevin works with Olymel Swine
Daryl Possberg grew up on a mixed hog and grain farm near Humboldt, Saskatchewan, where his early experiences laid the foundation for a lifelong career in pork production. After university, he spent a decade with Big Sky Farms, gaining valuable insight into large-scale operations. In 2010, he moved to Wainwright, Alberta, to serve as
Sharpstone eradication specialists launching their drone to scout Wild Boar sign and gather aerial intelligence.Photo courtesy of: Sharpstone Conservation, and Matthew Steer (Director)
Researchers hope thermal imaging drones that detect animals from above will be one more tool in monitoring and eradicating wild pigs in Alberta.Mathieu Pruvot, assistant professor at the University of Calgary’s Faculty
