The agriculture industry was rocked last week by the announcement that Western Feedlots had decided to wind down cattle ownership and cattle feeding operations.
    The company, which has sites near Strathmore, High River and Mossleigh, said in a statement on Wednesday it would continue to feed and market its existing inventory, but after that, they would be ending feedlot operations.
    Western’s shareholders chose this course of action due to the current high risk/low return environment in cattle ownership, which is inconsistent with shareholder objectives,” said in a statement.
    Further, it cited beyond stresses in the market conditions, politics and policy played a role.
    “In addition to strong headwinds in the cattle industry, the poor political and economic environment in Alberta are also contributing factors to this decision,” reads a post on its website.
    MLA for Drumheller-Stettler and shadow minister for Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Rick Strankman says this development is frustrating.
    “There were market forces at play, but it is frustrating when government policies and the potential instability that is being created by things like the carbon tax and minimum wage,” he said. “That plays a role in Western Feedlot’s announcement.”
    He says the minimum wage increases would drive up the overall cost of labour.
    “It means those with 10 or 15 years experience working side by side with a new employee without experience making $15 an hour, and they are making $20, it causes frustrations that their wage shouldn’t be a little higher. That puts pressure on the operations and the owners,” he said.
    He says other policies implemented by the Alberta government could have a negative impact, including the carbon tax. While the carbon tax does not apply to market, it does to some value added processes.
    “People just don't know the width and the depth of effects these policies are going to have. For example the Carbon Tax is going to cost a single maltser $90,000 per month, he said.   They use approximately 90,000 gigajoules of natural gas per month to stabilize moisture in malting barley. The tax on that gas is going to be $1 a gigajoule in January. They will have to pass that tax on to someone else in another market.”

    The fruits of years of fundraising, hard work, banging on doors and grant applications were realized Saturday evening when the doors of the new Munson Community Hall were flung open to the community.
    Members of the community, volunteers, politicians and special guests gathered at the site of the new hall as the ribbon was cut, signalling the completion of the project. Becky Kowalchuk, of the project committee, led the program on Saturday.
    She explains that about six years ago, a member of the community made a donation to the new hall, and this signalled as a starting point to get the hall project rolling. They were able to bring on partners including the Village of Munson, Starland County and the Alberta Government. A great moral and financial boost came when, on their second attempt, The UFA Get and Give Grant program awarded the Hall $50,000.
    “I knew in my heart, that $50,000 from UFA was exactly what we needed to push the project forward,” said Kowalchuk.
    Last August a shovel went into the ground.
 Kowalchuk said organizers were adamant that they use local contractors to support the local community. Greene Construction took the lead and others to contribute included Scott McKay Electrical, TKNT Mechanical, Hi-Lite Interior and Country Kitchens.
    “These are the same people who attend those suppers, those dances, helped us with casino nights, they supported us every way they possibly could, I knew they believed in this project and that a new hall for Munson was a good idea,” said Kowalchuk.
    Of course, there was quite a bit of sweat equity from volunteers who did their part, including the crew of Dave Daly and Bill Kowalchuk, which at times appeared to be powered by Brownie cookies.
    “People donated their time and lots of it. A building like this does not get built without time and dedication of volunteers. We may not have had a big committee, but those who were involved were extremely dedicated,” said Kowalchuk.     
    “You came, you gave, you worked…lots. I could rally the troops to move heavy objects, paint or clean whenever we needed it, in short order.”
    Reeve Barrie Hoover of Starland County congratulated the community on its project.
    “The construction of the hall represents an ongoing partnership between Munson and the County of Starland. The County contributed  $230,000 of our MSI funding,” he said, adding the county assisted with construction and will also be removing the old hall and helping with landscaping.  “The county is a sizable partner and we are proud to get this completed. We know how important it is to bring people together.”