MarketsFarm — Late-season rains wreaked havoc on the 2019 harvest season but were helpful in restoring topsoil moisture to key growing regions in the Prairies. Since snow coverage has been variable across the Prairies so far in 2020, however, the growing season may get off to a rocky start. “If we take a look at […] Read more
Variable Prairie weather makes for uncertain spring ahead
If nothing else, a rainy harvest season helped replenish topsoil moisture
Cooking up a successful recipe for improved soil health
Brendon Rockey’s farm is far different than most, but his winning formula has lessons for other growers
Reading Time: 4 minutes In some ways, soil health conferences are like recipe swaps — with attendees always on the lookout for a mix of ingredients that will produce better results. One of those recipes presented at the sold-out Western Canada Conference on Soil Health & Grazing last month came from a Colorado potato grower who farms in high-elevation, near-desert conditions and no […] Read more
Fifty provincial agriculture ministry staff get layoff notices
Many of those losing their jobs are scientists and their work greatly benefited farmers, says a retired researcher
Reading Time: 3 minutes In the second week of December, about 50 staff at Alberta Agriculture and Forestry got a pre-Christmas delivery no one would want — they were laid off. Details have not been released but among those affected are engineers, agrologists, and managers. “This is just another example of where they have taken some significant steps backwards,” […] Read more
NFU paper lays out solutions for climate, farming challenges
MarketsFarm — The global climate crisis is interlinked with the financial crisis on Canadian farms, according to a new discussion paper from the National Farmers Union (NFU). The paper proposes changes to agriculture practices that could help the sector become part of the solution to both major issues. Compiled by Darrin Qualman in collaboration with […] Read more
Field monitoring systems to cast wider Canadian net
Farmers will soon get a new entry point in the Internet of Things (IoT) as a new company brings field monitoring tools and services to the Canadian market. Austrian tech firm Pessl Instruments and Winnipeg-based Glacier FarmMedia, the owner of this website, on Wednesday announced a new joint venture, Metos Canada, to market and support […] Read more
That’s progress: Event rebrands as ‘Canada’s Farm Show’
One of Canada’s biggest annual trade shows is downsizing its brand to three words for 2020. Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. (REAL) announced Monday that Canada’s Farm Progress Show, running June 16 to 18 next year at Regina’s Evraz Place, will now be titled Canada’s Farm Show, with a “new visual identity.” “With the increase of […] Read more
Farm leaders say they understand the need for spending restraint
Province’s Ag Ministry will see deep cuts but Devin Dreeshen says the money can be found by finding efficiencies
Reading Time: 5 minutes It is the biggest cut in government spending since the days of Ralph Klein — but Alberta’s agriculture minister calls it ‘trimming’ and farm groups are not raising a hue and cry. “We’ve trimmed our spending this year by nine per cent by going through every program that we’ve had within the ministry to find […] Read more
Interest in irrigation in Alberta heads north
While the lion’s share of irrigation is in the south, some expect a major expansion as far north as the Peace
Reading Time: 7 minutes From the highway, the sign seems out of place. “Now open, Southern Irrigation,” it declares. Down Lethbridge way, it might not be unusual to see a yard full of irrigation pipes and reels of tubing. But Red Deer isn’t exactly the epicentre of irrigation in the province. But that may slowly be starting to change, […] Read more
The farm data overload needs a fix
Ag tech event shows future of farming is data driven — but 'we're not there yet'
Reading Time: 5 minutes Jay Bruggencate has a bit of a bone to pick with the ag-tech industry. “We’ve invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into smart equipment that knows what it’s doing but can’t talk to each other,” said the Lacombe-area farmer at the recent AgSmart event at Olds College. “There’s so much data now available to us […] Read more
RMs declare ag disaster in Manitoba’s Interlake
Twelve rural municipalities in Manitoba’s Interlake and WestLake regions have declared a state of agricultural disaster due to severe dry conditions. The RMs of Alonsa, Armstrong, Bifrost-Riverton, Coldwell, Ethelbert, Fisher, Grahamdale, Lakeshore, McCreary, Ste. Rose, West Interlake and Woodlands announced the motion in a news release Thursday. The municipalities are calling on the province to […] Read more
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