Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust is accepting applications for its 2016 program. Three scholarships of $15,000 each will be awarded to enthusiastic individuals, with a passion for agriculture and a desire to expand their knowledge, pursue new ideas and to share their findings with others. Applicants should be in mid-career, and be between the […] Read more
Travel the world and advance Canadian agriculture
U of A students take the stress out of stepping on the scale — for bison, that is
University of Alberta students hoping to reduce handling stress in bison through a remote weighing system using automatic platform scales
Reading Time: 3 minutes Stepping on a scale doesn’t have to be stressful — for your bison, at least. “Just like in people, when bison step on a scale, sometimes they have quite a harsh stress response,” said Josh Perryman, a University of Alberta student who spoke at the Wildrose Bison Convention earlier this month. Bison are notoriously flighty […] Read more
Face the facts — trust trumps science for many consumers
And the key to building trust, says expert Charlie Arnot, is to show that farmers are transparent and share the same values as consumers
Reading Time: 4 minutes When it comes to talking about agriculture, a “just the facts” approach doesn’t cut it anymore. Attitudes towards the food industry have changed and those in agriculture have to adopt new tactics to reach out to consumers, said Charlie Arnot of the Center for Food Integrity. “People are fundamentally more skeptical about food than ever […] Read more
The lowdown on animal health
Veterinary medical association says animal owners need source of reliable information
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta’s animal owners have a new — and more reliable — online source for veterinary information: Alberta Animal Health Source. “Too many pet owners and animal lovers rely on unverified information from unaccountable authors when they’re doing online research,” the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association said in release. “While they often mean well, these unqualified sources […] Read more
In a risky world, your farm needs a plan
Waskatenau producer Don Macyk says managing risk isn’t a fun chore, but it’s one you can’t afford to ignore
Reading Time: 2 minutes Risk management may not be “a real joyful thing to do,” but it’s a necessary evil if you hope to farm successfully, says a longtime central Alberta farmer. “I know in our own business that we go further, faster when there’s good, solid risk management in place,” Don Macyk said at the Feed Coalition workshop […] Read more
Making an old farm new again — sometimes without a playbook
The weeds were abundant and the pastures were tired, but we had faith that a turnaround was possible
Reading Time: 4 minutes The children had a book entitled Old Farm, New Farm that we just loved. It was the story of the rejuvenation of a farm — something that we did as a family. Never afraid of a challenge, I’ve purchased several farms to make new again. It was a great way to contribute to the world […] Read more
Temple Grandin says producers ‘pushing biology too hard’
High-profile animal welfare expert says producers must address livestock issues or society will dictate solutions
Reading Time: 4 minutes Farmers, you have issues — downer dairy cows, structurally unsound cattle, and osteoporosis so bad in laying hens that huge numbers of them suffer broken bones. That’s the latest message from world-renowned animal scientist Temple Grandin, and it comes with a stark warning: Producers need to address these issues before society steps in and dictates change. […] Read more
A sure sign of spring: Northlands Farm and Ranch Show
This year’s event includes a prospect steer and heifer show, and Limousin is the featured breed
Reading Time: 2 minutes Before the fields thaw, the Northlands Farm and Ranch Show is your opportunity to view quality equipment and livestock to incorporate into your operations. This year’s show, which runs from March 26-28, features some new events, including the prospect steer and heifer show. This event showcases calves born in 2014, in a junior division on […] Read more
Farm-direct-marketing workshop on boosting profitability
Registration deadline of March 4!
Reading Time: < 1 minute An upcoming Explore Local workshop looks at marketing and pricing for profit. “This workshop looks at how you can use low cost, simple pricing, marketing and display tools to maximize sales and ramp up your business potential,” said Eileen Kotowich, farmers’ market specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. The workshop will feature Jenny Berkenbosch, […] Read more
Livestock care in the spotlight
Reading Time: < 1 minute A low-stress cattle-handling and body condition-scoring workshop; understanding animal welfare; and a diversified livestock panel will be part of the 2015 Annual Livestock Care Conference on March 26-27 in Calgary. The conference, hosted by Alberta Farm Animal Care, is intended to address challenges and trends in animal care. Other topics include social media in animal […] Read more
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