Reading Time: 4 minutes Do your corrals flood every year because you are close to a water body? Does your manure storage area have a river running near it? If so, the chances are you need to relocate your facilities — although you might also be eligible for funding to help you out. But the first step is to […] Read more
Ready to relocate? Don’t just jump in, says livestock facility expert
A successful move means checking off a lot of boxes, but there’s lots of help available to ensure the move goes smoothly
Funding sparks boom in small-scale solar projects
Attractive lease rates for ‘micro-gen’ projects have many farmers thinking of doing their own
Reading Time: 2 minutes Although smaller-scale community-organized solar farms have, so far, been left in the lurch, there’s good news for farmers and other rural landowners interested in solar. Growing Forward 2 offers grants of up to $50,000 for ‘micro-gen’ solar projects where the power is used in the production of a primary commodity. That kind of government support […] Read more
Community-based project lost in the shuffle over solar power
Government inaction jeopardizes proposed community solar farm that backers hoped would be a model for rural Alberta
Reading Time: 2 minutes It only takes a cursory glance at the headlines to recognize that a solar energy boom is coming to Alberta. Last year, the province set a target of having 30 per cent renewable energy by 2030 — but it remains to be seen whether farmers and rural communities will be able to ride this coming […] Read more
The groupthink on CO2 levels ignores some basic science
Views will change as atmospheric CO2 continues to rise with little or no significant change in global temperatures
Reading Time: 3 minutes As an agricultural producer, a former science teacher, and someone who is involved in the delivery of agricultural extension, I would like to submit some comments in relation to Daniel Bezte’s article in the Feb. 13 edition, “Articles on climate change provoke some readers“. The article’s title is entirely fitting because articles on climate change […] Read more
Canada blocks poultry, eggs from Tennessee, Alabama
Cross-border travellers coming into Canada from the U.S. are being warned not to bring in raw poultry or eggs from Tennessee or Alabama following outbreaks of avian flu in those states. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Thursday announced restrictions on imports of uncooked poultry products, live birds and/or eggs from those two states until […] Read more
Avoiding ATV rollovers on the farm
Reading Time: < 1 minute You may use an ATV for fun or for profit. But more importantly you should always use them safely. Rollovers happen alarmingly fast, so always wear a helmet, gloves, long sleeves, pants, and boots, even when only travelling a short distance. Inappropriate gear, such as loose clothing, can get caught on controls and doesn’t provide […] Read more
Don’t take chances when removing duals
Reading Time: < 1 minute While duals are useful to improve traction and reduce soil compaction, removing them when not needed reduces tire wear and enhances manoeuvrability. But removing duals can be hazardous and people have been crushed by falling wheels or suffered strains and sprains. Read more: Ribbons to promote ag safety Removing duals is a two-person job and […] Read more
Ribbons to promote ag safety
An Alberta idea is going national this winter to encourage farmers to think safety
Reading Time: < 1 minute An Alberta farm safety campaign is getting a second life by going national. AgSafe lapel ribbons premiered in Alberta in 2012 to raise awareness about farm safety in the province, said Kenda Lubeck who is a farm safety co-ordinator for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “We wanted a visual that would encourage discussions for every- body […] Read more
Business help just a phone call away
Reading Time: < 1 minute If you’re thinking of a new farm business or expanding an existing one, there’s a new-venture specialist willing to help. “New-venture coaches do their best to help you get your business to-do list into reality, to get a new income stream planned for the farm into a sustainable business, or even just support a startup […] Read more
Do you have an emergency response plan?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Every farm should have an emergency response plan, says an Alberta Agriculture farm safety specialist. That plan needs to include “procedures, training and exercises based on individual farming and ranching needs,” said Blair Takahashi. A chain of command should also be established to minimize confusion and alternate means of communicating. Practice drills will not only […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
