Reading Time: 3 minutes Recent hirings at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are a sign that the long decline in research capability is over. “That they’re hiring is very positive,” said Ron DePauw, who established himself as one of the world’s top wheat breeders with his work at AAFC’s Swift Current station. “If you go back to 1973, there were […] Read more
Ottawa opens its wallet: Ag research back on the front burner again
Top scientists hail the end of decades-long plunge in the number of Ag Canada agricultural researchers
They’ve got your back — meet four new Alberta researchers
Ag Canada’s newest researchers are working on issues that hurting or holding back producers today — or will in the future
Reading Time: 4 minutes Agriculture and Agri-food Canada hired four new scientists in Alberta this past spring. Here’s a quick introduction to the newest additions to the research community: Nitynanda (Nitya) Khanal Integrated forage crops management, Beaverlodge The forage research position at Beaverlodge had been vacant for years following a retirement. But not any more — although it was […] Read more
Singapore trip offers Albertan a new global view on agriculture
Reading Time: 3 minutes Laura Bodell got a chance to see agriculture from a new perspective when she won a scholarship to attend the Commonwealth Agriculture Conference in Singapore this fall. “I had a particular interest in attending this conference since I’m chair of the International Agricultural Business Centre during Farmfair,” said Bodell. The Sherwood Park resident, who has […] Read more
If the flow starts to slow, contact a water well contractor
Routine maintenance can extend the life of the well on your farm and ensure good water quality
Reading Time: < 1 minute There’s no predicting how long a well will last. “Some wells can last for a very long time. I have worked on wells that are so old they quit making the parts for them in 1929,” said Rene Arts, a water well contractor from Westlock. “These aren’t the norm, but I still keep a stock […] Read more
New edition of classic Alberta cookbook on sale
Reading Time: < 1 minute Hardy farm-style recipes are the focus of Meals in the Field, a new cookbook from United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative. Recipes were submitted throughout the summer by UFA members, customers, agents and employees. The 184-page cookbook is also a modern version of UFA’s original cookbook, first published in 1928 by the United Farm Women of […] Read more
Installing a larger pump can be a recipe for well failure
Overpumping can lead to silt in water, plugged fixtures, biofouling, and even permanent aquifer damage
Reading Time: 2 minutes When farm and acreage owners need more water, it is not uncommon for them to get more by installing a larger pump. While this is often done in an effort to save money, overpumping a well can be a very costly mistake. “Overpumping is one of the leading causes of premature well failure,” said provincial […] Read more
New mobile unit will take farm safety education on the road
Reading Time: < 1 minute Thanks to a $650,000 donation from Agrium, Agriculture for Life is undertaking its largest safety initiative — the Rural and Farm Safety Mobile Unit. The unit is a trailer with educational displays, and will be taken to rural schools, communities, fairs, and other events around North America to educate, encourage and promote farm safety to […] Read more
Ross scholarship winners chosen
Reading Time: < 1 minute Two Ontario producers are this year’s winners of the Robert L. Ross Memorial Scholarship, allowing them to attend the CTEAM program. CTEAM stands for Canadian Total Excellence in Agricultural Management and is managed by Agri-Food Management Excellence. During the program, farmers learn detailed financial, marketing and human relations management skills, using their own operation as […] Read more
How to get your sheep on the move
Understanding sheep behaviour is the key to getting them to go where you want them to
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you want to move a sheep, the worst thing you can do is isolate it, yell at it, and then try to move it from behind. “If you understand animal behaviour, that is 90 per cent of handling — the biggest knowledge gap that we have is true understanding of animal behaviour,” livestock-handling specialist […] Read more
Jan Slomp wins another term as NFU president
Reading Time: < 1 minute Jan Slomp has been re-elected president of the National Farmers Union. Slomp and his partner Marian have been dairy farmers since 1979, first in their native Netherlands and from 1989 to 2015 in Alberta. They are setting up a new farm at Courtenay on Vancouver Island. Dana Penrice of Lacombe was elected youth vice-president while […] Read more
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