Reading Time: < 1 minute The province is hosting a ‘Productivity Improvement 101’ workshop in Airdrie on Nov. 2 on “lean thinking concepts for growers and small-scale processors marketing food direct to consumers.” The workshop will help businesses to apply lean thinking to add value, reduce waste, and improve profits. It will include information on change processes to increase efficiency; […] Read more
Learn how to think lean, improve productivity
Workshop scheduled for Airdrie on Nov. 2
Avian flu quarantine ends for Ontario duck farm
A federal quarantine has been lifted for a duck farm near St. Catharines, Ont. where birds were confirmed in July with low-pathogenicity (“low-path”) avian flu. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has reported the quarantine was lifted effective Sept. 20, at the end of a 21-day waiting period after the commercial-scale farm was depopulated, cleaned and […] Read more
For 4-H Alberta, the past 100 years have flown by
Reading Time: 3 minutes When W.J. Elliott arrived in Alberta to become the first president of Olds College, he quickly decided he needed to enlist supporters for his bid to modernize agriculture in the province. So he started Alberta’s first 4-H club — the Olds Junior Pig Club. “He had noticed that there were some poor livestock genetics in […] Read more
4-H Canada launches new online club for alumni
Reading Time: < 1 minute 4-H Canada has launched a new alumni program called 4-H’s Club 1913. 4-H Canada is encouraging its 350,000 alumni to register at Club1913.ca — an online hub for those interested in reconnecting and networking with other alumni, and finding unique opportunities at the local and national level, while celebrating their pride in being part of […] Read more
Food bank donation drive underway
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farm Credit Canada and its partners across the country launched the 13th annual FCC Drive Away Hunger campaign with a goal of providing four million meals for Canada’s food banks. FCC Drive Away Hunger tractor tours will take place next month in B.C., Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. FCC is also collecting food […] Read more
Workplace compensation claims on farms jump sharply
But the claims offer an opportunity for finding ways to make farms and ranches safer for everyone, says farm leader
Reading Time: 4 minutes Alberta farm employee injury claims have more than doubled since workplace compensation coverage became mandatory for farms on Jan. 1, even though the number of workers being covered is only up by two-thirds. During the first six months of the year, 395 claims were filed by farm workers and 356 claims were accepted by the […] Read more
Oil lease defaults hit new record
Landowner compensation claims more than doubled last year and have already doubled again this year
Reading Time: 3 minutes For the second year in a row, the number of claims against oil companies defaulting on rental agreements has smashed records. Under Section 36 of the Surface Rights Act, landowners can apply for compensation from the provincial government if an oil company hasn’t paid their surface rental lease. From 2003 to 2014, the board has […] Read more
Farm debt at record highs — but top lender not worried
While FCC says most farmers can handle their debt load, financial expert Merle Good says some are ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’
Reading Time: 4 minutes Farm debt has hit a record high, bringing back some unpleasant memories of the 1980s debt crisis. But we’re not there yet, said farm business expert Merle Good. “In 1980, we had huge inflation and huge interest rates,” said Good, a longtime tax specialist with the provincial government who now runs a private consulting business. […] Read more
Canada, China agree to tighten trade ties
Ottawa | Reuters — Canada and China said Thursday they would start exploratory talks on a free trade pact, but gave few details about a possible extradition treaty for Chinese fugitives which has triggered criticism in Canada. Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, elected last year, is trying to improve ties and increase trade with […] Read more
Parasites could be costing you big bucks without you even realizing it
Infected cattle often look healthy, but their daily gain might be up to half a pound lower than it should be
Reading Time: 3 minutes Little is known about the impact of parasites on Canadian cattle production. But one thing is sure — resistance to the medication used to treat these parasites is growing. “There’s a lack of local information and a lack of information on parasites in Canada. That’s a problem,” John Gilleard, professor of parasitology in the University […] Read more
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