Reading Time: 3 minutes Many graziers have a theory that if you look after the soil, the rest of the operation will take care of itself, but Ian Mitchell-Innes looks at it the other way around. “The biggest mistake that people make after learning about holistic management is they try and save the ground. I did this also when […] Read more
Focus on nutrition will also help pastures
World-renowned holistic management specialist says green is not the only right colour for grass
North Saskatchewan River users still await all-clear
As the cleanup of the Husky Energy oil spill continues on the North Saskatchewan River, officials had a spot of good news during a recent media call. Collected water samples haven’t exceeded Canadian drinking water standards since July 24. As of Tuesday, over 1,000 water samples had been collected from over 60 locations between the […] Read more
Most water tests safe after Sask. oil spill, but no all-clear
Reuters — Out of 900 water samples tested from a major Canadian river polluted by an oil spill last month, five exceeded drinking water guidelines, officials said Wednesday, cautioning it was unclear when the river would be safe to drink from again. The July 20 leak from a Husky Energy pipeline into the North Saskatchewan […] Read more
There can be a deadly danger in your dugout
Toxins from blue-green algae can be fatal if ingested by livestock, but you can reduce the risk
Reading Time: 2 minutes It’s the time of year to keep watch for blue-green algae. “Blue-green algae is actually cyanobacteria, and can produce toxins that can be very dangerous,” said Shawn Elgert, a provincial agricultural water engineer. “It can cause organ damage or even death if ingested by livestock or pets. If you are trying to determine the cause […] Read more
Leading insecticide cuts bee sperm by almost 40 per cent
The world’s most widely used insecticide is an inadvertent contraceptive for bees, cutting live sperm in males by almost 40 per cent, The Guardian in the UK is reporting. Citing research led by Lars Straub at the University of Bern, Switzerland, the report says neonicotinoid pesticides were found to cut the lifespan of the drones […] Read more
Alberta farmers putting on a really big show
Open Farm Days scheduled from Aug. 20 - 21
Reading Time: < 1 minute Nearly 100 Alberta farm families will be welcoming visitors to their operations for Open Farm Days on Aug. 21. The long list of participants includes a variety of livestock operations (cattle, bison, alpaca, sheep, llama, goat, poultry, and heritage pigs); crop farms (honey, fruit, vegetable, and grain); organic operations; and agri-tourism businesses (U-pick, corn mazes, […] Read more
On-farm solar funding program reopens
Up to $50,000 is available for producers who want to generate solar power on their operations
Reading Time: 2 minutes Growing Forward 2’s On-Farm Solar Photovoltaics program has reopened and is accepting applications. There are a few revisions to the terms and conditions, said project engineer Kelly Lund. “We really encourage potential applicants to read through them to be sure they understand the changes to the program,” said Lund, noting full program information and forms […] Read more
Saskatchewan premier ‘not satisfied’ with Husky spill response
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said on Wednesday he was not satisfied with Husky Energy Inc’s emergency response to an oil spill into a river that supplies drinking water, and said the western Canadian province needed to consider ways to avoid a recurrence. The spill of 1,572 barrels of oil from a Husky pipeline into the […] Read more
Profit from knowing your cost of production
A video and e-learning tool on Alberta Agriculture’s website will help you boost efficiency and profitability
Reading Time: 2 minutes Not knowing your cost of production has a large impact on profitability, says a provincial business expert. “Knowing how much it costs to raise, grow, produce, or process your product enables you to calculate the price you need to make a reasonable profit,” said new venture specialist Marissa Brewer. “Going from a base cost of […] Read more
Okanagan producers adopt climate adaptation strategy
Agricultural producers and local governments in the Okanagan region are getting ready for the possibility of hotter, drier summers and different pest pressures under climate change. The B.C. Agriculture and Food Climate Action Initiative (CAI) brought agricultural producers together with local governments and provincial agencies to identify collaborative solutions and actions to adapt to the […] Read more
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