Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Young Speakers for Agriculture is holding an inaugural public speaking competition for Alberta youth to share their passion about the agricultural industry. The competition will be held during the Calgary Stampede on July 13 and offers youth ages 11 to 24 an opportunity to share their views on a topic important to agriculture. […] Read more
New speech competition for young Albertans
Identify fire risks and take steps to protect your farm or ranch
There are a number of things that can — and should — be done to minimize the impact of fire
Reading Time: 3 minutes There are several things you can do to minimize the impact of fire. “In a lot of cases, it’s like a risk management process,” said Brad Andres, director of emergency management services with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “Ask yourself about on-farm safety and identify the risks that could really affect your operation.” Being prepared with […] Read more
Gay Lea buys Ontario artisanal cheesemaker
Another storied eastern Ontario artisanal cheesemaker is set to go co-op. Gay Lea Foods, billed as Ontario’s biggest and Canada’s second-biggest dairy co-operative, announced a deal Wednesday to buy Black River Cheese Co. effective June 1 for an undisclosed sum. Based in Prince Edward County at Milford, about 45 km southeast of Belleville, Black River […] Read more
Business training funds available
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Business Management Skills Development Program, has recently undergone a few minor changes, including a revised application form. The program helps producers, agri-processing companies, and agricultural organizations, and improves their business management skills. Funding is available for courses or programs that are focused on business management skills and training — including marketing, productivity, financial management, […] Read more
Wage subsidy available for student workers on the farm
Reading Time: < 1 minute If you’re thinking about hiring a student for summer employment, there’s only a few days left to apply for provincial assistance. The Summer Farm Employment Program offers wage support of up to $400 per month for July and August as well as worker’s compensation coverage and safety training information. “Employers must own or rent a […] Read more
Food processing could be the next Alberta advantage
Despite hundreds of millions of investment, agri-food processing in Alberta is just ‘muddling along,’ says entrepreneur
Reading Time: 4 minutes One year after a call to build Alberta’s agri-food processing sector, not much has changed. “Everything has stalled,” said Jerry Bouma, co-founder of Toma & Bouma Management Consultants. “We have a new government and the formation of a new ministry. Any time you have a restructuring — both politically and bureaucratically — it takes awhile […] Read more
Is scrapping ALMA a mistake?
Reading Time: < 1 minute The dissolution of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency in last month’s provincial budget may be a step backward for Alberta’s agri-food processing industry. “I know ALMA was able to move fairly quickly in terms of responding to both opportunities and concerns and really apply resources in a very forthright fashion because of the way […] Read more
Glacier Media contributes $50,000 to fire relief fund
An online crowdfunding campaign has also been launched to raise money for Red Cross relief efforts
Reading Time: < 1 minute Glacier Media, the parent company of Alberta Farmer, is donating $50,000 toward the Canadian Red Cross disaster relief efforts in the Fort McMurray area. The Vancouver company said its donation is also on behalf of individual Glacier business units, which will undertake their own awareness and fundraising efforts to help the city and its residents […] Read more
New mindset needed? Earls is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’
Consumers are starting to call the tune about how cattle are raised, and the sector needs to respond, say industry observers
Reading Time: 4 minutes Consumers are demanding sustainable beef and many want it sooner rather than later. That’s a key lesson from the Earls Restaurant controversy — and evidence producers need to change their thinking, say experts. “The first thing the cattle industry has to do is stop believing that there is no money to be made with niche […] Read more
We can’t turn a blind eye to abuse
Domestic violence and animal abuse do take place on farms in our province, and both must be reported
Reading Time: 4 minutes A 2012 report called The Cruelty Connection looked at whether there was a relationship between animal abuse and domestic violence in Alberta. And there was — people who committed crimes against animals also committed crimes against people. The project (a collaboration between the SPCA and the RCMP) found that in 85 per cent of cases […] Read more
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