Reading Time: < 1 minute A federal program backing research into farm-level technologies and practices that limit farms’ greenhouse gas emissions has been extended for another five-year run. Ottawa will put $27 million into the next phase of the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program, which gave out $21 million in funding to 18 projects in the first five-year phase. Among those […] Read more
Federal funding available to help cut farm greenhouse gases
Farmers’ market app now available
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture has created a free app for Apple and Android that provides up-to-date information about locations, times, and dates of farmers’ markets in the province. Farmers’ markets are the No. 1 agri-tourism attraction in Alberta, providing a great shopping experience where consumers can “savour time” rather than “save time.” The app, which cost about […] Read more
Kazakh leader evokes Ukraine as land protests spread
Almaty | Reuters –– Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, facing a growing wave of protests against planned changes to land ownership, evoked the image of war-torn Ukraine on Sunday as he called for national unity. Speaking at an event in Almaty to mark the annual May 1 Unity Day celebrations, Nazarbayev highlighted Ukraine, where street protests […] Read more
Cuba backtracks on food reforms as conservatives resist change
Havana | Reuters –– Cuba decided at a secretive Communist Party congress last week to reverse market reforms in food distribution and pricing, according to reports in official media, reflecting tensions within the party about the pace of economic change. President Raul Castro unveiled an ambitious market reform agenda in one of the world’s last […] Read more
Poultry at risk for avian flu during migration
Cases of avian flu in commercial poultry in the U.S. and Mexico earlier this year are believed to have come from wild birds, which are now migrating north for the season, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency warned Friday. Avian influenza spreads when wild birds come into contact with commercial/small flocks, the agency said, urging producers […] Read more
An early spring may lead to an early start to thunderstorm season
These awe-inspiring storms are associated with hot, humid days — but they can form under other conditions, too
Reading Time: 3 minutes With a pretty warm first half of April across Alberta I won’t be surprised if we end up seeing an early start to thunderstorm season. So I figured that maybe we should have an early start to my annual look at thunderstorms. To begin with, we’ll need to talk about one of my weather pet peeves, […] Read more
New website focuses on antimicrobial resistance
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association has launched a campaign called Raised with Care to inform livestock producers about upcoming changes to antimicrobial regulations and livestock production practices. “Controlling the spread of (antibiotic) resistance is essential if we hope to retain our access to these tools that save countless human and animal lives,” the association said […] Read more
Whole Foods wins dismissal of PETA lawsuit over meat claims
Reuters — Whole Foods Market won the dismissal of a lawsuit by a well-known animal rights group that accused the grocery chain of deceiving consumers into believing the meat it sells is raised more humanely than normal, resulting in overcharges. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said the use by Whole Foods of […] Read more
Nuffield Scholarship application deadline
Four scholarships of $15,000 each are available for those between 25 and 45
Reading Time: < 1 minute Applications for 2017 Canadian Nuffield Farming Scholarships are due April 30. Scholarships are awarded to individuals with a passion for agriculture and a desire to expand their knowledge, pursue new ideas and share their findings with others, for the betterment of Canadian agriculture. Applicants should be in mid-career, between the ages of 25 and 45 […] Read more
Floods cause deaths, block food aid in drought-hit Ethiopia
Nairobi | Thomson Reuters Foundation — Flash floods in drought-stricken parts of Ethiopia have killed people and livestock and are blocking food aid deliveries to hungry communities, a charity said. Ethiopians have been waiting for the spring rains to replenish water sources and to plant crops after the most severe drought in decades pushed more […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
