Reading Time: < 1 minute Ag students can gain up to $1,500 towards their education in the Excellence Award for Agricultural Students competition. The award from Farm Management Canada and the Canadian Association of Diploma in Agriculture Programs encourages agricultural students to enhance their communication skills and raise awareness of the importance of farm business management. Entrants must submit a […] Read more
Awards competition for ag students
Students can gain up to $1,500 towards their education
Oil bust could mean skyrocketing property taxes
Some Alberta municipalities are being hit hard as oil companies stop paying
Reading Time: 2 minutes With oil prices bottoming out around $30 a barrel, oil companies are scrambling to save money — sometimes at the expense of farmers. “Some companies are just deciding not to pay the annual rentals,” said Daryl Bennett, who represents the Action Surface Rights Association in southern Alberta. Last year, the Surface Rights Board had more […] Read more
Nominations sought for AFAC’s Awards of Distinction
Deadline for nominations is Feb. 15
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Farm Animal Care is seeking nominations for its Awards of Distinction, which recognize individuals or groups who have made exceptional contributions in the field of livestock welfare. There are three award categories: The communication award recognizes those who have taken an active role in effectively getting the message out about livestock issues, and informing […] Read more
Top guns for agri-tourism workshops coming to Airdrie
Agri-tourism, farm-direct marketing workshops being held Feb. 23 – 24
Reading Time: < 1 minute You can learn from the best about agri-tourism and farm-direct marketing at two workshops being held on Feb. 23 in Leduc and Feb. 24 in Airdrie. They will be led by Mark Saunders and Angela Grant of Saunders Farm, an award-winning operation near Ottawa that began welcoming farm visitors 25 years ago. “Originally a strawberry […] Read more
Ag minister vows to listen to farm groups
Groups create ‘historic collaboration’ to fight for sensible workplace rules
Reading Time: 3 minutes After ramming through new farm safety legislation at year’s end, the provincial government seems to have changed its tune. “I want to be clear right now — we will be taking the time necessary to make sure we get this right,” Agriculture and Forestry Minister Oneil Carlier said at the Alberta Federation of Agriculture annual […] Read more
Workplace safety officers have ‘serious powers’
They include the right to compel statements, inspect what they want, and take samples without a warrant
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta farmers are right to be worried about how the industry’s new health and safety legislation will be enforced. “Officers have some broad, sweeping powers,” said David Myrol, a lawyer at McLennan Ross LLP who specializes in occupational health and safety (OHS) law. “When the OHS officer comes knocking at the door, the playing field […] Read more
The downside of farm subsidies
Government money is usually welcomed but those who take it soon learn it can come with a heavy price
Reading Time: 3 minutes There are certain aspects of farming around the globe that are subsidized either directly or indirectly. In the world of trade, these are sensitive issues. For example, what is the true level of subsidization in China? How does it enhance its competitive advantage? What is the real cost of production? We have many guests in […] Read more
Tim Hortons, Burger King to move toward cage-free eggs
The owner of Canadian coffee-and-donut giant Tim Hortons and North America’s No. 2 burger chain, Burger King, has reset its goal to take the chains’ egg supplies “cage-free.” Restaurant Brands International, the parent firm for the two chains since their merger in late 2014, announced Monday it will move to 100 per cent cage-free eggs for […] Read more
LIVE BLOG: Alberta FarmTech 2016
Event begins Tuesday, Jan. 26 and runs to Thursday, Jan. 28
Reading Time: < 1 minute Edmonton’s EXPO Centre at Northlands is the place to be for producers and the public during Alberta FarmTech 2016, running from Jan. 26 to Jan. 28. Want up-to-the-minute information on what’s going on at FarmTech? Check out our live blog page here! FarmTech features more than 50 sessions and a world class lineup of speakers providing […] Read more
Ontario weighs mandatory beekeeping practices in draft plan
Fresh off limiting farmers’ use of neonicotinoid seed treatments, the Ontario government now wants public comment on further moves it might make to improve the health of bees and other pollinators in the province. Among the “potential actions” up for consideration in the province’s new draft action plan are the use of public lands to expand […] Read more