Reading Time: 2 minutes The redeveloped Alberta Soil information viewer, based on the Agricultural Region of Alberta Soil Inventory Database (AGRASID), is the next evolution of online tool that Alberta producers have had access to for over 15 years. The viewer is a joint project of the Science and Technology Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Environmental […] Read more
Changes and benefits of the redeveloped soil information viewer
New carbon offsets available for cattle feeders
Efficiency New protocol reduces emissions from beef cattle through advancements in genetic selection
Reading Time: 2 minutes The recent approval of the Residual Feed Intake (RFI) carbon offset protocol by the Government of Alberta has opened up a new opportunity for farmers to get paid for making environmental improvements. The innovative practice highlighted in this new protocol reduces greenhouse gas emissions from beef cattle through advancements in genetic selection. This makes it […] Read moreSteps to prevent the spread of fusarium in Alberta
Infection The disease has been spreading widely due to extensive planting of highly susceptible varieties
Reading Time: 2 minutes The cereal disease Fusarium graminearum is a fungal species that is found all around us. Fusarium is a large grouping with many species, and it occurs naturally in the soil. Fusarium graminearum is the fungal infection that causes fusarium head blight in wheat, oats, barley and corn, and it is the most aggressive fusarium species […] Read moreCowbytes software saves money on winter feeding
Rations Producers can modify the nutrient content of feed components based on their own feed test results
Reading Time: 3 minutes Cowbytes is a cattle ration balancing program developed by Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. It allows producers to optimize the use of homegrown feeds by only purchasing supplements that are necessary or by taking advantage of lower-cost alternative feeds or byproducts. In this way, producers can often reduce feed costs while meeting production targets or […] Read moreLong-term water-management planning yields clear value for producers
Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s no doubt that access to a supply of quality water is key to the success of any agricultural operation. However, some years, quality water may not be so easy to come by. Now, more than ever, farmers and ranchers are taking control of the resource by developing long-term water-management plans, geared towards identifying their […] Read more
Grazing season should be 365 days a year
Reading Time: 3 minutes Each grazing management year comes with opportunities to make a difference and learn new or improve techniques. “Many of the skilled grazing managers I talk to are real systems thinkers,” says Grant Lastiwka, forage, grazing and beef specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Just by listening to how they put the pieces together, I […] Read more
AARD releases fruit and vegetable study
Reading Time: 1 minute Interest regarding the commercial production of fruits and vegetables in the province of Alberta is on the rise. Although traditional cereal crops, canola and pulses generally come to mind when speaking about Alberta crop production, there are many producers that are growing a diverse number of vegetable and fruit crops across the province. “As consumers […] Read more
Farm business management also important when times are good
Reading Time: 3 minutes Agriculture is a funny business. Someone’s misfortune can be someone else’s fortune. The U.S. is suffering with one of the worst droughts in recent history, and drought has affected other grain-exporting nations such as Russia and Ukraine. The Canadian Prairies, on the other hand, are experiencing a one-year-in-10 harvest that is seeing above-average prices for […] Read more
Alberta Barley Commission regional meetings in November
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Alberta Barley Commission is holding its six regional meetings across the province in November. The meetings are a time for farmers to learn about the past fiscal year, hear from top agriculture speakers, look ahead to new commission initiatives and find out how barley can work on their farms. “It’s been a big year […] Read more
Agribusiness productivity improvement grants
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development‘s Workforce Productivity Improvement Grant assists employers in assessing the productivity of their operation and how to make improvements. “The Workforce Productivity Improvement Grant provides financial assistance to agri-processing and agricultural production companies to assess and adopt new technologies and processes that improve worker productivity,” says Nicola Stevens, manager, Productivity Improvement […] Read more
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