Reading Time: < 1 minute Pasture assessments help producers decide if a pasture needs to be rejuvenated and if so, how best to rejuvenate it. The Alberta Tame Pasture Scorecard is a quick and easy way of doing a pasture assessment. The Sustainable Resource Development Health Assessment forms are another good tool that provides a more detailed assessment. Pasture assessments […] Read more
Keeping an eye on tame pastures
Managing air emissions from confined feeding operations
Reading Time: 2 minutes Three reports and the recommendations on air emissions from confined feeding operations in Alberta stemming from the reports were completed in March 2012. These reports will soon be available on Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s website. Printed copies of the report are available by contacting Atta Atia, livestock air quality specialist with Alberta Agriculture, at […] Read more
Gardeners should be on the lookout for late blight
Infection The disease can be carried by wind, but infected material from last year can be a local source
Reading Time: 3 minutes In 2010, the introduction of the late blight pathogen into Alberta combined with wet weather in many areas resulted in an outbreak of late blight across much of southern and central Alberta. This outbreak included some commercial potato fields and market gardens and many urban residential gardens and plantings. In 2010, disease samples fell into […] Read moreAlbertans invited to online local food consultation
Questionnaire The online site includes a recording of presentations at earlier discussion sessions
Reading Time: 2 minutes Albertans have until May 10 to express their thoughts and comments on the local food-marketing systems and opportunities in the province. Local marketing opportunities are an important part of Alberta producers’ market portfolio. While international and domestic markets have the larger numbers, local markets have come on strong in recent years, as consumers turn their […] Read moreConsiderations when signing a deferred delivery contract
Certainty A deferred delivery contract can lock in a profit, but also prevents cashing in on future price increases
Reading Time: 3 minutes A deferred delivery contract (DDC) is the most popular type of grain-marketing contract provided by grain buyers. A DDC, as it is often called, locks in the price for a certain quantity of a base grade of grain to be delivered to a certain location at some date in the future. “Advantages of a DDC […] Read moreMulti-sire-verification project
Partnered ARD is working with some select Alberta ranchers to demonstrate the practical use of the biometric identifier DNA
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development is midway through a sire-verification program that uses a DNA verification system from IdentiGen Canada Ltd. to improve the economics of Alberta ranches. This project received funding through the Business Management skills and tools area, part of the federal-provincial-territorial Growing Forward initiative. In the first phase of its Sire Evaluation […] Read moreEquine Canada awards three Alberta coaches
Reading Time: < 1 minute Three Alberta coaches were recipients of coaching awards presented by Equine Canada. The Equine Canada/National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) National Coaching Awards recognize coaches and instructors from all disciplines and contexts who exemplify the NCCP coaching and teaching practices. The Alberta Equestrian Federation commented that nominees may come from all corners of the country, and […] Read more
Buying forage seed this year? Ask for the seed testing certificate
twelve digits The numbers on a certified seed certificate provide a wealth of information on the seed and its source
Reading Time: 3 minutes “If you are thinking of seeding pasture or hay this year, and want to make sure you don’t bring any difficult-to-control weeds into your field, then set yourself up for success by purchasing high-quality forage seed,” says Stephanie Kosinski, forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Be sure to ask for a copy of […] Read moreTake stock of forage quality, quantity
Reading Time: < 1 minute Knowing your forage quality and quantity, as well as animal weight and body condition, is crucial in strategically meeting animal nutritional requirements with low-cost winter-feeding programs. “Forage quality is always important for livestock producers,” says Grant Lastiwka grazing/forage/beef specialist, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Olds. “With high grain prices, the alternative of adding grain to […] Read more
Hog producers — are you paying too much for your feed?
Reading Time: 2 minutes An economic analysis by an Alberta Agriculture specialist suggests hog producers may be paying too much for feed. “Based on the energy value of Alberta barley samples at current market prices, hog producers will frequently be paying up to $17 per tonne too much for some barley loads, and $11 per tonne below energy value […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
