Alberta crop conditions as of September 19
Cooler weather has moved into the province bringing precipitation and frost to most areas. Precipitation in amounts of light showers in the South to rain in the Northern regions and the Peace has slowed harvest progress. Killing frosts below minus 2 Celsius were experienced across much of the province (view map at link below). Yield […] Read more
Alberta crop conditions as of September 12
Warm and dry weather conditions have prevailed across the province for several weeks, with only a few scattered areas experiencing frost in September. However, dry weather depleted the soil moisture, especially in the Southern and Central Regions where a large part of crops have already been harvested and soil does not have the cover. A map […] Read more
Alberta crop conditions as of September 5
Harvest operations continue to benefit from the warm, dry weather which has encompassed much of the province. Light precipitation did fall in northerly regions but amounts were small causing minimal delays. Harvest progress has advanced to 32 per cent of the province completed primarily on the progress in the South and Central regions. Harvest progress […] Read more
Variable rates have been a winner for decades, but a fixed rate is an option worth considering
Is it time to lock into a fixed long-term mortgage? “Since 1975, the majority of the time the variable interest rate has been the better option and has saved producers money,” said provincial farm financial specialist Rick Dehod. However, the Bank of Canada recently increased its prime rate by a quarter of a percentage point […] Read more
Alberta Agriculture is reminding farmers to do a full inspection on any equipment they plan to use, including a walkabout, before turning it on. That should include a “full 360-degree walk” around equipment and “looking for damage, excessive wear, loose or missing bolts, debris build-up, damaged or missing safety signs, leaks, tire inflation and fluid […] Read more
Alberta crop conditions as of August 22
A week of warm and relatively dry weather throughout the province benefited crop development in the northern regions and allowed harvest to progress rapidly in the South. Crop Conditions have stabilized at 54 per cent rated good or excellent, down less than 2 points on the week. Provincial harvest progress has advanced to 6 per […] Read more
Water and nutrients, including nitrogen, are pushed into non-legume crops after hail damage
There are many things to consider when salvaging a damaged cereal, oilseed, or hay crop after a hail event. One of them is nitrate accumulation, which occurs in a plant when it is injured and unable to convert nitrate to protein efficiently after a hailstorm. In non-legume crops, water and nutrients are pushed into the […] Read more
Farmers markets can give businesses the opportunity to test market their products and grow their businesses with less expense, says a provincial marketing specialist. “Farmers markets have always been seen as a business incubator where new businesses can start selling direct to consumers,” said Eileen Kotowich. “They get that immediate feedback and learn quickly how […] Read more
Alberta crop conditions as of August 8
Recent scattered rain across the province has been too light and variable to significantly improve soil moisture and crop conditions, especially in the Southern and Central Regions. Crop condition ratings declined for the Southern and Central Regions, improved for the North West and Peace Regions and remained unchanged in the North East Region from last […] Read more
The pyramid style is the worst and the mushroom method isn’t much better
When it comes to stacking bales, a little forethought can go a long way to ensuring a better product. “Storage losses from improperly stacked bales can be anywhere from 15 to 20 per cent of the dry matter yield while protein and energy losses can be anywhere from five to 10 per cent,” said beef […] Read more
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