Reading Time: < 1 minute Producers wanting to sell at farmers’ markets can learn about the basics at the Getting into Farmers’ Markets workshop. Farmers’ markets in Alberta had more than $700 million in sales in 2012 and continue to see rapid growth. Topics include food safety culture and best practices, product pricing, and regulations. A panel of experienced vendors […] Read more
Workshop offered for selling at farmers’ markets
The day long workshops will take place on April 21 and April 28
Planning is key to preparing an effective shelterbelt
Specialist recommends visiting mature shelterbelts and talking to landowners
Reading Time: 2 minutes Trees and shelterbelt planting is a long-term investment that requires careful planning and design. “Ask yourself what you want to accomplish by planting trees or shelterbelts on your property,” said Toso Bozic, a provincial agroforestry/bioenergy specialist. Trees should always be managed with future generations in mind, he said. “The goals can be many — ranging […] Read more
Video guides to gluten- and allergy-free foods
Short videos offer an introduction to the booming market for these products
Reading Time: < 1 minute Did you know that the market for allergen- and gluten-free products is projected to surpass $26 billion by the year 2017? Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development has made three animated videos to help food manufacturers assess the opportunities and minimize the risks associated with producing these products. The videos are: A Food Manufacturer’s Guide to […] Read more
The 2015 edition of the Blue Book is out
The 2015 Crop Protection book has updated information on herbicides, insecticides, seed treatments and foliar fungicides
Reading Time: < 1 minute One of the most widely requested publications from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development is the Blue Book. “An important part of the annual update is the addition of newly registered products,” said provincial crop specialist Mark Cutts. “For the 2015 Blue Book, a number of new pesticide entries have been added. New product additions were […] Read more
Ask the big questions before buying land
Answering 16 Questions to Consider before Buying Farmland is a good way to avoid buyer’s remorse
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta farmers are still keen to buy land, says a farm financial specialist. “Interest rates remain low and, although some farms have experienced some cash flow problems, the majority of Alberta farms has a strong balance sheet and is interested in purchasing additional land, should the opportunity arise,” said Rick Dehod. But before making a […] Read more
IPM: It’s all about combining pest management tools
The multi-pronged approach known as Integrated Pest Management can boost yields while reducing costs
Reading Time: 3 minutes While Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has become a catchphrase in agriculture today, there can be confusion as to what it actually is. “While the mechanics of the concept are discussed at workshops and lectures, many producers still don’t understand exactly what IPM is,” said Dustin Morton, a commercial horticulture specialist with the Alberta Ag-Info Centre […] Read more
Some tips on dealing with the long days (and nights) during seeding
Regular meals, exercise breaks, and simply talking to someone will help
Reading Time: < 1 minute Sleep often gets sacrificed during the long hours of seeding, and that can be dangerous. “When you’re tired, you may think and move slowly, make more mistakes, and have difficulty remembering things,” said Kenda Lubeck, farm safety co-ordinator for Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Any time a worker disrupts (the sleep) cycle they need to […] Read more
Dealing with hazardous materials on farms
Website has user-friendly info on handling anhydrous ammonia, disinfectants, compressed gases, and other hazardous farm materials
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, or WHMIS, is more than just a short course for workers handling pure chemicals. WHMIS is a Canada-wide system that communicates the dangers and other information about hazardous materials used in the workplace. It does this through labels on containers of hazardous materials, safety data sheets (SDS) with detailed […] Read more
Make a list and check it twice before loading a livestock trailer
Here’s a list of what to inspect — which should include everything from brakes and bearings to tires and flooring
Reading Time: 3 minutes In order to haul livestock safely, there are a few things to check on both the truck and trailer before hooking on, loading up and heading out. “Knowing the load capabilities of your truck before using it to haul livestock is important,” says Kenda Lubeck, farm safety co-ordinator for Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Just […] Read more
Know your feed before buying supplements
If feed quality, amounts, and animal weights aren’t known, you can’t tell if supplements are required, says specialist
Reading Time: < 1 minute Look at the facts before buying feed supplements, says a provincial beef and forage specialist. “After talking to various retailers, one comment comes out loud and clear,” said Barry Yaremcio of the Ag-Info Centre in Stettler. “Sales of lick tubs, molasses blocks, mineral products, and protein supplements are way up from previous years. But are […] Read more
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