Reading Time: < 1 minute Northlands has successfully secured the bid to host the 28th Commonwealth Agriculture Conference. The 28th Commonwealth Agriculture Conference will mark the event’s second visit to Alberta and will take place at the Edmonton EXPO Centre from November 3-5, 2018, preceding Farmfair International. The conference will focus on the success of Alberta and Canada’s agriculture industries […] Read more
Commonwealth Agriculture Conference coming to Edmonton
Weekly Alberta insect report
Heavy wheat midge pressure in the Peace
Reading Time: < 1 minute In his weekly Call of the Land radio interview, Alberta Agriculture insect management specialist Scott Meers reports from the Peace River area, where wheat midge are coming “en masse.” He has recommendations for monitoring and whether to take control measures. Meers says root maggot damage in canola is more extreme this year with insects girdling […] Read more
Annual honeybee winterkill survey underway
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture is once again conducting its annual honeybee winterkill and management survey. “The honeybee winterkill and management survey is an important component in developing Alberta Apiculture surveillance system and best management practices,” says Medhat Nasr, provincial apiculturist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Results are also used to justify any emergency registration of new […] Read more
Late blight a concern again this year
There were multiple outbreaks of aggressive and destructive pathogen in fields and market gardens last year
Reading Time: 2 minutes Over the last few years, there has been a great deal of concern in Alberta surrounding late blight, a serious disease that affects mainly potatoes and tomatoes. This year appears to be no different. “This disease is caused by a fungal pathogen called Phytophthora infestans,” said Robert Spencer, commercial horticulture specialist at the Alberta Ag-Info […] Read more
Many ways to protect the price of your canola crop
Spring Price Endorsement, put options, and a variety of contracts with delivery commitments offer different benefits
Reading Time: 2 minutes Farmers should keep in mind the Spring Price Endorsement (SPE) to protect the price of this year’s canola crop, says Neil Blue, a market specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. The 2014 canola spring price under the SPE program from Agriculture Financial Services Corporation is $9.75 per bushel. “A payout under the SPE would […] Read more
Don’t cut corners on irrigation savings
Reducing water pressure when the corner arm isn’t needed can cut energy costs by 30 per cent or more
Reading Time: 2 minutes Producers with corner arm centre pivot irrigation systems can reduce their energy consumption by 30 to 40 per cent if a variable frequency drive (VFD) is added to the motor used to power the water pump, according to an Agricultural Technology Centre study. “Corner arms on centre pivots swing out to water corners and are […] Read more
Alberta Agriculture releases 2014 edition of CropChoice$
The software has 40 dryland and irrigated crops scenarios, and can calculate probabilities for achieving margins
Reading Time: 2 minutes The 2014 edition of CropChoice$ planning tool is now out. “CropChoice$ is a crop budgeting and risk management software program that’s updated every year with recent crop insurance information from AFSC (Agricultural Financial Services Corporation) and projected crop costs,” said Jason Wood, crops economist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “It allows farmers to calculate […] Read more
Upswing in cattle business offers chance to reinvest in the ranch
Business specialist says now is a good time to make investments in productive assets, herd health, and yourself
Reading Time: 2 minutes Now that the cattle business seems to be on the upswing, cow-calf producers should consider investments to boost their bottom line, says an Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development farm financial specialist. “Improving working capital, and investing in productive assets, herd health, and yourself can all bring excellent returns,” said Rick Dehod. “Herd health is an […] Read more
Pencilling out what your calves are worth
Reading Time: 3 minutes The rebound in feed grain production this year, both in Western Canada and in the U.S., has led to sharply lower feed grain prices. This, together with strong fed-cattle futures prices for next spring, provides a strong argument for higher calf prices this fall. However, the amended U.S. country-of-origin labelling (COOL) rules, to become effective […] Read more
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