Alberta government asks people with water licence to move their licences online

Alberta government asks people with water licence to move their licences online

Moving licences online will simplify things and make sure the government can track water availability

Reading Time: 2 minutes To make things simpler and faster, the government of Alberta is asking thousands of water licence users to move their licences online. The province has a digital system that lets users report on water use and manage their licence through a confidential online tool.  A typical water licence allows the holder to divert water and […] Read more

Preliminary results suggest that Alberta grasslands fared better than others in weathering the effect of drought.

Researchers delve into drought and grasslands

Global project will provide valuable insights as droughts increase, Alberta scientist says

Reading Time: 3 minutes A global study is examining the surprising ways short-term droughts can affect grasslands. “It’s not surprising that less water is going to lead to less plant growth. We’re all very familiar with that,” said Cameron Carlyle, associate professor of rangeland ecology in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Alberta, […] Read more


Carol Reynolds, the new communication manager with the Canadian Cattle Association, brings a broad skill set and a wealth of knowledge to the position.

New communications manager joins Canadian Cattle Association

Carol Reynolds joined the CCA as communications manager in early January

Reading Time: 3 minutes The Canadian Cattle Association has a new teammate. Carol Reynolds is the group’s new communications manager who started the job Jan. 4. “Agriculture is literally in my blood,” said Reynolds, who grew up on a mixed family farm near Nipawin, Sask. “I’ve got a lot of fond memories of the farm, pitching bales and picking […] Read more

Jim Fisher, vice-president of Canadian policy worked for ALUS for many years, knows the benefits of its programs.

Grants designed to combat drought and flooding

Province puts up funds to make watersheds and farmers more resilient

Reading Time: 4 minutes In January, Alberta’s government invested $3.5 million to make the province more drought and flood resistant. Rebecca Schulz, minister of environment and protected areas, said it has never been more important to improve the resiliency of Alberta’s watersheds. “By working with local communities and partners, we are helping mitigate the impact of future floods and […] Read more


Luke Silinski, 17, is so passionate about ag technology that he created a non-profit company to provide agricultural education.

Alberta teen shares passion for agriculture through education

Free “content packs” delve into entomology, agronomy, plant and soil health

Reading Time: 3 minutes An Alberta farm kid is opening up the world of agriculture for other youths by distributing free learning kits. Luke Silinski, 17, grew up and lives on a farm in the Beiseker area. He has a passion for agriculture technology and wants to share it. Since 2021, Silinski has been distributing agricultural boxes that he […] Read more

Longer transportation, rest stops and auction marts are associated with higher levels of BRD in research project.

Rest stops appear to contribute to BRD in calves

Length of trip and origin of cattle may also play a role in disease-causing stress

Reading Time: 3 minutes Just how big a risk is transportation for BRD in calves? It’s not an easy question to answer, because one of the biggest risk factors is stress, according to one Alberta researcher. Karen Schwartzkopf-Genswein, a beef welfare scientist at Agriculture and Agri-food Lethbridge, was one of the lead researchers in a recently completed four-year study […] Read more


Cattle play an important part in conservation on the McIntyre ranch.

Alberta ranch to be largest Canadian conservation project ever

Going big: McIntyre Ranch south of Lethbridge is one of the biggest tracts of privately owned grassland in North America

Reading Time: 4 minutes A historic southern Alberta ranch is set to become the largest-ever conservation project in Canada. The McIntyre Ranch, south of Lethbridge, is a 54,000-acre (22,000-hectare) ranch started in 1894 and is one of the largest private landholdings in Canada. It’s owned by the Thrall family, who are partnering up with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and […] Read more

This photograph (and the one further down) show the Yarrow Project in its spring glory in May of 2023.

Yarrow Project extends grassland preservation

Area will rely on cattle to replace the ecosystem services of bison, Nature Conservancy of Canada says

Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta has a new area of preserved natural grassland right outside Waterton Lakes National Park. Dubbed the Yarrow project, it comprises 150,000 acres. “It really is one of the most unique and incredible properties I’ve ever personally been to,” said Jeremy Hogan, director of prairie grassland with the Nature Conservancy of Canada. He said the […] Read more


Fire can leave a path of destruction — as seen here in a photo of a 2021 fire near Tomahawk — but pasture recovery can happen faster than you might think.

How to manage a pasture after a fire

What to do after a fire burns through? Treat it like it’s been heavily grazed, experts say

Reading Time: 3 minutes Many pastures have been damaged by this year’s fires. But how long does it take a pasture to recover? What can be done for a burned pasture? “Fire is not new to most grasses and other pasture forage species,” said Barry Irving, former manager of the Roy G. Berg Kinsella ranch. In that role, Irving […] Read more