Reading Time: 3 minutes The push for sustainability continues — and this time, it’s hit the Canadian crop sector. “End-users are looking to have a certified or verified supply chain that goes to the farm level,” said Kara Barnes, market development co-ordinator with the Alberta Barley Commission and a best practices specialist with the Barley Council of Canada. “Just […] Read more
Crop sector starts its sustainability roundtable
As with beef, producers will be asked to document their practices, but carrying the system past the grain elevator may be tricky
When it comes to rhizobial bacteria, an infection is a good thing
When you pull up a legume and find nodules on the roots, what should you be hoping for? Big nodules or little? White ones or red?
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you want to know if a legume is fixing nitrogen, you have to pull it out of the ground, look at the roots, and check for red nodules. That was one of the many bits of wisdom shared by University of Saskatchewan soil scientist Diane Knight at the Western Canadian Grazing Conference. The province’s […] Read more
Is this the one? Latest BIXS revamp aims to boost bottom line
CCA is partnering with an IT company with the goal of creating a calf-to-carcass system that will benefit everyone in the beef chain
Reading Time: 4 minutes BIXS is getting another overhaul — but this revamp could make the beef database a lot more attractive to cattle producers. The Beef InfoXchange System has struggled since its creation four years ago to attract producers, but the company taking it over says it will be expanded and enhanced to bring in all players — […] Read more
Lethbridge horseman founds first equine-training college in Canada
Ernie Knibb is financing the $7.5-million project and expects to have the school up and running in late March or early April
Reading Time: 2 minutes It’s the first of its kind in Canada — and a labour of love for one Lethbridge-area horseman. Would-be horse trainers are already beating down Ernie Knibb’s door, and he hasn’t even opened the door to the Lethbridge Community Equine College. The private college, located just outside Lethbridge on Highway 25, will be the first […] Read more
Don’t wing it — or refuse comment — if your farm makes the six o’clock news
Consultant and media trainer Grant Ainsley has some basic advice for dealing with the media
Reading Time: 2 minutes If the media ever shows up at your farm, treat them like you would a “big hungry dog,” says PR consultant and media trainer Grant Ainsley. “You have to feed it, or it will howl, bark and eventually bite,” he said. “You can’t always control what happens, but you can control your reaction.” The worst […] Read more
This spud’s for you — breeders develop new low-glycemic potato
Low-glycemic potatoes don’t cause a big spike in insulin, which makes it suitable for diabetics
Reading Time: 2 minutes There’s a new spud in town, and it’s made to suit Canada’s growing number of diabetics. The new and as yet unnamed potato has a lower-glycemic-index potential, improved digestibility, and can be enjoyed without creating a big spike of sugar and insulin in the body. “As part of improving the food attributes, we’ve been more […] Read more
Paying it forward — family’s donation to create animal welfare ‘win-wins’
Already a leader in the field, the U of C’s vet school will expand research to help both producers and the animals in their care
Reading Time: 3 minutes It is, by any measure, a lot of money. But her family’s $5-million donation to the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine for animal welfare research is money well spent, says Cochrane-area rancher Wynne Chisholm. “We love animals and have a soft spot for cows. Cow-calf is underserved in terms of research,” said Chisholm, […] Read more
Wheat buyers pumped when Alberta farmers visit
Wheat buyers have all kinds of questions from mycotoxins and food safety to supply and crop data, and they also want to meet growers in person
Reading Time: 4 minutes When Lynn Jacobson went to Asia on a trade mission, he found his preconceived notions were completely wrong. “My preconception of what society was like over there was completely changed,” said the grain farmer from Enchant. “I thought they were 10 to 15 years behind us, but in some ways they’re 10 to 15 years […] Read more
Curator of ag faculty museum has a passion for preserving history
Reading Time: 2 minutes Fourteen years ago, Jack Francis began a letter-writing campaign, urging the University of Alberta to create a museum to house artifacts from its ag faculty. And when he got a positive response, he stepped up to the plate. “If one suggests something, you have to do something about it and help support it,” he said. […] Read more
Ag society conference in Oz an eye-opener for young Albertan
Reading Time: 3 minutes It took a trip Down Under to give Lauren Hennig a new perspective on agriculture. “I can’t tell you how exciting it was to see the passion for agriculture and rural communities from across the globe,” the 26-year-old junior high teacher said after returning from a Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth conference in Brisbane, […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
