Reading Time: 2 minutes It’s estimated there are close to 1,000 wild horses, generally found in herds of 15 to 20 animals, roaming a territory that ranges from Kananaskis Country, west of Bragg Creek, to Hinton and Edson. “I’ve had people approach my office for the preservation of wild horses and then I’ve had some trappers complain that these […] Read more
What to do about Alberta’s herds of wild horses?
There are nearly 1,000 wild horses in the province and they’ve been running free for decades, if not centuries — but they’re also a source of concern for ranchers and government
Grain grower diversifies operation with fish farm
Mark McNaughton raises 50 tonnes of tilapia a year for Asian markets and restaurants in Calgary and Edmonton
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta and fishery aren’t words commonly used together, but Mark McNaughton grows nearly 50 tonnes of fish a year. Along with his 3,500 acres of wheat, canola and barley, the Trochu producer has anywhere from 50,000 to 60,000 tilapia in his a “big giant aquarium” housed on his farm. Just like the home version, you […] Read moreIrrigation districts survive flood with a few minor worries
Reading Time: 2 minutes During the flooding crisis, Earl Wilson, general manager of the Eastern Irrigation District watched water levels rise higher than he’d ever seen as two of the province’s 13 irrigation districts experienced problems during the floods. “The amount of water we had at Bassano was 35 per cent more than what they had in Calgary, because […] Read more
Researchers seeking producers for pea root rot survey
Pea acreage in Alberta has shifted south in recent years and researchers want to zero in on factors that can increase the incidence of fusarium root rot
Reading Time: 2 minutes You can help researchers learn more about fusarium root rot in peas by offering up your field for research. Traditionally, Red Deer and Lacombe have been the primary area for peas, but things have changed in recent years and about half of the pea acreage is now in southern Alberta. “When I started at this […] Read moreResearcher says there’s no silver bullet in the war on bacteria such as E. coli 157
Lethbridge researchers are looking for ways to reduce E. coli levels in cattle but warn ‘the risk is never zero’
Reading Time: 2 minutes There’s no silver bullet that will completely protect us from foodborne bacteria such as E. coli 157, says a food safety expert. “We also need to be responsible at the retailer level and we need to take responsibility at the consumer level as well,” Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researcher Tim McAllister said at the Alberta […] Read moreThe silver lining in BSE crisis
Prior to crisis, only a handful of Canadian scientists were researching diseases caused by protein folding — today there are dozens, with many working in Alberta
Reading Time: 2 minutes There’s no denying BSE was devastating for the cattle industry in Alberta. Yet out of every misfortune, there are positive developments. “It was a terrible event with terrible consequences for the industry and many families,” said Kevin Keough, executive director of the Alberta Prion Research Institute (APRI). “But some of the things that came from […] Read moreScientist reviews 10 years of BSE research
Reading Time: 2 minutes In May 2003, Dr. Stephanie Czub was looking through a microscope at the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease at the CFIA in Winnipeg. What she saw turned into what she calls “a career- and life-changing experience for me and for the farmers.” Czub was looking at the slide that confirmed Canada’s first case of […] Read more
Growers needed for Alta. pea root rot survey
If you’re an Alberta pea grower, you can help researchers learn more about fusarium root rot in peas by offering up your field for research. Traditionally, Red Deer and Lacombe have been the primary area for peas in the province, but things have changed in recent years — and about half of the pea acreage […] Read more
Coarse sprays help you hit the weeds
Reading Time: 2 minutes Choosing the right product to spray is important, but so is controlling how it’s applied, says a well-known researcher. “The challenge is primarily to control the pests, but we also have to control where the spray goes,” said Dr. Tom Wolf, a former scientist with Agriculture Canada, and now working with AppliTech Canada conducting research […] Read more
Temporary foreign worker program helps producers deal with labour shortage
Foreign workers are critical to Alberta agriculture, but labour recruitment specialist says producers could do a better job of attracting local workers
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is making headlines for the wrong reasons after a contractor to the Royal Bank used it to outsource the work of bank employees. But the program has been a boon for agriculture, attendees at the recent Alberta Farm Fresh Producers conference heard. Farm workers are in short supply for a […] Read more