Reading Time: 5 minutes Dan Darling remembers the tough slog of negotiations in free-trade talks with Europe — and the hope that they would end with major gains for Canadian beef. But five years after the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) with Europe, talks continue and potential benefits remain unrealized. “When we were negotiating the deal, […] Read more
BROKEN PROMISES: It’s been five years of frustration with EU trade deal
The high hopes sparked by the deal are in tatters as Europe keeps doors largely closed to Canadian beef
New digs offer a big boost to ag research in Peace Country
Sarda has had to make do for years, but a new $1-million facility will change that
Reading Time: 3 minutes The shop is in a building built seven decades ago and shows its age. It’s a hike from there to the rented office space in the local municipal district building, which is full at the best of times and overflowing when farmers or summer students show up. Most importantly, worn-out facilities and rented land are […] Read more
Long-haul transport rules not supported by science, says cattle sector
Three studies looked for benefits of rest stops on cattle but found none
Reading Time: 4 minutes It turns out that giving cattle a rest break during long haul transport seems to make no difference to their health or welfare. That was the bottom line from a third study that explored a controversial change made by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency three years ago. “That’s where we’re at,” said Reynold Bergen, science […] Read more
Federal climate cash gets a welcome from producers here
Many farmers had rotational grazing, cover crops or nitrogen management on their to-do list
Reading Time: 3 minutes Federal climate cash is flowing out the door and being put to work on rotational grazing, cover cropping or nitrogen management projects on Alberta farms. “We’ve been out on a couple of farms to see projects and talk to people,” said Fiona Briody, program manager for RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research). “There are just really […] Read more
Regenerative agriculture is all the rage, but what is it exactly?
There’s no simple answer, but experts say soil health is at the heart of this approach
Reading Time: 4 minutes It seems as though everyone is talking about regenerative agriculture these days. But nailing down exactly what it is can be a challenge. “I completely agree that there are a lot of issues with being able to define what regenerative agriculture is,” said Kris Nichols, a Calgary soil microbiologist and well-known expert on soil health. […] Read more
Bovine Gastronomy: It turns out that garlic pairs well with minerals
Alberta researcher finds cattle will consume more mineral if it’s flavoured with fresh garlic
Reading Time: 3 minutes Just like many people do, cattle enjoy the taste of garlic, and as with humans, many swear the ‘stinking rose’ offers numerous health benefits for bovines. Garlic is rumoured to entice cattle to consume more minerals, have anti-fungal properties and even discourage horn flies from pestering them. “You would find these anecdotes on blogs,” said […] Read more
For the first time in generations, bison have returned to traditional lands
The herd is small but Woodland Cree First Nation manager says they’re learning the bison ranching ropes
Reading Time: 4 minutes After many, many years, Wood bison have returned to the Woodland Cree First Nation. “Back in the day, sakâw mostos (the Cree term for Wood bison), this would have been their natural habitat,” said Lawrence Lamouche, traditional lands manager for the Woodland Cree First Nation, located about 85 kilometres northwest of Peace River. The Nation, […] Read more
FarmTech slims down to focus on ‘big picture’ issues
The new event, called CrossRoads, will have fewer attendees, no trade show and no agronomy presentations
Reading Time: 2 minutes There’s a new farm conference in town this winter. “We’re reimagining it as a new show,” said Todd Hames, chair of the FarmTech Foundation of Alberta. The foundation has switched gears and is putting on a revamped event, called CrossRoads, at the Edmonton Convention Centre on Jan. 24-25. “We wanted to create a new feel […] Read more
Cattle group hopes to round up a full slate of candidates
Being a delegate isn’t time-consuming and puts you at ‘ground zero’ in the cattle sector, says chair
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you reform it, will they come? That’s a question facing Alberta Beef Producers as it heads into delegate election season. The farm group is seeking four people to run in each of its five zones, a smaller figure than before a revamp two years ago that reduced the number of zones and delegates. “Part […] Read more
Opinion: The path to reconciliation can start by reading some good books
There is some excellent fiction and non-fiction that opens the door to history — and understanding
Reading Time: 3 minutes Sept. 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day meant to honour the children who never returned home and the survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Many people haven’t learned the history of residential schools because it wasn’t part of school curricula until recently and was seldom […] Read more