Reading Time: 4 minutes Pollinators and beekeepers on the Prairies have a new champion — the first-ever research chair concentrating on the health of these essential workers in fields and pastures. “I’ll be focused on improving honeybee health to improve sustainable agriculture,” said Dr. Sarah Wood, an associate professor of veterinary pathology at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College […] Read more
Neonicotinoids, reducing bee mortality are priorities for new research chair
Bees produce billions in benefits for Prairie farmers but they face a host of challenges
County sows agri-tourism seeds by organizing tours of local farms
Reading Time: 4 minutes There’s strength in numbers. Farms from across Leduc County have proven that by banding together to create successful ag tours. “By having the farms close together, there’s a benefit to people being able to visit more than one farm,” said Sharon Faye, the county’s local food co-ordinator. The tours started as a pilot last year […] Read more
Dairy farmers explore new path forward with cover crops
Taking the plunge can be scary but there are multiple benefits that can be gained, they say
Reading Time: 4 minutes Dairy farmers Dieter Gagelmans and Geoff Volkman decided to take the plunge into cover crops last year for a simple reason — to improve the farm’s productivity Gagelmans, originally from Belgium, is taking over Volkman’s farm in a non-familial succession. “I knew I was going to take on tremendous debt and the only way to […] Read more
Federal, provincial governments partner on ecological goods and services program
Few details available so far on the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program, but producers think it’s a good step
Reading Time: 3 minutes A new federal ecological goods and services program, the first of its kind, was announced in late July as part of the next five-year agriculture framework dubbed the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. About $250 million will fund a new Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP), designed to support ecological goods and services provided by the agriculture […] Read more
Massive soil carbon mapping could change views about cattle
Five-year, $3.2-million study will determine how much carbon is stored in pastures thanks to grazing
Reading Time: 3 minutes What is the real value of soil carbon? And how much carbon do cattle producers store in the soil? These are two questions that will be answered in a carbon soil mapping project conducted by researchers from the universities of Alberta and Saskatchewan. “The reason for the project is that carbon in the atmosphere is […] Read more
Farm at Altario School is growing experiences and excitement
Reading Time: 4 minutes It started as a small tulip garden but has grown into a vibrant student-led farm that now entices kids to a once-struggling school in the tiny village of Altario. “This school gives us the opportunity to do things that we never thought we would do,” said Jessica Vert, a recently graduated Grade 9 student who […] Read more
WHEN THINGS GO SOUTH: What to know about grain contracts
When you can’t fulfil a contract, there are key things to be aware of, say legal experts
Reading Time: 4 minutes Get those verbal agreements down in writing, know what terms like “liquidated damages” mean, and take action fast if you can’t fulfil a grain contract and prices are rising. Those are key takeaways from a recent webinar on grain contracts put on by the Canadian Canola Growers Association and Winnipeg law firm D’Arcy & Deacon. […] Read more
Optimism has returned with the rains for the cattle sector
Producers still dealing with drought fallout, but looking ahead to better days
Reading Time: 4 minutes Cattle producers are feeling cautiously hopeful, thanks to June and July rains. “It’s a sigh of huge relief, as least what I experienced in this area — it’s just a burden of worry lifted,” said Fred Lozeman, who farms with his cousin, runs two herds and operates a 2,000-head feedlot west of Claresholm. “There were […] Read more
Rains were welcome but bring increased threat of crop diseases
There are host of factors to consider before spraying but get out in the field and look closely, says expert
Reading Time: 4 minutes Recent rainfall means farmers need to scout their crops and make decisions about spraying. “Certainly the rain that we’ve had would get things going,” said Kelly Turkington, a plant pathologist at Agriculture Canada’s Lacombe research station. For example, leaf spot diseases in barley and wheat can quickly flare up, he said on July 13. “Within […] Read more
Scout your fields to keep on top of this year’s pest insects
Drought followed by moisture has created unique pest situations in many parts of the province
Reading Time: 4 minutes If there’s one message to keep in mind this growing season, it’s to scout fields for pests. Last year’s drought, followed by this year’s wet conditions, made for some interesting insect problems on the Prairies. Cabbage seedpod weevils are active again, said Keith Gabert, an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada who covers […] Read more