Reading Time: 4 minutes Nora Paulovich developed a passion for soil health during her years leading the North Peace Applied Research Association. Her legacy is that so many other Alberta farmers now share her belief that building soil health needs to be Job 1 on their farms. Cover crops, integrating livestock into crop production, and regenerative agriculture were among […] Read more
Research leader’s passion for soil health proves infectious
Using a conservation assessment as a springboard
Program offers a check on wildlife and ranch health, and works with ranchers to make improvements
Reading Time: 4 minutes Sometimes, you don’t know what you’ve got until you have a wildlife habitat assessment done. That was the case for Melissa and Murray Downing, who were among the first to participate in a relatively new initiative by the Alberta Conservation Association. “We learned a lot about the different species that exist here,” said Melissa who […] Read more
Sustainable beef has made big gains, but there’s more to do
Beef industry now needs to achieve ambitious targets to combat climate change, says expert
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada’s beef sector is a model when it comes to sustainability but the entire industry has more to do in the face of a changing climate, says an expert in global beef supply chains. “Our needs today are changing rapidly — with the widespread droughts in some places and flooding in others,” Tim Hardman of […] Read more
In times of crisis, putting the farm first can be a big mistake
Neglecting your mental health during times of high stress is not the way to treat your farm’s top asset
Reading Time: 2 minutes Farming is stressful at the best of times, and with drought piled on top of a pandemic, the farm community is currently experiencing “really high rates of chronic stress,” says an expert. And it’s actually made worse by the strong work ethic of producers when times get tough, said Cynthia Beck, a crop and cattle […] Read more
Cattle producers struggle but beef suppliers are doing just fine
Wholesale beef prices at record levels but those strong prices haven’t made their way to producers
Reading Time: 3 minutes The good news is that beef prices are extremely strong, even in the face of record beef production in North America. “We have record-high wholesale beef prices right now,” CANFAX manager and senior analyst Brian Perillat said at the recent (and virtual) Canadian Beef Industry Conference. Unfortunately, cattle prices are just not responding. “That’s been […] Read more
Backhaul gets the heave-ho in red-hot shipping container market
Container shipping in a mess, not expected to restore itself at least until 2022
Reading Time: 4 minutes The shipping container mess created by the pandemic will likely last until at least 2022, says the vice-president of a West Coast container transloading company. “Steamship lines across the globe are all playing catch-up with the import movements from across Asia and North America,” said Jordan Atkins, vice-president of WTC Group in New Westminster, B.C. […] Read more
It’s been anything but business as usual for pulse sector this year
It’s not just the drought hitting production — global demand is up, shipping disrupted and processing plants coming online
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s definitely unusual times for the Prairie pulse sector, and save for a lucky few, it’s a year most will be glad to see the back of. “It’s rare to see such a large cross-section of the industry impacted by drought, but that is very much the case here,” said Pulse Canada president Greg Cherewyk. […] Read more
Is the long-predicted boom for the hemp sector nearly here?
Hemp is versatile and has lots of boosters, but it’s never been more than a niche crop on the Prairies
Reading Time: 4 minutes The hemp industry on the Prairies is slowly making strides and many believe — once again — that the sector is poised to boom. “We believe there’s a strong case for hemp in the world,” said Andrew Potter, CEO of Blue Sky Hemp Ventures, a company incorporated in Calgary but based in Saskatoon. Potter, whose […] Read more
Relief money is coming soon, but the pain will be long lasting
Producers here are to receive $340 million, but many say it won’t be enough
Reading Time: 3 minutes The first drought relief payment of $94 per head should be in the hands of cattle producers soon. Alberta Beef Producers has been working with the provincial crop insurer to get the drought relief money out as quickly as possible, said general manager Brad Dubeau. “We’re continuing to work with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation very, […] Read more
Burp-busting feed additive for cattle still a few years from approval
Alberta research has found 3-NOP works, but the path to regulatory approval is long
Reading Time: 3 minutes A new feed additive can reduce methane emissions in beef and dairy cattle, but unfortunately, it’s not available in North America yet and won’t be for some time. The feed additive, called 3-nitrooxypropanol (or 3-NOP for short), is a methane-inhibiting compound created by Dutch company DSM Nutritional Products. “It’s quite well researched in dairy and beef […] Read more
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