Reading Time: 5 minutes With aphanomyces threatening peas and lentils, what can producers do to keep pulses in the rotation? Pulse growers are being urged to go up to eight years between plantings of either peas or lentils, which dominate pulse acres in the province. “Our susceptible crops are pea and lentil and, to a lesser extent, dry bean. […] Read more
What can you grow if root rot kicks out peas and lentils?
You may need an eight-year break between those crops, but there are some other pulses to consider
A bird’s-eye view of majestic raptors
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you’re on the internet and looking around for something to interest the kids, why not check out Alberta Conservation Association’s ferruginous hawk cam? The ferruginous hawks, which live on nesting platforms in the Milk River area, have been on camera since 2018 and viewers have seen some cool things, such as parents feeding the […] Read more
Wherever there are cows, there could be cattle thieves lurking
Cattle rustling is fairly common in Alberta, so take some simple steps to protect yourself, says investigator
Reading Time: 3 minutes The ugly truth about cattle rustling is that it’s fairly common in Alberta. “Every year, we have more calves stolen,” RCMP livestock investigator Cpl. Lindsey Anderson said earlier this month. “We were able to charge someone a couple weeks back and get a search warrant to recover some stolen calves. “A lot of times, especially […] Read more
Unique partnership a triple play for Lacombe County greenhouse
Operation taps nearby natural gas for heat and power while capturing and using carbon dioxide
Reading Time: 3 minutes When it comes to running a greenhouse, one of the biggest costs is energy. But a partnership between Doef’s Greenhouses in Lacombe County and an Alberta energy company has changed that equation. “Generally oil and gas went about their thing, and agriculture went about their thing,” said Brad Murray, president of Horseshoe Power, which has […] Read more
STACKED DECK: Root rot pathogen holds all the cards
You can’t spray aphanomyces or buy resistant varieties, so longer rotations are the only tool
Reading Time: 3 minutes Hard to spot, impossible to treat, and no resistant varieties. So when aphanomyces root rot does show up, you know you’ve got a long-term problem. “Once you see it, you kind of get scared and realize you’re stuck with it for a bit,” said Bow Island producer Will Müller. Because it is a soil-borne pathogen […] Read more
Aphanomyces could become the new clubroot
Researcher recommends pea and lentil growers consider a seven-year break between crops
Reading Time: 5 minutes If not managed correctly, aphanomyces could be the next clubroot. And since longer rotations are the only effective management tool, pulse growers battling the soil-borne pathogen that causes root rot in peas and lentils could be facing a big-time reshuffling of what they grow. “Our recommendation now is to think about going one in eight […] Read more
New enterprise blooms on former grain farm and tree nursery
Reading Time: 3 minutes After grain farming and tree farming, Ron and Debbie Cherdarchuk and son Cory Christopher turned to flower farming. And guess how popular you are these days when you have a landscape full of flowers that you’re willing to share? “The internet, and in particular Pinterest, have created digital envy,” said Cory (who uses Christopher for […] Read more
New antimicrobial resistance doc shows the good — and the scary
Video highlights the gains that have been made and reasons why the fight isn’t over
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you’ve ever worried about superbugs and want to scare yourself, check out a new documentary from an unexpected source: the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association. Early in the 28-minute video — a largely upbeat and lushly filmed doc about antimicrobial resistance — is a clip from the Harvard Medical School. It shows an experiment conducted […] Read more
Award-winning ranch builds conservation into its business plan
Soderglen Ranches South recognized for its environmental efforts with top stewardship award
Reading Time: 3 minutes Good stewardship is good business, say the winners of the 2021 Alberta Beef Producers Environmental Stewardship Award. “Environmental stewardship is simply a way of protecting the environment and our investment at the same time,” Elan Lees, business manager of Soderglen Ranches South, said in an email interview. “If we do it right, we may be […] Read more
Native pollinators want to be your buddies
Some simple things can make your land more attractive to pollinators
Reading Time: 4 minutes There’s no denying that native pollinators are important — and there are things you can do to encourage these keystone species to come live on your land. Native pollinators are critical for forages and crops, agroforestry specialist Luke Wonneck said during a recent Foothills Forage and Grazing Association webinar. “Pollination is plant sex. Because plants […] Read more
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