Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s another virus that has been upending the world order in ways that no one ever could have predicted, although it’s mostly flying under the radar. “Right now, 75 per cent of the world’s hogs are threatened, and a third of the global swine herd just vanished last year,” Brett Stuart of Global AgriTrends said […] Read more
African swine fever: The other virus that is changing the world order
A third of global pork production has been vaporized, and the effects are being felt worldwide
COVID-19 means harvest will be ‘especially challenging’
You need all hands on deck, but what if someone shows symptoms of a cold or flu?
Reading Time: 4 minutes This year’s harvest is not going to be a normal one — and farmers and their families need to make adjustments accordingly, says the executive director of AgSafe Alberta. “It’s a significant challenge on farms because we’re looking at a cropping season that could last from now until November, so we have to manage people […] Read more
Shepherds (really) wanted
Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. is seeking shepherds' services for its unique tourist attraction
Reading Time: 3 minutes Fort Saskatchewan is looking for some new shepherds, as Kathy and Ralph Playton are hanging up their shepherd’s crooks. The Alberta city inadvertently created its very popular tourist attraction nearly three decades ago. “In 1992, the railroad moved out of town and it left a huge space of land that was very difficult to mow […] Read more
If you call them watering troughs, you don’t live in Toronto
Stock tank 'pools' have been a hit during the pandemic for housebound urbanites with tiny backyards
Stock tank ‘pools’ have been a hit during the pandemic for housebound urbanites with tiny backyards
Reading Time: 3 minutes You might think of a stock tank as a way to get water to your thirsty cattle or horses. But these days, city dwellers are seeing watering troughs in a whole new light — stylish little pools that fit into even tiny urban backyards. And they’ve proven to be a pandemic hit, said Jaclyn Kelly, […] Read more
Durum and lentils bright spots as demand picks up
International buyers have been looking to Canada for both supply and high quality
Reading Time: 3 minutes A lot of things have been bad in 2020, but there have been a few good things. Durum and pulses prices fall in the good column. Poor prices in 2018 led to a drop in durum acreage last year, said Geoff Backman, manager of business development and markets for Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley. Italy’s […] Read more
Cattle markets: Situation isn’t good but outlook is much better
There's been a 'pretty good recovery' but there's a long ways to go, Canfax official says
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s been a roller-coaster year and while the ride isn’t over for the cattle sector, the worst may be behind it. “This year has been pretty extreme, but we’ve had a pretty good recovery,” CANFAX manager Brian Perillat said during a presentation at the virtual Canadian Beef Industry Conference. “Things are much better than earlier […] Read more
New-style pioneer: Edmonton native finds a way to be a farmer
Reading Time: 4 minutes Welder, farmer, Nuffield Scholar, haskap champion… these are a few of Andrew Rosychuk’s titles. The Edmonton native had dreams of farming but got a reality check while studying horticulture at Olds College and learning what it cost to start a farm. “I quickly learned that you need money to make money,” he said. So he […] Read more
4-H will continue to play to its strengths, says new CEO
The pandemic has challenged the organization but also shown its strengths, says Kurt Kinnear
Reading Time: 3 minutes Kurt Kinnear never participated in 4-H in his youth, but he can’t wait to dig in now. The new CEO of 4-H Alberta has, however, been involved with youth programming for most of his life. “It sounds cliché, but youth are our future,” said Kinnear. “There are some kids that I’ve met who are really […] Read more
Hog sector is grim, cattle is recovering
Cattle backlog is being cleared but hog producers are losing upwards of $50 on every pig they sell
Reading Time: 4 minutes The beef sector is regaining some optimism, but pork producers are still fighting to stay afloat. “Our producers are losing a lot of money,” said Darcy Fitzgerald, executive director of Alberta Pork. “It truly is, right now, related to COVID-19. The price that we’re seeing that they’re being paid, is related to what is going […] Read more
Forget the silver bullet, bring out the arsenal against kochia
Study using multiple methods to control one of the most dangerous weeds on the Prairies
Reading Time: 4 minutes If it’s a one-on-one battle, put your money on kochia. The pernicious weed is not only a prolific seed producer, thrives in harsh conditions, and spreads its progeny far and wide, it’s also a master when it comes to developing resistance to herbicides. So producers are urged to use a variety of ‘best management practices’ […] Read more
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