Reading Time: 3 minutes Soil degradation in Canada is causing a huge economic loss — but few people are paying attention. That includes farmers, even though degraded soil is significantly reducing their yields, according to University of Manitoba soil scientist David Lobb. “Soil erosion accounts for a loss of about 10 per cent,” he said. “Farmers are only getting […] Read more
Soil degradation the forgotten issue
Reducing tillage and summerfallow hasn’t fixed a problem that is costing farmers billions every year
Underwear campaign fun with a serious purpose
The goal is to promote awareness that soils are living, breathing entities — and need protection
Reading Time: 2 minutes It seems like just a fun, even silly, thing to do — bury a pair of underwear made of white cotton, and then dig them up a couple of months later to see what soil microbes have done to them. But the Soil Your Undies campaign has a very serious purpose: To show people that […] Read more
Award honours an ‘incredible person’ and his lasting legacy
Reading Time: 3 minutes The life and legacy of a young rancher who died while fighting a wildfire is being celebrated with an award that honours his passion and stewardship. James Hargrave, a fifth-generation rancher from Walsh and a volunteer firefighter, was just 34 when he died. On Oct. 17, 2017, he was helping to fight the massive Hilda […] Read more
Tiny warriors get nasty on Canada thistle
Stem gall flies love to feed on — and breed in — the much-loathed and fast-spreading invasive weed
Reading Time: 2 minutes The West Central Forage Association has another biocontrol that can help you win the war against Canada thistle. The proud warriors are called stem gall flies and they’re available for sale. “The gall flies act on a different portion of the Canada thistle than the weevils do,” said Rachael Nay, conservation agriculture and extension program […] Read more
United effort to overturn China’s canola ban, say industry leaders
Call for action has been heard ‘loud and clear,’ but there are no quick fixes, warn canola groups
Call for action has been heard ‘loud and clear,’ but there are no quick fixes, warn canola groups
Reading Time: 4 minutes Industry leaders say Ottawa is acting on farmers’ concerns, but are warning there won’t be a quick resolution to China’s de facto ban on Canadian canola seed imports. “Several actions have been taken by both industry and government in addressing this issue in the past month,” Canola Council of Canada president Jim Everson said during […] Read more
Better than bitcoin? Students (sort of) make millions from farming
Reading Time: 3 minutes Cassidy Marcotte knows horses, operates a cow-calf operation with her fiancé, and has taken basic animal science. But it was a little overwhelming when the University of Alberta student was given $10 million to start a broiler operation. “I know a lot about beef but I knew nothing about chickens starting this project,” said Marcotte, […] Read more
Alberta’s new agriculture minister praised as smart, grounded, and ‘a stand-up guy’
Although just 31, Devin Dreeshen has extensive experience in politics and on the farm
Reading Time: 5 minutes Premier Jason Kenney has chosen one of his youngest MLAs to be the province’s new agriculture minister. But although he’s just 31 and has only been an MLA for 10 months, Devin Dreeshen comes to the job with a robust resumé. The Innisfail-Sylvan Lake rep is the son of veteran Tory Red Deer-Mountain View MP […] Read more
To store or sell canola? That is the question
As grain companies try to boost sales in other countries, growers ponder long-term storage
Reading Time: 4 minutes China’s ban on Canadian canola means that farmers have to take different strategies this year. Some are planning to store their canola on farm, while others are planning to sell. “Anything that has been ordered already, companies are honouring those canola contracts,” said Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association. “They’re pencilling […] Read more
C’est bon: French politicians check out Alberta cattle ranch
Bringing European officials to cattle country is part of a multi-pronged effort to sell beef to the EU
Reading Time: 5 minutes It’s not every day you see a group of politicians from France’s Assemblée nationale trooping around an Alberta ranch in plastic booties. But that was the case earlier this month at Shoestring Ranch near Acme as Ian and Carman Murray played host to three députés (France’s version of MPs), a pair of officials from Canada’s […] Read more
Crop sector eyes code of practice to showcase stewardship credentials
The initiative has widespread support among farm groups and industry
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s early days, but work has begun on developing a code of practice for field crops — a move aimed at reassuring consumers that producers are using sustainable methods to grow food. “It’s basically on the idea level — we’ve done a little bit of work on what it could potentially look like, but it’s […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
