Reading Time: 2 minutes The Agricultural Financial Services Corporation is upping the amount of money it will loan producers. The move comes after a two-year review that included public consultation and meetings with producers and industry groups. “The review found that there is strong need for AFSC’s financial support across Alberta aimed at encouraging rural development and meeting the […] Read more
Provincial lender triples its loan maximums for farmers
In addition to the new $15-million limit, the Crown corporation is making terms more flexible
Some close calls, but invasive mussels kept at bay this year
Eleven boats were found to be carrying the fast-breeding and highly destructive aquatic invaders
Reading Time: 3 minutes The massive effort to keep quagga and zebra mussels out of Alberta’s waterways once again paid dividends. “This year, inspectors surveyed 31,000 boats and found 11 carrying invasive mussels,” said Janine Higgins, an official with the Community Engagement Branch of Alberta Environment and Parks. In 2017, 35,000 boats were inspected and 19 were found to […] Read more
Pork producers need to be on guard for African swine fever
The disease is ravaging herds in China and Europe, and could come here through infected feed ingredients
Reading Time: 3 minutes African swine fever hasn’t been found in North America, but pork producers still have reason to be concerned. “If we get it, we cannot control the spread and the whole population will be destroyed by it,” said Javier Bahamon, quality assurance and production manager with Alberta Pork. “Pretty much the whole population of animals needs […] Read more
Counties remain vigilant — but not heavy handed — in clubroot battle
Extensive scouting, canola-growing bans, and seeking farmer buy-in are keys to containment strategy
Reading Time: 4 minutes As clubroot continues to spread across Alberta, many counties are in the management — not a prevention — phase. Cody McIntosh, agricultural manager for Red Deer County, said the county inspected 140 fields this year. “We confirmed another five fields (with clubroot), which is kind of the trend that everybody is seeing,” he said. “We […] Read more
Philanthropic ranchers make game-changing donation
Having an entire working ranch will take veterinary program to ‘a totally different level’
Reading Time: 4 minutes A donation of a fully working ranch — worth an astounding $44 million — will transform the University of Calgary faculty of veterinary medicine into one of the world’s top centres for animal health and welfare research. “For us, the gift from Jack Anderson and his daughter Wynne Chisholm and the families of this ranch […] Read more
It’s strange times in cattle markets – and normal seems a long ways off
Prices, feeder cattle movement, and the basis are all behaving strangely this year, says analyst
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you’re confused about the cattle market, you’re not alone — it is not behaving normally. “We’ve got some interesting things going on,” said Anne Wasko, market analyst with Gateway Livestock. “Over the last six to eight months, we’ve had feeder cattle moving north since last fall. This year, we’ve got feeder cattle going south. […] Read more
It was more Standstill than September for many
Many weren’t able to ‘turn a wheel’ during what should be the golden days of autumn
Reading Time: 4 minutes It was a September that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. “Harvest is at a standstill and it’s been that way for about three weeks now,” Alberta Wheat chair Kevin Bender said as the month came to a close. “For the most part, guys haven’t been able to turn a wheel yet.” Bender, […] Read more
Family of goat lovers lives off the grid
Family uses mainly solar power and a wind turbine while raising goats, free-range chickens, turkeys, geese, and hogs
Reading Time: 3 minutes Kids abound at Will O’ the Wisp Paddocks. Amy Leitch and husband Kevin have four of their own, along with numerous goat kids in their flock of 77 goats. “We chose Kiko goats which are from New Zealand. They’re bred from the best of the best and this is a breed that is known worldwide,” […] Read more
‘Wood’ you know what kind of bison that is? It’s plain difficult
Woods and plains bison are impossible to tell apart, but a new genomics test will settle that question
Reading Time: 3 minutes Can you tell the difference between a wood bison and a plains bison? Most people can’t — which is partly why Delta Genomics and a team of collaborators are developing a genomics test that will be able to distinguish the two. “The biggest difference is that wood bison — their natural habitat is restricted to […] Read more
Clearwater County aims to cook up successful cover crop recipes
Cover crops offer many benefits but what’s the right mix of grasses, brassicas, and legumes?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Clearwater County has started experimenting with cover crops, and outlined some of their benefits during its recent West County Ag Tour. “It’s a great year to talk about cover crops because in order to maintain our moisture in the soil, we are going to need organic matter, which cover crops build. We are going to […] Read more
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