Reading Time: 2 minutes McDonald’s has started verifying producers, as part of its promise to start selling sustainable beef in 2016. Here’s what’s been happening on Alberta farms so far: Earlier this year, McDonald’s said it had a list of 40 “indicators” that will be used to rate a beef operation. The indicators — which cover areas such as […] Read more
How the ‘verified sustainable beef’ process works
Do you know what to do in an animal emergency?
It’s all about making it real and keeping rescue efforts simple, American expert says of upcoming Olds workshop
Reading Time: 3 minutes When a truck carrying livestock flips, or there’s a need to rescue horses or cattle during a flood, most people don’t know what to do. That’s where Rebecca Gimenez comes in. Gimenez, who hails from Macon, Georgia, will be teaching a workshop on animal rescue and emergency preparedness in Olds on June 25 and 26. […] Read more
Soil carbon challenge coming to Alberta
The Soil Carbon Coalition Challenge is a North American-wide initiative founded on the premise that carbon is key to soil health
Reading Time: 3 minutes Measuring your soil carbon is the ticket to improving soil health and can usher in dramatic productivity gains. That’s the message that Peter Donovan is bringing to Alberta this month — part of the American expert’s efforts to promote the Soil Carbon Coalition Challenge, a North American-wide initiative to show how you can improve your […] Read more
Soil fertility is about more than nutrients
Expert says farmers need to learn more about the physical and biological structures of the soil
Reading Time: 2 minutes Many farmers tend to focus on the chemical composition of the soil, and ignore its other two key components — and that’s a mistake, says a crop and soil nutrient management specialist. “Farmers need to understand more about the physical and biological structures of the soil to manage their cropping systems,” said Yamily Zavala of […] Read more
Alberta researchers hot on the trail of deadly bacteria
In response to the E. coli contamination at XL Foods, scientists have devised a test that slashes detection time in half
Reading Time: 3 minutes The time it takes to detect E. coli in a meat-processing plant has been cut in half, thanks to technology developed by researchers from the University of Alberta. “We have been able to shorten the time and we can go from cold meat to detection of Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli within five to six hours,” said Lynn […] Read more
Take a break and grab some agricultural learning
Summer’s always busy but getting away from the farm for a day can really pay off
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s back-to-school season for farmers with a spate of field schools and workshops coming up following the end of seeding. Here are three reasons to spend a day away from the farm and at school: No. 1: It pays Field days are not just about listening to the experts, they’re also events where farmers are […] Read more
Feta puts small Alberta company on the artisanal cheese map
Tiras Dairies brings home a win in the Canadian Cheese Grand Prix
Reading Time: 2 minutes The staff at Tiras Dairies in Camrose has a reason to celebrate. The small plant, which has just eight staff, now ranks up there with the top cheese makers in the country. Plant manager Olga Payne attended the national gala in Toronto last month and came home with the top prize in the brine-ripened category […] Read more
New swine health network to track animal diseases
Network relies on vets to paint a picture of swine animal health seen in their practices
Reading Time: 2 minutes The newly created Western Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network will help keep producers informed about swine disease monitoring and disease knowledge transfer in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “This is a wonderful system. It keeps people informed about what’s going on in the industry. We’re encouraging all vets to participate,” said Dr. Egan Brockhoff, a swine […] Read more
Making a plan helps alleviate the stress of euthanasia
A detailed, written plan and standard operating practices are better for both the animals and staff
Reading Time: 3 minutes No one likes having to euthanize an animal, but it’s easier with a clear plan and proper protocols in place. Part of that is using “end points” as recommended by Canadian Council of Animal Care, said Craig Wilkinson, a professor and director of animal care for the faculty of agriculture, life and environmental sciences at […] Read more
Massive biosecurity effort in hog sector proves its worth
The list of changes is long and no detail was deemed too small in the effort to keep PEDv out of Alberta
Reading Time: 3 minutes When it comes to biosecurity, all the rules, time, and expense are worth it. And the proof can be seen in the successful effort to keep PEDv (porcine epidemic diarrhea virus) out of Alberta, attendees at the recent Canadian Livestock Transport conference were told. “Everybody in the chain has done their job to prevent PEDv […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
