Reading Time: 3 minutes You can’t control Mother Nature, but you can have some control over the health of your soil. At a recent workshop, soil scientist Jill Clapperton outlined some visible indicators of soil health, and described a few things producers could do to improve their soil. “If you have healthy plants, you have an excellent indicator that […] Read more
Soil scientist offers recipe for better soil health
More earthworm slime and protozoa excretions? You betcha!
Anthrax warning issued after two bison die near North Battleford
There is a greater risk of anthrax in dry conditions and a sudden unexplained death is the key warning sign
Reading Time: 2 minutes Authorities are warning that the anthrax danger is higher after two bison northwest of North Battleford, Sask. recently died after contracting the highly contagious disease. “Whenever we have drier summers, anthrax is always a higher risk,” said Dr. Kent Weir, associate veterinarian with Weir Veterinary services in Lloydminster. Anthrax spores can survive for decades in […] Read more
Pill allows celiac sufferers to ingest gluten
A decade of work at the University of Alberta has created a pill made from antibodies in chicken yolks that binds gluten
Reading Time: 2 minutes Celiac sufferers may soon be able to have their cake and eat it too. University of Alberta researchers have created a pill that uses natural antibodies in chicken yolk to prevent celiac sufferers from reacting to gluten. The natural supplement prevents the absorption of giladin, a component of gluten that people with celiac disease are […] Read more
No word on farm aid until after harvest
Livestock producers have a tax deferral option, but government waiting to see if crop insurance is adequate
Reading Time: 3 minutes Crop producers will have to wait until after harvest to find out if there is any government drought assistance, says the president of the Grain Growers of Canada. The question of additional farm aid was put to Oneil Carlier, the new NDP agriculture minister, when he attended an Alberta Wheat Commission directors’ meeting in Red […] Read more
Disaster declarations raise awareness
Declaring an agricultural disaster can help speed crop insurance claims and might trigger additional government aid
Reading Time: < 1 minute Recent dry conditions and grasshopper infestations have led several counties to declare a state of agricultural disaster. Sturgeon, Parkland, Brazeau, Thorhild, Leduc, and Mackenzie counties have issued disaster declarations. They don’t trigger aid but raising awareness of the situation can be very helpful, said one county official. “Based on past experiences, making the provincial and […] Read more
Study aims to show beef is sustainable
Analysis will create a baseline for things like water use and carbon sequestration
Reading Time: 2 minutes Consumers have been asking for it, and now the Canadian beef industry is one step closer to proving its sustainability. “We’re trying to find the impacts — both positive and negative — that come from beef production, from when an animal is born on the ground to when it becomes a kilogram of beef on […] Read more
Stress could be taking its toll on you — know the signs
Withdrawing, not wanting to eat, and constant worry are all signs of stress that could lead to more serious issues
Reading Time: 3 minutes In tough times — like this year’s drought — stress can creep up on you. So take a moment to think how your friends and family are holding up. “I really encourage people to notice what other people are doing when it’s stressful like this. You may need to look after each other a bit […] Read more
It’s a bit creepy, but ‘mystery syndrome’ is no cause for alarm
Buds on canola plants are doing things they shouldn’t — like turning into leaves or stems
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you’re seeing weird things in your canola — like buds turning into stems or leaves — don’t be alarmed. But what’s causing this “mystery syndrome” has Alberta experts scratching their heads. “You’ve got something that should be forming a pod, and it turns into a weirdly shaped leaf or a piece of stem or […] Read more
Partnership a first for cereal breeding
Alberta Wheat Commission partners with private seed company and feds to develop new Canada Prairie Spring Red wheat breeding
Reading Time: 3 minutes A deal that is the first of its kind in Canada is being hailed as a major boost to Canada Prairie Spring Red wheat breeding — and a model for future cereal-breeding efforts. “From an Albertan perspective, it’s a huge opportunity for us,” said Kent Erickson, chair of the Alberta Wheat Commission “We can take […] Read more
More cattle heading to market as drought worsens
Emphasis was on growing the herd, but that’s been nearly abandoned due to dry conditions
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s just a trickle now, but there are fears of a flood of cattle going to market if the drought continues. “It’s a little too early to be splitting up pairs, but we are seeing some pairs sell,” said Anne Wasko, market analyst with Gateway Livestock Services. Sale figures are being closely watched these days […] Read more