Reading Time: 3 minutes It was just one line in a 25-page report, but it stood out: “It is a popular misconception that farmers are making a lot of money in agricultural enterprises.” As a journalist, I’ve never had to worry that people will think I’m wealthy. But, according to the report, the notion of “rich farmers” is widely held. And […] Read more
Opinion: ‘Rich’ farmers aren’t a bad thing
People may not appreciate how tough it is to build a farm business, but we should still celebrate those successes
Alberta Wheat fighting to keep tax deferral
Ottawa is missing the point when it says grain farmers shouldn’t get a special tax break, says Alberta Wheat chair Kevin Auch
Reading Time: 3 minutes A tax break for grain farmers that Ottawa is considering taking away is deserved and benefits the entire grain sector, says the chair of the Alberta Wheat Commission. “I guess we are asking for special tax treatment but it’s because of our special circumstances,” said Kevin Auch. Following its recent budget, the federal government said […] Read more
Trapped in a flash — the horror waiting inside a grain bin
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you’ve ever had a near miss in a grain bin — and lots of you have — this is the horrible fate you nearly suffered. It starts when your foot sinks past the ankle and the grain reaches your lower calf. Eight or nine seconds later, the grain is up to your chest. And […] Read more
Need for speed is the key to Vegreville’s two new elevators
Viterra’s and GrainsConnect Canada’s new facilities will both be able to load huge unit trains in little more than half a day
Reading Time: 2 minutes Vegreville will soon be home to two new high-throughput elevators, and the demise of the Canadian Wheat Board is a big reason why, says the head of GrainsConnect Canada. The company’s two owners — Japan’s Zen-Noh Grain Corp. and Australia’s GrainCorp — both want access to Prairie grain and that prompted the decision to spend […] Read more
COVER CROPS: The potential is huge, but so is the learning curve
Those looking for a one-size-fits-all solution will be disappointed
Reading Time: 4 minutes Looking over at the emptied room that had been packed with attentive farmers a few minutes earlier, cover crops guru Kevin Elmy could only shake his head. “If I had given a talk here five years ago, maybe the front row might have been filled — maybe,” the Saskatchewan farmer said after his FarmTech presentation, […] Read more
Business is booming for agrologists in Alberta
Reading Time: 3 minutes Given the economic woes of Alberta in the past couple of years, David Lloyd has a pretty convincing pitch for anyone considering a career in agronomy. “Since the downturn in the economy, from Jan. 1, 2015, we’ve added 150 to 200 new members a year,” said the CEO and registrar of the Alberta Institute of […] Read more
Bid to raise beef checkoff ‘on hold’
Alberta Beef Producers supports raising national levy to $2.50 a head, but wants to sort out provincial checkoff first
Reading Time: 3 minutes [UPDATED Jan. 24, 2017] The national cattle checkoff is set to rise in most parts of the country this year — but a hike in Alberta is “on hold” for now. The $1 mandatory checkoff, applied to every head of cattle that goes to market, generates about $7.5 million annually. The funds are used to […] Read more
It likely wasn’t your greatest year, but 2016 was definitely eventful
Weather was the big story but it was also a year when pulses took centre stage, farm groups came together like never before, and sustainable beef hit a milestone
Reading Time: 9 minutes Stepping back and looking at the year gone past is a great way to prepare for the one ahead. For most producers, 2016 was a grind with a distinct shortage of highlight reel moments. But the world always moves forward and there were many significant changes that took place over the last 12 months. Here […] Read more
A one-day wonder — 4-H creates a ‘town’ to celebrate centennial
Reading Time: 3 minutes It will be the shortest-lived ‘town’ in Alberta history — but there’ll be a lot happening in Cloverville during the few hours of its existence. Cloverville, which will come into being the morning of Jan. 7 and last until into the evening, is how 4-H Alberta’s Southern Region plans to mark the centennial of the […] Read more
New leaders at Alberta Barley, Alberta Milk, and Grain Growers of Canada
New Year brings new faces on the boards and executives of farm groups
Reading Time: 2 minutes With a new year dawning, a host of producers are assuming farm leadership roles or taking on new ones. At Alberta Barley, Jason Lenz has stepped up to chair (from vice-chair) after Sylvan Lake producer and past chair Mike Ammeter “termed out” after serving on the board of directors for the last six years. “It’s […] Read more
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