Reading Time: 3 minutes A good, well-run chute plays a huge part in handling animals safely, reducing their stress and, more importantly, lowering the risk of injury or death for people working around the chute. Jennifer Woods has seen the good and the bad. The worst chutes I see are home-built or pieced together from parts of others, says […] Read more
Good Chute Design Could Save Your Life
Your Well Needs Maintenance Too
Reading Time: 2 minutes It isn t only machinery and buildings that need regular maintenance, your water supply does, too. Unfortunately, wells don t come with a manual and that s one reason why Alberta Agriculture water specialist Melissa Orr says drinking water may be the most neglected resource on the farm. Nobody worries about their water system until […] Read more
Water Treatment — There Is No Magic Bullet
Reading Time: < 1 minute Water treatment hasn t changed in 20 years, so be wary of companies selling cures for all water-quality issues, says Melissa Orr, an Alberta Agriculture water engineer. Look for a reputable company, that provides a good warranty and service, she advises. The treatments that work are chlorine, ozone and UV, disinfectants and each has its […] Read more
Making Sure Your Water Is Safe To Drink
Reading Time: < 1 minute If you need a new well, make sure all quotes are from certified well drillers who understand the area as well as regulations around wells, says Alberta Agriculture water specialist Melissa Orr. Make sure the well is sited well away from any potential contamination, such as corrals, barns, hazardous materials storage, and septic fields. Your […] Read more
Different Agronomy Practices For Winter Wheat Depend On Region
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winter wheat has looked awfully good the last two springs, when late snow and rain created muddy conditions that kept seeders out of the fields. Every field of winter wheat means one less to seed when the weather is against you. The extra bushels, generally at least 20 per cent more than spring wheat, don […] Read more
Blackleg An Increasing Risk, Even With ‘Resistant’ Varieties
Reading Time: 3 minutes The word is resistant, not immune. That s the word from plant pathologists and the Canola Council of Canada when it comes to managing blackleg. Resistant varieties help, but the disease still requires management. Blackleg was a real problem that Alberta had ample warning about as pathologists and breeders saw it coming across the Prairies […] Read more
Don’t hold back when fertilizing winter wheat unless conditions are dry
From the Sept. 12 issue of Alberta Farmer Express Winter wheat has looked awfully good the last two springs, when late snow and rain created muddy conditions that kept seeders out of the fields. Every field of winter wheat means one less to seed when the weather is against you. The extra bushels, generally at […] Read more
Farmers Told CWB Cannot Survive In An Open Market
Reading Time: 3 minutes It was standing room only at the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) meeting held at the exhibition grounds in Medicine Hat Aug. 15, with about 300 mostly pro-CWB people in attendance. The meeting was one of seven held across the Prairies by the CWB to discuss directly with grain growers issues surrounding the government’s intention to […] Read more
Short Lines And Producer Cars Are In Jeopardy With CWB Demise
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canadian Wheat Board director Bill Woods says that around home in Eston, Sask., the joke among him and most of his friends used to be, “What does the CWB have in common with Walmart? Lowest prices every day.” They opposed the board’s monopoly because it took away their freedom. Woods echoed that notion. “I opposed […] Read more
Lethbridge Takes A Unique Approach To Agriculture Degree
Reading Time: 3 minutes The University of Lethbridge (U of L) has a unique approach to training the next generation of workers in just about every area related to farming. Students can aim for a B. Sc. or a BA in agricultural studies, a multidisciplinary program that allows students to focus on areas from economics to geography and biotechnology […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
