Reading Time: 2 minutes Warnings have been issued about an anthrax outbreak in northern Alberta’s MacKenzie County amid hot, dry conditions that favour the disease. Anthrax in grazing beef cows has been confirmed on four pastures and on a bison ranch. Since the first report on July 14, 31 cattle and three bison out of about 1,700 at-risk animals […] Read more
Anthrax outbreak hits northern Alberta
Anthrax poses little risk to people, but the disease can decimate herds if not caught in time
Supply doesn’t meet demand for ag workers in Alberta
People are submitting applications, but there’s a lack of follow-through and quality, say business owners
Reading Time: 3 minutes Aerial field sprayers are the fighter pilots of industry, swooping low and fast while dropping chemical armaments over fields. They’re used to challenges such as avoiding obstacles including power lines, trees, buildings and vehicles. But they’re facing a new challenge — getting chemical delivered to the aircraft. Calvin Murray, founder of Early Bird Air near […] Read more
Young Alberta researcher aims to feed the world through protein-boosted crops
The world needs a lot more protein and gene editing could be the solution, says Logan Skori
Reading Time: 3 minutes A young Alberta plant scientist is using gene editing to develop high-protein crops with an eye on feeding underdeveloped countries and meeting food industry demand for plant-based protein. Logan Skori grew up on an 1,800-acre mixed farming operation near Kinsella. His favourite childhood memory, which inspired his academic career, is riding in a combine with […] Read more
Slow canola emergence: farmers call for standardized vigour testing
Dozens of farmers took to social media this spring to voice concern over alleged slowly emerging canola, but as harvest approaches, so far there are no answers
Reading Time: 3 minutes Planting canola is expensive. Some estimates are as high as $450,000 per 1,000 acres, not including land and equipment costs. So imagine the concerns of many farmers this spring when they encountered slow emergence with some canola hybrids. The most expensive crop ever planted threatened to crush the dreams of farmers eager for a comeback […] Read more
Wheat varieties could move from midge tolerance to midge resistance
Researchers are trying to isolate molecules that appear to transmit resistance to their neighbours
Reading Time: 2 minutes A group of western Canadian researchers is trying to create wheat strains with built-in resistance to wheat midge. Though midge-tolerant varieties are available, they are on a mission to add another layer of defence. “One thing biologists have noticed is there are certain varieties of wheat that, for whatever reason … where the midge will […] Read more
It’s good to be green — canola cleared under new ‘clean fuel’ regulations
Canola sector fought hard for rules that wouldn’t tie growers in red tape
Reading Time: 4 minutes Farmers are closer to having a major new canola market — large-scale biofuel production — following the release of federal Clean Fuel Regulations intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The regulations indicate prairie growers have finally made the cut after years of negotiations between canola industry representatives and government. Canola is now fully accepted as […] Read more
Pork industry sees uptick despite skyrocketing input costs
While returns have improved, the sector has lost about 40 per cent of its farms in the last decade
Reading Time: 4 minutes Hog farming has been a tough slog for years, but matters have improved slightly since the beginning of the pandemic, says the executive director of Alberta Pork. Unfortunately, soaring input costs are running in parallel with higher hog prices, and the industry remains in decline, said Darcy Fitzgerald. There are now an estimated 300 commercial […] Read more
Is a return of ‘grain gridlock’ in the cards?
Grain movement was slow last winter but CN and CP say they’ll be ready to move this fall’s harvest
Reading Time: 4 minutes Fears are mounting that CN and CP may not be up to the job of getting grain to port later this year, even though the forecasts are for only an average-sized crop. “Last year wasn’t very reassuring,” said Geoff Backman, manager of business development and markets with Alberta Wheat and Barley. “Every year farmers are […] Read more
It’s still ‘wait and see’ country when it comes to biostimulants
A multi-year study has found some products work sometimes on some crops -- but it’s hit-and-miss
Reading Time: 3 minutes Biostimulants work. Sort of. Sometimes. Depending. Dubbed the ‘vitamin supplements of farming,’ there are a wide range of biostimulants and they work — or don’t — in a host of different ways. Sometimes they’re worth applying and sometimes not, suggests a three-year study by Farming Smarter. “We did see an increase in yield for some […] Read more
It’s worth trying winter-hardy crops, but success can be elusive
Reading Time: 2 minutes Profiting from winter-hardy crops can be challenging, but they’re worth planting in small test areas, says the head of research and development at Western Ag Innovations. “It’s something good to keep your eye on,” Eric Bremer said at the recent Farming Smarter field school in Lethbridge. “It’s still difficult to guarantee a good result. Winter […] Read more
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