Reading Time: 7 minutes Ottawa’s pledge to spend $2 billion to bring decent broadband service to rural and remote areas is welcome news, but the devil will be in the details, say officials in Alberta. “I’m encouraged to see the funding, but the full delivery of it is the next question — how will we be able to make […] Read more
Better rural broadband internet is coming — eventually
Ottawa is pledging $2 billion for fast rural internet, but how that money gets spent is the key question
Government exits the agricultural research game but questions abound
New publicly funded body launches drive for ‘farmer-led’ research but details still aren’t known
Reading Time: 7 minutes With a flurry of announcements — and a leaked layoff plan — the UCP government has made it clear that it’s largely exiting ag research. But what comes next is still up in the air. In mid-October, the province shifted several research programs to universities and colleges while also informing the union representing agriculture employees […] Read more
Universities and colleges to take over key provincial research programs
Schools will get transition grants to take on former government programs and researchers
Reading Time: < 1 minute The provincial government is transferring several research programs to universities and colleges. They are: University of Alberta Will receive $3.7 million for taking on four programs and their lead researchers. They are Sheri Strydhorst (cereal agronomy), John Basarab (beef genomics and feed efficiency), Marcos Colazo (reproductive management in beef and dairy cattle), and Valerie Carney […] Read more
The axe comes down at Alberta’s Agriculture Ministry
Notification letter to union opens window on upcoming loss of 190 positions
Reading Time: 2 minutes The province is cutting 247 jobs at Agriculture and Forestry, according to a letter sent to — and then publicly released by — the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees. The letter provides some specifics of the “phased workforce transformation,” but also notes that its plans haven’t been completely finalized. It also says cuts will be […] Read more
Alberta’s agriculture societies still struggling to stay afloat
Some are hosting smaller events but ones that bring in big crowds and dollars are off the table
Reading Time: 4 minutes Alberta’s ag societies are in the same sinking ship they’ve been in since the pandemic started — but they’re doing whatever they can to stay afloat. “The situation is not a whole lot better, but our ag societies are beginning to adapt to be able to provide some programming and events for the public to […] Read more
Agency mixed up about tank-mix labelling, say grain groups
Proposed change would prohibit mixes if a product label contains no guidance on tank mixing
Reading Time: 3 minutes A proposed change to tank-mix labelling requirements makes little sense and would unnecessarily hurt farmers, say grain groups. “Our biggest concern with this regulatory proposal is that it would take immediate effect… and could make some current tank mixes that are being used illegal, for all intents and purposes,” said Shannon Sereda, government relations and […] Read more
Will the gusher of grain movement continue?
Shipping records have shattered but the big test comes when the snow flies
Reading Time: 4 minutes The grain transportation system has been ‘pounding it,’ with monthly records falling like flies through spring, summer and even into harvest. So will it continue? That will depend on sales and demand from other sectors that ship by rail, say experts. “We’ve done very well in the aftermath of everything that’s happened in the last […] Read more
We’ll meet again — but not likely in person for a while
This year’s round of meetings will be mostly virtual but commissions hope producers stay involved
Reading Time: 3 minutes The fall meeting season hasn’t fallen by the wayside, but it will be very different. “We haven’t done any in-person events since the pandemic started, and we will not be doing any in-person events until at least February or March 2021,” said Rick Taillieu, manager of grower relations and extension for Alberta Canola. “Along the […] Read more
Life on The Farm shows what learning could look like in a post-pandemic world
Students at The Farm had quite a different back-to-school experience after the pandemic
Reading Time: 3 minutes After years of planning and months of hard work, The Farm — Rocky View School Division’s new alternative learning program — finally got its first batch of eager high school students out in the field, ready to get their hands dirty. But it was in February. “The first year on The Farm was horrible,” said […] Read more
Alberta sunflower growers make wishes come true
Paradise Hill Farm owners leapt at the chance to help program that grants wishes to seriously ill children
Reading Time: 4 minutes Farmers aren’t typically in the business of granting wishes — but then again, 2020 isn’t your typical year. And this year, Tony and Karen Legault of Paradise Hill Farm put their particular brand of magic to work, bringing some much-needed sunshine to sick children in southern Alberta with a little help from their sunflower field. […] Read more
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