Reading Time: 6 minutes Agriculture research can offer as much as a tenfold return on investment — but it doesn’t do farmers a whole lot of good gathering dust on a shelf somewhere. “I think that’s something we actually fail at in our current delivery system of research and extension,” said Ken Coles, general manager of Alberta-based Farming Smarter. […] Read more
Research you can use on your farm this summer
Here are three examples of research that can save time, money, and headaches
Oh, give me a home: Canada’s bison have nowhere to go
Restaurant closures have rocked the bison sector, with prices down by a quarter and a backlog building
Reading Time: 4 minutes The pandemic’s effect on the bison industry has been “absolutely staggering” over the past two months. “Our slaughter numbers in federal plants are down 81 per cent over this time last year,” said Steven Lunty, chair of Bison Producers of Alberta. “That means if we processed 100 animals in April of 2019, we processed 19 […] Read more
Pandemic brings trials and triumphs for ag students
Despite the difficult launch to their careers in the industry, students see bright future ahead
Reading Time: 6 minutes Brianna Dyck was supposed to be celebrating her college convocation the first weekend in June. But with post-secondary institutions shuttered by the pandemic, graduation was a small family affair. “My family has done a great job of trying to make it a big deal, but it feels like the school year should still be going […] Read more
Want a great big show of community spirit with that?
‘Fry Day’ fundraiser keeps medevac service in the air — and gives community a chance to show its generous spirit
Reading Time: 4 minutes They figured their fundraising goal was hugely ambitious — but boy were they wrong. “As I pulled into the dealership at 7:30, there were cars lined up already, and we weren’t starting until 9,” said Steven Dyck, president of Western Tractor. “It was literally to the point where they were lined up down the highways. […] Read more
Crisis creates opportunity to attract badly needed workers
Agriculture and the food sector need to seize the day and find ways to reach out to displaced workers
Reading Time: 3 minutes Working remotely from home has been one of the most prominent changes caused by the pandemic, but there are other workforce shifts in play — including ones that will affect agriculture, says a senior vice-president of RBC. “One of the things we’re detecting and hearing from a number of sectors is that this crisis has […] Read more
Pulse prospects are bright, but transport is the big hurdle right now
The pandemic hasn’t hurt demand but a shortage of shipping containers is constraining exports
Reading Time: 3 minutes Short-term demand for Canadian pulses has spiked in the midst of the pandemic as consumers stocked up their pantries. “I’ve seen it called the ‘plan for the worst’ trend, and this sector is pretty well positioned for that kind of buying pattern,” said Greg Cherewyk, president of Pulse Canada. “Generally speaking, when you account for […] Read more
Saving a jewel — and the setting it’s placed in
Easement protects pristine valley — and the farmland above it
Reading Time: 4 minutes There’s a little slice of paradise nestled in the Rosebud River Valley. Along its craggy cliffsides, golden eagles and peregrine falcons nest, while moose and deer leave their own marks on the native grassland that surrounds the river’s edge. But these lands are home to more than just the wildlife. On top of the river […] Read more
Planning for success can also help you in a time of crisis
Large-scale Saskatchewan farm says it has found some financial positives during pandemic
Reading Time: 4 minutes Hebert Grain Ventures might just be the closest thing to pandemic-proof a farm can be. “From a pandemic standpoint, the farm really hasn’t felt it. It’s kind of business as usual,” said Evan Shout, chief financial officer of the 22,000-acre grain operation in southern Saskatchewan. “We probably came out of this a little bit better […] Read more
Will we seize the day when it comes to smart ag technology?
Investing in next-generation agriculture would pay big dividends, but investment dollars will be in short supply
Reading Time: 4 minutes The pandemic has revealed critical weaknesses in the country’s agriculture and food systems — and the need to invest in their future, say experts. “It’s continuing to show the importance of technology, and adopting technology, on the farm,” said Remi Schmaltz, CEO and co-founder of Decisive Farming, an Alberta digital ag and farm management company. […] Read more
Research funder aims to be up and running by year’s end
New funding agency wants to boost province’s ag sector but creating the organization will take time
Reading Time: 2 minutes It will likely be next year before the province’s new ag research funding agency starts handing out money. “We’re setting up. We’re gathering information. We’re listening to it,” said David Chalack, interim chair for Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR). “And we have to execute on it. We need to get this entity set up.” The […] Read more
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