Reading Time: 3 minutes Prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to a thin plant stand in your canola crop — because there really is no cure once the plants have emerged. “There’s a number of different things you can do to prevent a thin plant stand, but as far as a rescue, there’s nothing that’s […] Read more
Thin canola stands are sometimes the more economical choice
Under the right conditions, a thin plant stand may actually outperform a thicker one
Prevention truly is worth a pound of cure
Vaccinations and biosecurity go hand in hand when managing cattle diseases
Reading Time: 3 minutes For many producers, biosecurity is a little like closing the barn door after the cows have bolted. “Sadly, in many cases, what it takes for producers to make the change is the ‘big problem’ where they get their butt kicked,” said Dr. Frank Garry, a veterinarian and professor at the University of Colorado. “Then, eventually […] Read more
Proper stockmanship, the Bud Williams’ way
If you want to build trust in your cattle, apply the right kind of pressure on them and learn to take two steps back
Reading Time: 3 minutes Cow whisperer’ Bud Williams used to have a saying when he was working cattle: “Slow is fast and less is more.” Now, four years after his death, Bud’s daughter and son-in-law are carrying on that tradition by teaching proper stockmanship — the Bud Williams’ way. “Cattlemen have been led to believe that the only way […] Read more
Moving past the Bill 6 rhetoric
AgCoalition meetings focus on creating sensible workplace safety rules
Reading Time: 5 minutes The Alberta government’s town halls on Bill 6 last winter were explosive, but recent industry-led meetings didn’t produce similar fireworks. “I thought the meeting went very well. There were lots of ideas thrown around between farmers and the facilitators,” said Turin-area farmer Kevin Serfas, who attended AgCoalition’s producer meeting in Lethbridge on June 22. “The […] Read more
More environmental good work is in the works
The Heart River Watershed Restoration is the latest in a long line of environmental projects funded by the foundation
Reading Time: 3 minutes An Alberta foundation has invested nearly $100,000 for projects that will help protect the province’s environment. “The environment is critically important, and the people who are supporting it — which is who we’re working with — do incredibly valuable work,” said Rod Ruff, program director for the Alberta Ecotrust Foundation. “You can see it across […] Read more
Don’t get whacked by market swings, says broker
On the price side, there are lots of opportunities right now — but you need a plan to take advantage of them
Reading Time: 3 minutes Good news for grain growers: Commodity markets have turned up — and the recovery of crude oil prices deserves the thanks. “With crude now moving up to $50 a barrel, it looks like it could potentially go even higher yet into the fall market as demand is starting to exceed supply on the global side,” […] Read more
New vaccine for most common type of food poisoning
Campylobacter jejuni infections outnumber all the well-known causes of food poisoning combined
Reading Time: 2 minutes A team of Alberta researchers has developed a poultry vaccine that can protect against a little known but common type of food poisoning — campylobacter jejuni. “Reported infections of campylobacter in Canada outnumber all the well-known causes of bacterial food poisoning including salmonella, shigella, listeria, and toxigenic E. coli combined,” said Christine Szymanski, CEO of […] Read more
No uproar over irradiation proposal
When irradiating ground beef was first proposed in 2002, consumers were wary
Reading Time: 3 minutes The expected consumer outcry over irradiated ground beef has been more of a whisper — a complete sea change from the early 2000s when the technology was first proposed. “Many consumer groups are receptive to the concept, much more so than 14 years ago when Health Canada was seriously considering moving forward on this,” said […] Read more
Hope and heartache in drought-stricken Ethiopia
Reading Time: 3 minutes When Lindsey Cowan went to Ethiopia in early February, she expected to find subsistence farmers eking out a meagre living on lands that haven’t seen rain in the past two growing seasons. She expected to find poverty, famine, and drought. But she didn’t expect to find joy amidst it all. “Everyone was running around with […] Read more
Fewer downers being shipped, says hog exchange
An undercover video showing abuse has prompted widespread changes at the hog assembly yard
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Red Deer hog assembly yard at the heart of animal abuse allegations almost two years ago has seen industry-wide improvements in animal handling. “Since the Mercy for Animals incident, we have made significant strides in improving our level of animal care and husbandry,” said Brent Moen, chair of the Western Hog Exchange. “And I […] Read more
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