Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s been a long time coming, but Alberta’s first wet fractionation plant is finally moving forward. On Oct. 7, More Than Protein Ingredients broke ground on its new site near Bowden, which will be home to a $100-million plant-based wet fractionation facility once construction is completed in 2023. “I think this was inevitable,” said pulse […] Read more
Bowden pulse-processing plant breaks ground
The plant — the first of its kind in Alberta — is expected to be completed by 2023
Doing the right thing in the right way is the key, says award-winning rancher
Brazeau County’s Duane Movald has been a keen supporter of ALUS, and the feeling is mutual
Reading Time: 4 minutes [UPDATED: Oct. 28, 2021] When it comes to conservation, Duane Movald looks beyond his farm gate. “How we manage what we do on the farm is part of the bigger picture,” said the owner of Movald Ranches. “This is a tiny little spot on the Earth, but providing an ecosystem service here helps everyone. “In […] Read more
Hops gaining ground here — and craft brewers couldn’t be happier
Alberta isn’t known for hops but that’s changing fast as growers master the tricky crop
Reading Time: 5 minutes It might not be the Yakima Valley — the hops capital of the world — but Alberta is no slouch when it comes to producing high-quality hops for the craft beer market. “The markets are definitely getting more prominent for Alberta hops,” said Jenelle Bjarnason, who owns Hop To It with husband Shayne. “It’s still […] Read more
Program offers skills boost for women in the farm and food sectors
Women in agribusinesses may face many barriers, including fewer opportunities to acquire management skills
Reading Time: 3 minutes An initiative to equip female entrepreneurs in agriculture and agribusiness with more of the tools and skills they need to succeed is moving into a second phase. “We really wanted to focus on reflecting where women are at in their roles — sole owners, partners, decision-makers in the business, or the unsung heroes who are […] Read more
THE PAYOFF: Plant protein revolution may soon put money in your pockets
Calgary division of British faux meat company to issue first contracts for new high-protein pea next year
Reading Time: 6 minutes It’s being hailed as a game changer — a new high-protein yellow pea variety tailor-made for the booming plant protein market. And producers in Alberta won’t have long to wait before they can get their hands on both the new variety and, possibly, premium prices. “I think it’s fantastic news to hear that there’s investment […] Read more
Growing garlic a tasty retirement project
Reading Time: 3 minutes Lorraine and Kevin Bannister just knew there was something different about the garlic they sampled at a farmers’ market in British Columbia one day 15 years ago. “It was so different from the garlic we got in the store,” said Lorraine Bannister, who operates Garlic Goodness with husband Kevin near Innisfail. “My mom was a […] Read more
Would you like fries with that? Potato acres up after pandemic drop
It’s a few years off but irrigation expansion should usher in another production leap in the province
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta’s potato industry has bounced right back from its dip in acres during the pandemic. “We’re back to the 2019 acres,” said Terence Hochstein, executive director of the Potato Growers of Alberta. “We’ve added a few more acres, but there’s really no new farms and no huge increases on any particular farm. It’s just getting […] Read more
Fertilizer prices climb sky high
You may be shocked by prices but don’t expect them to fall any time soon
Reading Time: 4 minutes A perfect storm of high commodity prices, high feedstock costs, and lower supplies has sent fertilizer prices soaring. “If you look at where prices are now from roughly a year ago, we’re up in that 25 to 30 per cent more than where we were a year ago,” said Craig Klemmer, principal economist with Farm […] Read more
Drought slashes seed supplies across the Prairies
Seed supplies are likely to be lower than average this year, so source your seed earlier than normal
Reading Time: 6 minutes Sarah Weigum started to suspect this wouldn’t be a typical year for seed sales back in July, when one of her customers called to book seed for next spring. “My customers aren’t normally the type who call in July for seed for the next spring, and that was just the beginning,” said the Three Hills-area […] Read more
Boom times: Green diesel plant could light a fire under canola
New renewable diesel facility expected to soak up a lot of canola oil, and fuel major production increases
Reading Time: 5 minutes Alberta farmers could see a huge new market for their canola right in their own backyard — the country’s largest renewable diesel facility. “It’s exciting news,” said Chris Vervaet, executive director of the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association. “Another market — and a potentially significant market — that drives demand is a boon for the canola […] Read moreCyber-Savvy Farmer
