Reading Time: 3 minutes When drought hits, you can blame Mother Nature — but management practices also come into play. “I don’t want to say that it doesn’t matter what happens with rain and that all drought is man made because of bad management,” said Vermont grazier Abe Collins. “That’s a very extreme position. Sometimes it doesn’t rain, and […] Read more
Good grazing management can get you through a drought
Having diverse life in and on the soil will help get your cattle through a drought year
Green manure crops can put more green in your pockets
If organic producers can look past having a year out of crop production, green manure plow-down crops can pay off
Reading Time: 3 minutes For organic grain producers, your best investment is the crop you never harvest. “I can never stress green manure plow-down enough. It is your most valuable crop,” said Steven Snider, who runs an organic grain operation near Edberg. “Part of your farm should be soil building with a green manure plow-down. Don’t cheat yourself on […] Read more
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to organic crop rotations
Three organic producers share their top tips for building a sustainable crop rotation — no matter what kind of operation you have
Reading Time: 4 minutes Organic crop rotations are “a real ball of wax to deal with,” says veteran organic grower Steven Snider. “There’s so many options out there. I think people would like for me to just tell them what to put in, and that would be nice and simple,” said Snider, who runs an organic grain operation near […] Read more
Running on empty? It’s time to set goals for your farm
Working 100 hours a week is ‘a recipe for burnout,’ says American farmer and author who found salvation in scaling back
Reading Time: 3 minutes It takes guts to be a farmer these days. “Farming is an extremely complex business to run, and it takes remarkable courage,” said author Rebecca Thistlethwaite, who farms in Oregon. “It demands an incredible well of passion, a willingness to learn, and ‘stick-to-it-tiveness’ to make it work.” But more and more, farmers are finding that […] Read more
Alberta ag minister promises to work with farm groups
But coalition of farm organizations still waiting to hear details of its role in shaping new workplace regulations
Reading Time: 3 minutes The governmental gears are grinding over who will be at the table for upcoming Bill 6 consultations, but a coalition of farm groups is stuck in “wait and see” mode over what role they’ll play in the shaping of workplace safety regulations. “We had over 50 nomination forms come to the coalition office to be […] Read more
Bill 6 jump-starts important conversations about farm safety
The FarmSafe program offers a step-by-step guide to create a safety plan tailored to your farm
Reading Time: 3 minutes For “safety geek” Dan Trottier, Bill 6 was the shot in the arm that the agriculture industry needed to start the conversation about farm safety. “Bill 6 raised awareness about safety, and now that we’ve got some awareness, we have the opportunity for extension on how to do safety on the farm,” said Trottier, owner […] Read more
BOOM BOOM: A double dose of good news for Alberta’s farm scene
Two new mega elevators boost competition and their cutting-edge loop tracks mean super-fast turnaround times
Reading Time: 4 minutes Back-to-back announcements that Red Deer County will soon have its first-ever super-sized grain terminals are giving farmers multiple reasons to celebrate. “It’s more good news when it comes to choice for marketing — not that we ever want to see an overbuild situation — but I’m sure these folks have all done their homework,” said […] Read more
The future’s so bright, you gotta wear shades
Reading Time: < 1 minute Peer past the gloom in the oilpatch and Alberta agriculture has a pretty good story to tell. That’s why Paterson Grain is currently building an elevator at Daysland and poised to start construction on another near Innisfail. “Producers in Alberta are some of the best in the world, and the land in Alberta is very […] Read more
Prevention is the best cure when managing greenhouse pests
Greenhouse crop growers need to start with clean cuttings, prevent infestations, and monitor pest levels to guarantee a successful biocontrol program
Reading Time: 3 minutes For greenhouse crop growers, moving away from chemical pest control to biological controls can be a big investment — but one that’s worth it, if done right. “You have to change your mindset from pesticides to biocontrol,” said Veronica Cervantes, technical adviser at Biobest USA. “The first year you start your biocontrol program is the […] Read more
Controlled traffic farming system can improve soil moisture levels
Once it’s in, a controlled traffic farming system can save time and money, improve yields, and reduce soil compaction
Reading Time: 2 minutes In dry years, every little bit of water in the soil helps — and that’s tough to find in heavily compacted soils. That’s where controlled traffic farming comes in. “The idea was to address the detrimental effects of compaction. We know our equipment keeps getting heavier and heavier, and we know we cover a fair […] Read more
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