Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has one thing to say about country-of-origin labelling (COOL): “It’s not cool.” In the midst of an appeal at the World Trade Organization to quash COOL in the United States, Ritz has been working to gain supporters in the U.S. in an effort to halt non-science-based trade practices that could […] Read more
Canada’s appeal against COOL gaining U.S. support
Country-of-origin labelling appeal gaining U.S. support
About 100 state-level senators have signed on to the appeal to halt the implementation of country-of-origin labelling in the U.S.
Reading Time: 3 minutes Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has one thing to say about country-of-origin labelling (COOL): “It’s not cool.” In the midst of an appeal to quash COOL in the United States, Ritz has been working to gain supporters in the U.S. in an effort to halt non-science-based trade practices that could have far-reaching implications for Canadian […] Read morePea diseases will take a big bite of your crop without good management
Disease levels in next year’s pea crop can be managed by making the right decisions when it comes to seed choice, rotation and fungicide application
Reading Time: 3 minutes Knowledge is power in the fight against two common pea diseases. “The more you know about these things that are trying to take a bite out of your crop and your wallet, the better off you’ll be when it comes to trying to manage them,” Alberta Agriculture plant pathologist Michael Harding said at the recent […] Read moreShocking video ‘not very representative’ of egg farms
Producer said to be ‘dismayed’ by incidents in his barns that were secretly filmed by an animal rights activist and broadcast on CTV
Reading Time: 3 minutes Inhumane treatment isn’t the norm on egg farms in Alberta, says a Stony Plain-area egg farmer in the wake of an undercover video scandal that has shocked consumers and producers alike. “(The video) was disturbing and certainly not very representative of what happens on egg farms here in Alberta or even across Canada,” said Susan […] Read more
U of A researchers build a better battery out of eggshells
Quick-charging batteries made from eggshell membranes could also solve a growing problem in Canada’s egg industry
Reading Time: 2 minutes Your morning omelette may hold the solution to your quick-dying smartphone battery. University of Alberta researchers David Mitlin and post-doctoral fellow Zhi Li have developed a fast-charging supercapacitor using eggshell membranes — a plentiful egg industry byproduct. “We sell the liquid egg whites and the yoke to food processors, and we have no use for […] Read moreAlberta feedlots snapping up high-tech rapid-feed analysis equipment
Though there are still a few bugs to work out, the speed of NIRS technology and its potential for cost saving has made it a hit with feedlots
Reading Time: 2 minutes Grants for rapid-feed analysis machines are still available for Alberta livestock producers and feeders, but they’ll have to apply soon. Thanks to $750,000 in funding from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency producers can buy Near Infrared Reflectance Spectrometry (NIRS) equipment for their farms at a reduced cost. So far, 28 applications have been approved, […] Read moreU of A develops ‘game-changing’ precision feeding system for broiler breeders
A prototype precision feeding system could increase broiler breeder chick production by up to 10 per cent
Reading Time: 3 minutes Precision agriculture may hold the answer to a growing problem in Canada’s broiler hatching industry. “Every year, the broiler gets faster and heavier, and every year, the competition for feed increases,” said Martin Zuidhof, associate professor of poultry systems at the University of Alberta. “What we’re seeing in the industry now is a huge challenge […] Read moreYear-round virtual farmers’ market allows Alberta producers to peddle their wares online
The Green Pantry works with nearly 40 Alberta producers to offer fresh vegetables, frozen meats, dairy products, grains and cereals, and more
Reading Time: 2 minutes Consumers looking for a closer connection to central Alberta producers can now do so with a few clicks of a button, thanks to a Lacombe-based online marketplace. The Green Pantry is “like a virtual farmers’ market,” said co-founder Susan Crump. “It’s a place for you to get your local food,” said Crump. “But instead of […] Read moreIt’s a highly nutritious and long-season forage, but can kale handle winter?
A kale-ryegrass combination offers grazers extended grazing opportunities in the fall and a summertime forage option, too
Reading Time: 2 minutes Grazers growing kale for forage will soon see how the crop handles an Alberta winter. “It’s supposed to handle the cold really well and still stand. We got -10 here the other day and heavy frost, and she’s still going,” said Crossfield-area grazer Graeme Finn at the recent Foothills Forage and Grazing Association crop tour. […] Read moreNew wheat cluster receives $25 million investment
The new wheat cluster will focus on developing wheat varieties in all market classes that have higher yield, quality, and disease resistance
Reading Time: 2 minutes Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has announced $25 million in funding to a national wheat research “cluster.” “Innovation is critical to moving Canada’s wheat industry forward,” Ritz said when making the announcement at Agri-Trade here earlier this month. “Our government continues to partner with industry and academia to do what it takes to get our wheat […] Read moreCyber-Savvy Farmer
