The RCMP and Alberta Citizens On Patrol Association (ACOPA) have officially teamed up. An Alberta RCMP release said the two have co-operated for many years, but deputy commissioner Todd Shean and ACOPA chair Beverley Salomons recently signed an official memorandum of understanding (MOU) which outlines their partnership. Citizens On Patrol is a police-supported, community-led program […] Read more
The look on their faces said it all
Rural youth got an up-close and dramatic demonstration on what happens when clothing snags on a power takeoff shaft. A dummy stuffed with newspapers explodes in a millisecond — drawing gasps from the young onlookers. More than 750 students from rural Alberta attended Farm Safety Day, which is sponsored by AltaLink, at Calgary’s Stampede Park […] Read more
Alberta crop commissions say federal finance officials don’t understand the serious impact of eliminating the tax break
Ottawa is extending the public consultations on the “potential elimination” of deferred grain cash tickets by two months. But Alberta farm leaders say federal finance officials have “little understanding” of the importance of the income tax break and “the far-reaching implications if farmers were to lose access to this tool.” “We believe that the government […] Read more
The typical farmer has already missed the Freedom 55 boat, but the sector is attracting more young people and women
There are fewer Canadian farmers, and those over 55 still outnumber their younger peers. But the number of operators under age 35 years has increased for the first time since 1991. But the number of young farmers remains modest, according to the 2016 Census of Agriculture. According to the census, there were 271,935 farmers in […] Read more
A new online survey found just about everyone uses GPS but less than half use advanced imaging and variable rate
Prairie farmers are casting glances at precision ag, but not embracing it yet, a new survey suggests. The online 42-question survey commissioned by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada didn’t get a big response — 261 producers participated — but it offers a glimpse into how farmers view the highly touted technology. The poll found adoption of […] Read more
A program that helps producers create pollinator habitat and refuges is coming to Alberta. To enrol in the Operation Pollinator program, producers agree to convert one to two acres of lower-productivity land to establish a pollinator habitat. In exchange for dedicating the land, producers receive a provision of high-quality, pollinator-friendly wildflower seed, agronomic advice, and […] Read more
AFSC is also asking producers to gather information to speed up the assessment of unharvested acres
Here’s what AFSC says it has done to “streamline inspection processes in order to expedite assessments”: The number of required field counts has been reduced when appraising wildlife damage and potential production on the unharvested acres, relying on the inspector’s judgment to do more counts when required. Allow visual appraisals on crops where, in the […] Read more
[LINK] Analysis of Precision Agriculture Adoption & Barriers in western Canada: Producer Survey of western Canada Prepared for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada by Dale Steele, P.Ag.
Does unfarmed land next to your fields boost yields? A new University of Calgary study aims to see if fields next to grassed areas, fencelines, wetlands, tree lines, and similar adjacent areas have higher yields. Studies in the U.S., U.K., Northern Europe, and Australia have found that, like shelterbelts, unfarmed areas give a yield boost. […] Read more
The revised Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Layers is a “tremendous achievement,” says the Egg Farmers of Alberta. The code is the foundation for the egg industry’s animal welfare standards, and informs enhancements to the national Animal Care Program. The new Code of Practice is the result of “a rigorous and […] Read more
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