Reading Time: < 1 minute Veteran soil scientist Ross McKenzie has joined Alberta Wheat and Barley agronomy expert Jeremy Boychyn to create a YouTube video on soil sampling. The seven-minute video covers topics such as the difference between spring and fall sampling (tip: wait until soil cools down before sampling in autumn). But the video mainly focuses on how to […] Read more
A quick video primer on soil sampling
Strong commodity prices to continue: FCC
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farm Credit Canada is forecasting “another year of excellent crop prices,” albeit with big declines for some crops. The ag lender predicts canola will average $870 a tonne this crop year, which is $100 below the 2021-22 average but well above the five-year average of $490. FCC forecasts spring wheat prices to average $430 a tonne […] Read more
Horner back as ag minister, Toews returns to finance in new cabinet
The ag ministry is being revamped again, with forestry split off and irrigation added
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nate Horner has returned as Alberta agriculture minister but his portfolio has been revamped by new Premier Danielle Smith. Formerly the minister of agriculture, forestry and rural economic development, Horner is now minister of agriculture and irrigation. “I look forward to building on our government’s historic investment of nearly $1 billion in irrigation infrastructure and […] Read more
Beef checkoff refunds rise again
Reading Time: < 1 minute The amount of checkoff money refunded by Alberta Beef Producers jumped again last year but this time, the increase was from payments to cow-calf producers. The organization refunded $3.24 million in 2021, up from $3.04 million the year before, according to the financial statements in ABP’s just-released annual report. Although feedlots account for the vast […] Read more
Selling to an unlicensed grain buyer
Reading Time: < 1 minute There are factors to consider before selling to an unlicensed grain buyer if you have production insurance, says Alberta Financial Services Corp. The provincial crop insurer says it will only accept “receipted grade” on sales from buyers who have a primary elevator or a terminal elevator licence from the Canadian Grain Commission. Before selling to […] Read more
Wheat and barley farmers urged to vote on proposed merger
Voting ends on Nov. 1 at noon but voting can be done online or by phone
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta’s cereal commissions are making a last push to get out the vote on their proposed merger. “There’s still time to cast your vote and make your voice heard as to whether or not you support the Alberta Wheat Commission and Alberta Barley amalgamating into a single crop commission,” the two farm groups said in […] Read more
Alberta crop yields top 10-year average
Reading Time: < 1 minute With harvest mostly complete, dryland yields were running about six per cent above the 10-year-average, although that varied considerably across Alberta. Aggregate yields for the five major crops (wheat, barley, canola, peas and oats) were just slightly below the 10-year average in the south and northwest. They were seven per cent higher in the northeast, […] Read more
Plenty of ways to serve cereal groups
Reading Time: < 1 minute Nominations are now open for director and regional rep positions with Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley. Alberta Wheat needs two directors and three representatives in both Region 1 (southern Alberta) and Region 5 (north-central). Meanwhile Alberta Barley is seeking director candidates for Regions 3 and 4 as well as a director-at-large from either Regions 1, […] Read more
New guide on managing straw
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta’s cereal groups along with their prairie counterparts have created a straw management guide. The six-page primer covers nutrient content, how nutrients are released, the value of organic matter, and methods for managing excess straw and residue. The nutrient portion of the guide looks at how much nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur is typically found […] Read more
Lending terms for ranchers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Agriculture Financial Services Corporation says it has made “some interim changes to our loan processes” to assist producers who need funds to buy feed, gain access to water or buy breeding females. “These changes include quick processing of loans up to $200,000, interest-only payments for up to 24 months, up to 60-month loan amortization and […] Read more
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