Reading Time: < 1 minute After a decade of strong growth, the number of organic acres dipped slightly in Alberta last year, says a new report. But that was good compared to its next door neighbour, said the report by the Canada Organic Trade Association. “Saskatchewan demonstrated the largest acreage decline, with 119,099 fewer acres, followed by Alberta at 6,214 […] Read more
Organic acres level off in Alberta
It was about time — harvest a totally different story this year
Yields and quality were all over the map, but most producers were able to get it done much earlier this year
Reading Time: 3 minutes It wasn’t perfect of course, but the difference between this year’s harvest and last year’s hellish one was stark. As of Oct. 6, about 90.2 per cent of crops in the province were off the field — nearly double the dismal 48.4 per cent figure from the province’s harvest report on Oct. 8, 2019. The […] Read more
New AFSC boss makes for the third one this year
Reading Time: < 1 minute Agriculture Financial Services Corporation has appointed Darryl Kay as its new CEO. Kay has worked with the crop insurer and lender for nearly a decade, most recently as chief financial and innovation officer. Kay takes over from Jerry Bouma, a board member and agri-food management consultant who has been interim CEO since Steve Blakely retired […] Read more
Farm writers recognized for outstanding work
Reading Time: < 1 minute Frequent Alberta Farmer contributor Jeff Melchior and staff writer Alexis Kienlen were among the winners of Canadian Farm Writers’ Federation awards. Melchior won gold in the weekly press reporting category for his story, Farmers lose when energy companies walk away. The story looked at the growing problem of abandoned wells on farm properties and how […] Read more
4-H Alberta registration now open
Reading Time: < 1 minute Registration is now open for 4-H Alberta’s 2020-21 club year. “We understand this year will be different than previous ones and empathize with the difficulties in finding a location to accommodate members for meetings and project events,” the organization says on its website at 4hab.com. The website has registration forms for youth, adults and clubs. […] Read more
Newest loop track at fertilizer terminal handles up to 110 rail cars
Reading Time: < 1 minute The loop track trend is expanding beyond grain terminals. Federated Co-operatives Limited’s newly opened fertilizer terminal near Grassy Lake (85 kilometres east of Lethbridge) has a loop track that can accommodate up to 110 rail cars. In a release, FCL calls the loop track “an essential feature” because it allows it to “receive product from […] Read more
Wearing green isn’t just for St. Patrick’s Day
Reading Time: < 1 minute For many years, 4-H clubs have urged members and supporters to wear green in November to show their support for the organization. The Show Your 4-H Colours promotion has also been a way to fundraise by selling green 4-H T-shirts. But this year, “young people need us now more than ever, as they navigate the […] Read more
Alberta Beef Industry Conference cancelled
Reading Time: < 1 minute Organizers of the Alberta Beef Industry Conference have “made the difficult decision to postpone its annual in-person event until March 2022 given the uncertainty the COVID-19 pandemic has created.” The 17-year-old event is one of the country’s largest beef conventions and trade shows. The decision to cancel it “did not come lightly” but the safety […] Read more
Grain exports on a tear so far this crop year
Reading Time: < 1 minute Grain and oilseed exports are running well ahead of year-ago levels nine weeks into the crop year, according to Canadian Grain Commission data. Toal bulk exports of the major grains and oilseeds totalled 8.34 million tonnes as of Oct. 4, versus 6.78 million tonnes exported during the same period in 2019. Canola exports reached 1.88 […] Read more
Alberta agriculture shines ‘during these tough times’
Government touts record crop production, rebound in cattle sector, and food processing
Reading Time: < 1 minute The provincial governments says “record crops and strengthened cattle prices are leading Alberta’s economic recovery.” “Crop yields are estimated to hit a new record high in Alberta with farmers harvesting more than seven per cent above what is normal,” the government said in a news release. “Livestock market sales are estimated to also reach a […] Read more
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