Industry will match PIC's $4 million
Reading Time: 2 minutes A Calgary company that has developed a unique way to process oil from canola, hemp, sunflower, and safflower seeds is the first recipient of funding from a protein ‘supercluster.’ Protein Industries Canada, one of five federally backed research and innovation superclusters, is putting in $4 million to commercialize plant protein processing technology developed by Botaneco […] Read more
Protein supercluster backs Calgary oilseed processor
Livestock feed webinar series underway
Reading Time: < 1 minute A livestock feed webinar series is underway. The first webinar on grazing options for dry conditions took place on July 4 but there are eight more in the series: feeding economics (July 18, co-operating with cropping neighbours (Aug. 1), safely grazing hay lands (Aug. 15), alternate feed myths (Aug. 29), effective culling (Sept. 12) feed […] Read more
4R nutrient stewardship key to climate change fight
Reading Time: < 1 minute Politicians need to recognize proper fertilizer use can cut greenhouse gases and should make 4R Nutrient Stewardship part of their climate change strategy, says Fertilizer Canada. The 4R program encourages using the right type of fertilizer at the right rate in the right place at the right time. It “not only increases economic performance for […] Read more
Workplace hotline now available for Alberta producers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta producers can now get immediate support if there’s a workplace safety incident on their farm or ranch. AgSafe Alberta, an industry-led collaboration of farm groups, has set up and will operate a hotline that farmers can call at any time. The number is 1-833-9AG-SAFE (1-833-924-7233). “This hotline is available 24-7, year round and all […] Read more
Ag plastic recycling to start this fall
Reading Time: < 1 minute Cleanfarms has been chosen to operate a three-year pilot program to collect grain bags and twine in Alberta for recycling. In its first year, there will be up to 20 collection sites in operation this fall, said Alberta Beef Producers, which helped to choose the national non-profit organization to run the pilot. ABP and the […] Read more
Summertime is danger time for ticks
Check for ticks on yourself and your pets, say provincial officials
Reading Time: < 1 minute Authorities are warning Albertans to take the time and check for ticks — on themselves and their pets. The threat isn’t tick bites, but the chance a tick could transmit Lyme disease, said the registrar of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA). “There have been approximately 100 human cases of Lyme disease reported by Albertans […] Read more
DON a growing economic threat
Reading Time: < 1 minute Grain buyers are increasingly on the lookout for deoxynivalenol (DON), and producers need to take steps to “keep Canada’s markets open for all,” says Cereals Canada. “Domestic processors and export customers are increasingly testing shipments for mycotoxins,” said spokesperson Brenna Mahoney. “Shipments that exceed acceptable levels of DON could be rejected, which is a tremendous […] Read more
Alberta producers see incomes drop by $1 billion last year
Flat revenue, higher expenses squeeze farmers
Reading Time: 4 minutes No matter how you measure it, Canadian and Alberta farm income took a big, double-digit, hit in 2018. The two biggest culprits were flat revenues, in part because of trade restrictions, and higher expenses, including for commercial feed, interest and machinery fuel. For 2018, Canadian farm net cash income fell 20.7 per cent to $11.6 […] Read more
Weather forecast calls for normal rainfall
But as with anything, there is an opposite outlook
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Weather Network is predicting Alberta will see slightly above-normal temperatures this summer but possibly above-normal rainfall in the south. “A changeable summer is expected across Alberta with back-and-forth temperature swings that come close to offsetting each other,” it said in its forecast for June to August. “Rainfall totals are expected to be near normal […] Read more
College adds ‘data lab’ to Smart Farm
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farm Credit Canada is donating $200,000 over the next four years for a “data lab” at Olds College’s Smart Farm. The lab is a technologically advanced workspace, available for students, instructors, and industry partners “to meet, collaborate and learn,” the college said in a news release. “The AgExpert Data Lab brings together data from our […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
