Reading Time: 3 minutes Chris and Harold Perry take the power of science and sustainable farm practices very seriously. The southern Alberta farmers call it their “2020 vision” — reduce farm inputs such as water, fuel, electricity, and synthetic fertilizer by 20 per cent while increasing net yields by 20 per cent. And they don’t think small. In November, […] Read more
Southern Alberta farm leading the way in green energy
Chris and Harold Perry have added anaerobic digesters to thermal and solar power generation on their Chin-area farm
Co-op model a winner for Edson foresters
By banding together, co-op members have achieved the holy grail of a guaranteed wood supply
Reading Time: 3 minutes Logging and sawmilling to supplement either a grain or cattle farm income has deep roots in Alberta. A group of Edson-area farmers has taken that model to a new level with the formation of a timber-based co-operative that provides them with what is often described as the holy grail of a supplemental farm income — […] Read more
As population soars, so does demand for trees and shrubs
Nursery stock is being shipped in from as far away as Minnesota to meet the demand for trees and shrubs
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta’s population is booming, and so is demand for landscaping materials such as trees and shrubs. “There’s a phenomenal amount of growth available in the industry right now,” said Cody Brown, general manager at Tree to Tree Nurseries in Gleichen. “Alberta producers cannot grow enough material to meet market demand… the only thing that will […] Read more
Lethbridge facility creates green energy by turning manure to megawatts
Lethbridge Biogas plant can power 2,800 homes, with more than half of its ‘fuel’ coming from livestock manure
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta is famous for its black gold, but a newly commissioned $30-million biogas plant in Lethbridge is drawing attention for being on the cutting edge of green power. “It’s potentially the most technologically advanced, privately held biogas plant in the world today,” said Thane Hurlburt, a rancher and president of Lethbridge Biogas. “We can operate […] Read more
Alberta’s greenhouse industry prepares for retailers’ tougher environmental standards
A new three-year project will not only help greenhouse operators reduce their carbon footprint but give them a new marketing tool
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta’s greenhouse industry is upping its environmental game in anticipation that large retailers such as Wal-Mart are going to demand higher green standards from its suppliers. A recent study by Alberta Agriculture’s horticultural branch identified the measurement of a greenhouse’s carbon footprint as a priority. In response, and with support from the Growing Forward 2 […] Read moreAlberta-based mushroom company taps into ‘wild’ trend
Michelle and Eric Whitehead say they can’t keep up with demand for morel mushrooms and other forest foods are also increasing in popularity
Reading Time: 3 minutes For many Albertans, a bowl of wild morel mushrooms in a cream sauce has become a rite of spring. And turns out there is a large worldwide demand for these tasty fungi. “The world supply of morels has never met world demand,” says Michelle Whitehead, co-owner of Alberta-based Untamed Feast, which sells non-cultivatable wild mushrooms […] Read moreNo bull — composted manure benefits row crops
Reading Time: 2 minutes It makes economic and environmental sense for feedlot operators to start composting their manure, says a soil conservation researcher at the Lethbridge Research Centre. “I think a lot of feedlots are now realizing that they should look at composting because you can only rely on your neighbours for so long to take the raw manure,” […] Read more
Funding available for woodlot owners to develop forest-product business
There’s a wide variety of niche markets for products such as Christmas trees, logs for home construction, furniture components, flooring, siding, fencing, and birch syrup
Reading Time: 2 minutes There’s money to be made in woodlots, and thanks to Growing Forward 2, there’s also government funding to help producers develop a new income stream, says Toso Bozic, an agroforester with Alberta Agriculture. At present, there are few Alberta suppliers to meet the demand for logs for home construction and Christmas trees, but that’s only […] Read moreAlberta researchers see a bright future for biochar in the province
Biochar can increase soil fertility, capture carbon, fix nitrogen, control odours, and be used as a feed additive
Reading Time: 2 minutes It’s the multi-tasking soil amendment, and Alberta farmers are going to hear a lot more about biochar thanks to the Alberta Biochar Initiative. This special type of charcoal — which can be made from a host of materials, including wheat and flax stalks and even cattle manure — can increase soil fertility, fix nitrogen, and […] Read moreA snow blower for harvesting trees
Reading Time: 2 minutes It looks a bit like a silage-harvesting system, and the RT400 Fecon tracked mulcher is one powerful chewing machine. The European, 400-horsepower bio-harvester was recently put through its paces by staff from the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre’s Edmonton office, who wanted to see its purpose-built, front-mounted chipper in action. “When using a mulching head, you […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
