STILL HOPEFUL Alberta Chicken Producers, Chicken Farmers of Canada representatives say they haven’t given up on getting an agreement
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Feb. 22 deadline has come and gone for Alberta Chicken Producers to withdraw its letter of intent to pull out of the national chicken supply management system without a new agreement being struck. “We came as close as we could,” Chicken Farmers of Canada David Janzen said at the Alberta Chicken Producers’ annual general […] Read moreAlberta chicken will be out of national supply management at year’s end if no agreement found
Budget slashes $100 million from agriculture department
NOT ALL BAD Producer groups disappointed in farm fuel cut, but pleased with focus on market access
Reading Time: 4 minutes Despite the cut to the farm fuel distribution allowance, producer groups are breathing a sigh of relief Alberta Agriculture’s budget wasn’t slashed more than it was. “It’s not as bad — the cut to agriculture… as we thought it would have been,” said Lynn Jacobson, president of Wild Rose Agriculture Producers (WRAP). According to Agriculture […] Read moreClimate change causing longer frost-free season, warmer growing conditions: Scientist
Reading Time: 3 minutes Farmers already know what they need to do in the face of a changing climate: adapt. That’s according to Dr. David Sauchyn, a research professor at the University of Regina. He presented on climate change during the Ranching Opportunities conference in Olds Feb. 7. Sauchyn explained his research on climate change and specifically the changes […] Read more
Agriculture barely a topic of note at provincial economic summit
GOOD TIMES Strong performance from ag sector means it isn’t as concerning as bitumen bubble, says premier’s spokesperson
Reading Time: 3 minutes Despite agriculture’s place as the second-largest industry in Alberta, it didn’t get much attention during the recent economic summit held Feb. 9. In fact, the largest part of the agricultural discussion occurred only thanks to a question from an audience member during the first panel of the day, which had panellists talking about the Alberta […] Read moreLabelling program helps highlight local and regional producers
HOMEGROWN Program scores food on how local its production, ingredients and ownership is
Reading Time: 3 minutes Producers supplying certain grocery stores can use a new program called Localize to make sure their products are being labelled as local or regional on the shelf. Localize rolled out at the 24 Calgary Co-op locations in mid-February. Co-ops in Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Lacombe and Innisfail are set to begin the program as well, […] Read moreNational barley council to give unified voice to producers, industry
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you’re worried that another new farm organization means another checkoff, relax. “We were very adamant from the very beginning the Barley Council of Canada will not be a checkoff organization,” chair Brian Otto told the Western Barley Growers Association annual convention in Calgary Feb. 15. Otto said the group will need to be supported […] Read more
Alta. chicken producers poised to exit national system
A Feb. 22 deadline has come and gone for Alberta Chicken Producers to withdraw its letter of intent to pull out of the national chicken supply management system without a new agreement being struck. "We came as close as we could," Chicken Farmers of Canada’s David Janzen said at the Alberta Chicken Producers’ annual general […] Read more
Opportunities sprout in greenhouse sector
MAJOR GROWTH Acreage in Canadian greenhouses has more than tripled in the last three decades, but the country still imports nearly $2 billion worth of vegetables
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada’s greenhouse sector has grown by leaps and bounds, but there’s more room for growth when it comes to tomatoes, peppers and exotic vegetables. “You can see there has been real significant growth in the past 20 years,” retired provincial crop specialist Nabi Chaudhary said at a recent greenhouse business planning workshop in Airdrie. Nationally, […] Read moreNew program aims to save farmers money while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
FINE TUNING Choosing the right fertilizer product and applying the right rate at the right time in the right place can reduce costs and help the environment
Reading Time: 2 minutes Anew program aims to help Alberta producers get more bang for their fertilizer buck while reducing greenhouse gases. “Our aim is to work with farmers and other stakeholders in Alberta to encourage the use of 4R nutrient stewardship,” said Clyde Graham, vice-president of the Canadian Fertilizer Institute, which received a $200,000 grant to develop the […] Read moreNational sheep tag fee set to start for Alberta in September
Reading Time: 2 minutes Sheep producers could be paying a reduced provincial checkoff in September. Alberta Lamb Producers (ALP) members are in the process of voting for a resolution that would lower their refundable checkoff to $1.35 from $1.50. The change is because a $0.25 national Canadian Sheep Identification Program (CSIP) tag fee is being implemented that will fund […] Read more
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