Reading Time: < 1 minute A March 23 workshop will address how biocontrols can fit into an integrated pest management plan to help in greenhouse growing operations. “Biologicals are huge right now in greenhouse production and we’re seeing people introduce them and monitor them carefully for pests but at the same time aren’t quite sure where to take it from […] Read more
Learn about the good bugs
Close call changed family’s attitude to safety
A near tragedy 30 years ago made the entire Racine family realize that much more was needed to make their farm safe
Reading Time: 3 minutes Teaching kids to respect hazards is an important part of raising children safely on the farm and much can be learned from close calls. Growing up on the family farm near St. Malo, Man., the Racine children experienced their own close call while playing in a large truck. All five kids had free range of […] Read more
Running on empty? It’s time to set goals for your farm
Working 100 hours a week is ‘a recipe for burnout,’ says American farmer and author who found salvation in scaling back
Reading Time: 3 minutes It takes guts to be a farmer these days. “Farming is an extremely complex business to run, and it takes remarkable courage,” said author Rebecca Thistlethwaite, who farms in Oregon. “It demands an incredible well of passion, a willingness to learn, and ‘stick-to-it-tiveness’ to make it work.” But more and more, farmers are finding that […] Read more
Alberta ag minister promises to work with farm groups
But coalition of farm organizations still waiting to hear details of its role in shaping new workplace regulations
Reading Time: 3 minutes The governmental gears are grinding over who will be at the table for upcoming Bill 6 consultations, but a coalition of farm groups is stuck in “wait and see” mode over what role they’ll play in the shaping of workplace safety regulations. “We had over 50 nomination forms come to the coalition office to be […] Read more
Alberta Wheat chair says rail review misses the mark
Kevin Auch says lifting the revenue cap would be a mistake and reciprocal penalties are needed
Reading Time: 3 minutes A panel that spent a year and a half reviewing the Canadian Transportation Act got its key recommendations wrong. That’s the reaction from farmers, including Alberta Wheat Commission chair Kevin Auch. “We need to have some measure of a level playing field in the whole rail transportation thing,” said Auch, who farms near Carmangay. “We’re […] Read more
Bill 6 jump-starts important conversations about farm safety
The FarmSafe program offers a step-by-step guide to create a safety plan tailored to your farm
Reading Time: 3 minutes For “safety geek” Dan Trottier, Bill 6 was the shot in the arm that the agriculture industry needed to start the conversation about farm safety. “Bill 6 raised awareness about safety, and now that we’ve got some awareness, we have the opportunity for extension on how to do safety on the farm,” said Trottier, owner […] Read more
BOOM BOOM: A double dose of good news for Alberta’s farm scene
Two new mega elevators boost competition and their cutting-edge loop tracks mean super-fast turnaround times
Reading Time: 4 minutes Back-to-back announcements that Red Deer County will soon have its first-ever super-sized grain terminals are giving farmers multiple reasons to celebrate. “It’s more good news when it comes to choice for marketing — not that we ever want to see an overbuild situation — but I’m sure these folks have all done their homework,” said […] Read more
The future’s so bright, you gotta wear shades
Reading Time: < 1 minute Peer past the gloom in the oilpatch and Alberta agriculture has a pretty good story to tell. That’s why Paterson Grain is currently building an elevator at Daysland and poised to start construction on another near Innisfail. “Producers in Alberta are some of the best in the world, and the land in Alberta is very […] Read more
How to keep your kids safe on the farm
Reading Time: < 1 minute The North American Guidelines for Children’s Agricultural Tasks is an excellent resource that parents and caregivers can use to guide decisions about what kinds of farming tasks are age appropriate. These guidelines are intended for children and youth between the ages of seven to 16 and are based on childhood development, agricultural practices, principles of […] Read more
Farm families should sign a farm safety contract
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is urging farm families to write a “farm safety contract” this year. “Instead of yelling or lecturing farm kids about safety, why not work together to write down the safety rules for your farm?” says the organization, which has a two-page sample contract at agsafetyweek.ca. But before signing the […] Read more