Reading Time: 2 minutes What makes a farm profitable? “Recently, farm management expert Professor Eric A. DuVuyst of Oklahoma State University shared three traits common to all successful producers, drawing on observations and experience gained from working within five U.S. land grant universities,” said provincial farm management specialist Rick Dehod. “We definitely see these same three common traits in […] Read more
The three common traits of profitable farms
Know your costs for every enterprise, spend money to make money, and never run short of working capital
Diamond City couple newest Outstanding Young Farmers
Reading Time: 2 minutes Two city kids and a 32-year-old with nearly two decades of farming under his belt were among the entrants vying to be Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2016. In the end, Shane and Kristin Schooten were selected to represent the province in the national event, which will be held in Niagara Falls in November. Kristin, […] Read more
New beef checkoff division in business
Reading Time: < 1 minute Melinda German is the new general manager of the Canadian Beef Cattle Research, Market Development and Promotion Agency. This is a new position for the agency, which is best known for its marketing arm (Canada Beef) and its research division (Beef Cattle Research Council). German, who was the general manager of Manitoba Beef Producers, will head […] Read more
Renowned Lacombe crops researcher given prestigious award
Reading Time: 2 minutes Former provincial crops researcher Jim Helm has been awarded the prestigious American Society of Agronomy Distinguished Service Award. This award is given only to highly distinguished nominees who have made a transformational contribution to the agronomy profession. “Jim Helm is a household name among cereal breeders and scientists worldwide,” says nominator John Ryan, a former […] Read more
Beef nutrition expert honoured
Reading Time: < 1 minute Nutrition and management expert John McKinnon is the 2015 winner of the Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation. The researcher and University of Saskatchewan professor was honoured for his “phenomenal contributions to advancements in the competitiveness and sustainability of the Canadian beef industry,” said the Beef Cattle Research Council. McKinnon’s research focuses […] Read more
Nominees sought for Agriculture Hall of Fame
Deadline for nominations is April 30
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations to honour individuals who have made significant contributions to the province’s agriculture and agri-food industry, and to the development and sustainability of rural life in Alberta. “Every two years, Alberta’s Agriculture Hall of Fame recognizes up to three Albertans whose outstanding leadership, innovation, and business […] Read more
Plunging shipping rates could help Canadian exporters
Reading Time: < 1 minute The recent drop in bulk ocean shipping costs strengthens Canada’s ability to compete with other countries, particularly those closer to Canada’s export markets, says provincial crops analyst Neil Blue. High rates just prior to the 2008 recession, prompted shipping firms to build new vessels and there’s now lots of shipping capacity. That’s set the stage […] Read more
Awards competition for ag students
Students can gain up to $1,500 towards their education
Reading Time: < 1 minute Ag students can gain up to $1,500 towards their education in the Excellence Award for Agricultural Students competition. The award from Farm Management Canada and the Canadian Association of Diploma in Agriculture Programs encourages agricultural students to enhance their communication skills and raise awareness of the importance of farm business management. Entrants must submit a […] Read more
Oil bust could mean skyrocketing property taxes
Some Alberta municipalities are being hit hard as oil companies stop paying
Reading Time: 2 minutes With oil prices bottoming out around $30 a barrel, oil companies are scrambling to save money — sometimes at the expense of farmers. “Some companies are just deciding not to pay the annual rentals,” said Daryl Bennett, who represents the Action Surface Rights Association in southern Alberta. Last year, the Surface Rights Board had more […] Read more
Livestock inventory adjustments can have a big effect
Accrual accounting gives you a true picture of how your farm did in the past year, but inventory values can change dramatically
Reading Time: < 1 minute When it comes to doing an accrual, it’s important to remember a change in value for an inventory item can have a dramatic effect in calculating the accrual adjustments, says a provincial farm financial specialist. For example, if you have 500 cows that had a value of $2,000 each on Dec. 31, 2014, and their […] Read more