Reading Time: 2 minutes Kanpai! That’s the Japanese term for cheers — and the day is getting closer when it will be said as glasses of a popular distilled beverage made from Alberta barley are raised. “The Japanese don’t grow enough barley to supply their own market — they need tens of thousands of tonnes of barley every year,” […] Read more
A new lucrative niche market? That’s worth toasting
A decade-long quest to supply Alberta barley into the Japanese shochu market is getting closer to a successful conclusion
Farming on tramlines topic at Tactical Farming conference
Reading Time: < 1 minute Also on the agenda at the Tactical Farming conference is a presentation on controlled traffic farming by Peter Gamache. Gamache is the project leader for Controlled Traffic Farming Alberta, which was set up in 2010 to assess if the practice of running all field equipment on the same tracks (called tramlines) — which is used […] Read more
Big data on Tactical Farming conference agenda
Conference runs Feb. 10-11 in Calgary
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farm data will be in the spotlight at the Tactical Farming conference in Calgary on Feb. 10-11. The conference will have presentations on “climate smart” precision ag (Raj Khosla), on-farm research data (Peter Kyveryga), variable-rate nitrogen for canola (Alan Moulin), using aerial imagery (Patrick Reeg), and transforming data into knowledge (Farming Smarter). The conference is […] Read more
McDonald’s confident it is now serving ‘verified sustainable’ beef
It’s only a small amount at present, but McDonald’s says beef that meets its environmental and other standards is now in the supply chain
Reading Time: 3 minutes McDonald’s says it is now selling ‘verified sustainable’ beef — but is holding off on saying it has fulfilled the pledge it made to consumers two years ago. “We’re confident that we are sourcing verified sustainable beef because we have completed 82 full verifications,” said Jeffrey Fitzpatrick-Stilwell, senior manager of sustainability with McDonald’s Canada. “Because […] Read more
Livestock drug use back in the spotlight
New ‘superbug’ gene has alarm bells ringing around world and will likely mean more oversight of antimicrobials here
Reading Time: 3 minutes The discovery that a much feared “superbug” gene has somehow crossed the border into Canada is increasing calls for more oversight of on-farm antibiotic and antimicrobial use. The new gene, called MCR-1, makes bacteria immune to a group of antibiotics used as the last defence to fight resistant bugs. MCR-1 was confirmed to have surfaced […] Read more
Nominations sought for AFAC’s Awards of Distinction
Deadline for nominations is Feb. 15
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Farm Animal Care is seeking nominations for its Awards of Distinction, which recognize individuals or groups who have made exceptional contributions in the field of livestock welfare. There are three award categories: The communication award recognizes those who have taken an active role in effectively getting the message out about livestock issues, and informing […] Read more
Starland County wants to spark solar revolution
The county established a co-op that is planning a solar farm that it hopes will be a model for Alberta communities
Reading Time: 3 minutes A new co-op plans to develop the first community-owned solar farm on the Prairies — a 12-acre block of solar panels to be located in Starland County. But the ultimate goal is much larger — to create a model that can be replicated across the province. “We’re excited that we can be a good host […] Read more
Top guns for agri-tourism workshops coming to Airdrie
Agri-tourism, farm-direct marketing workshops being held Feb. 23 – 24
Reading Time: < 1 minute You can learn from the best about agri-tourism and farm-direct marketing at two workshops being held on Feb. 23 in Leduc and Feb. 24 in Airdrie. They will be led by Mark Saunders and Angela Grant of Saunders Farm, an award-winning operation near Ottawa that began welcoming farm visitors 25 years ago. “Originally a strawberry […] Read more
Ag minister vows to listen to farm groups
Groups create ‘historic collaboration’ to fight for sensible workplace rules
Reading Time: 3 minutes After ramming through new farm safety legislation at year’s end, the provincial government seems to have changed its tune. “I want to be clear right now — we will be taking the time necessary to make sure we get this right,” Agriculture and Forestry Minister Oneil Carlier said at the Alberta Federation of Agriculture annual […] Read more
Workplace safety officers have ‘serious powers’
They include the right to compel statements, inspect what they want, and take samples without a warrant
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta farmers are right to be worried about how the industry’s new health and safety legislation will be enforced. “Officers have some broad, sweeping powers,” said David Myrol, a lawyer at McLennan Ross LLP who specializes in occupational health and safety (OHS) law. “When the OHS officer comes knocking at the door, the playing field […] Read more