Reading Time: 4 minutes Agriculture and Agri-food Canada hired four new scientists in Alberta this past spring. Here’s a quick introduction to the newest additions to the research community: Nitynanda (Nitya) Khanal Integrated forage crops management, Beaverlodge The forage research position at Beaverlodge had been vacant for years following a retirement. But not any more — although it was […] Read more
They’ve got your back — meet four new Alberta researchers
Ag Canada’s newest researchers are working on issues that hurting or holding back producers today — or will in the future
Scientists looking for producers to participate in beef genomic trial
The project is part of the effort to use genomics to select cattle with improved feed efficiency and other desirable traits
Reading Time: 2 minutes Want to know more about the feed efficiency and traits of your cattle? Interested in contributing to research that can make a difference in Canadian beef cattle production? Researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are looking for producers to send in samples from their herds for use in a genomic prediction trial. “This will potentially […] Read more
Last chance to comment on producer car rules
The Canadian Grain Commission is looking to license producer car loading facilities
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Canadian Grain Commission is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the licensing of some groups in the grain industry. If a grain-handling operation meets the definition of an elevator or grain dealer under the Canada Grain Act, it must be either licensed or exempted by the grain commission. Licensing implies that a bond or […] Read more
New version of cattle cash advance program
Reading Time: < 1 minute Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada recently announced a new version of cash advances for cattle using coverage under the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP). Under the Advance Payments Program, producers can receive up to $400,000 in advances with the interest on the first $100,000 paid by the government. Advances can be obtained on calves, feeders, […] Read more
Canadian farmland values up again in 2015
Farm Credit Canada says the annual percentage increase in farmland values is getting smaller
Reading Time: 4 minutes Manitoba farmland values led the way with the highest average percentage increase in Canada last year, says Farm Credit Canada (FCC). But the pace of increases the last few years here and across Canada is slowing in step with the plateauing of farm cash receipts, and slower drop in interest rates, J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief […] Read more
Farm incomes set to fall from record high
Reuters — Canadian farm incomes look set to fall in 2016 after a year of record profits, but will still reach above-average levels, according to a report from the federal government. Rising receipts for crops and livestock have boosted incomes in recent years, due to greater demand in developing countries and a weak Canadian dollar, […] Read more
Farmers tangled in red tape
Reading Time: < 1 minute Government rules and paperwork hit farmers harder than other small business owners, according to a survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Three in four farmers surveyed cited government regulation and paperwork as serious concerns for their business, versus 69 per cent of businesses in other sectors. Among the “alphabet soup of regulations and […] Read more
Albertans a big part of beef researcher mentorship project
Program connects up-and-coming applied researchers with beef sector
Reading Time: 2 minutes Several Albertans will be playing a key role in a Beef Cattle Research Council initiative that connects up-and-coming applied researchers with players in the beef sector. Four beef scientists were selected from applicants across the country for the 2015-16 edition of the Beef Researcher Mentorship Program, which had a successful pilot phase in 2014-15. Each is […] Read more
Are cattle well treated during transport?
New year-long study aims to collect hard data on the condition of animals and find ways to improve transport practices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Animal welfare during transport is a hot topic, and so Alberta Farm Animal Care is conducting a cattle benchmarking project that will track the condition of animals arriving at auction marts and abattoirs. “There’s a lot of talk around transport and what’s happening with animals,” said Angela Greter, the organization’s executive director. “We hear a […] Read more
Soil scientist offers recipe for better soil health
More earthworm slime and protozoa excretions? You betcha!
Reading Time: 3 minutes You can’t control Mother Nature, but you can have some control over the health of your soil. At a recent workshop, soil scientist Jill Clapperton outlined some visible indicators of soil health, and described a few things producers could do to improve their soil. “If you have healthy plants, you have an excellent indicator that […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
