Reading Time: < 1 minute Deb Foisy of Debs Greenhouse near Morinville will offer her tips on how to use social media to boost sales in a Dec. 6 webinar. Although her greenhouse operation is “a destination garden centre,” Foisy has expanded her online efforts in the past two years and “will share the successes and challenges she’s encountered,” said […] Read more
Get the lowdown on online marketing
Webinar on offer Dec. 6
Government cash makes it a sunny day for solar power
Growing Forward 2 has put extra dollars on the table, but they’re expected to be snapped up in a hurry
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you want to get into solar, there’s now more government cash on the table — but you’ll have to hurry. The On-Farm Solar Photovoltaics Program now offers 75 cents per watt for projects of 100 kilowatts or less, and 56 cents per watt for installations that are between 100 and 150 watts. Both have […] Read more
Workshop on strategic leadership
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Forestry is again offering a full-day Strategic Leadership Workshop with Brynn Winegard on Nov. 23, 2017, at the Agriculture Business Centre in Leduc. His presentation focuses on leadership and key issues facing leaders. Before the workshop, participants will receive an assignment to familiarize themselves with the framework and to get them thinking […] Read more
Alberta duo spots opportunity lying beneath their (horses’) feet
Wood shavings isn’t the most exciting product but horses love it and Alberta produces it in abundance
Reading Time: 2 minutes A Sherwood Park-area mother and son knew horses love wood shavings for bedding, and when they discovered that Alberta sawmills generate an abundant supply, they saw an opportunity to play matchmaker. Donna and Alex von Hauff, who operate Strathcona Ventures, have since expanded into a variety of health, dust control, and non-wood-related products for both […] Read more
New tool to help Alberta food processors
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Business Assessment and Action Tool resource is now available. The resource was developed for Alberta processors to help them incorporate global best practices, find opportunities for further improvement, and leverage programs and opportunities provided by the province and Growing Forward 2 programs. The first step to using the resource is to contact a development […] Read more
Walk the safety talk — literally
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture is reminding farmers to do a full inspection on any equipment they plan to use, including a walkabout, before turning it on. That should include a “full 360-degree walk” around equipment and “looking for damage, excessive wear, loose or missing bolts, debris build-up, damaged or missing safety signs, leaks, tire inflation and fluid […] Read more
New online resource for processors and producers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has a new online resource called Meeting Customer Requirements that guides producers and processors through the necessary steps to consistently meet market standards, customer, and regulatory requirements. The resource has four modules that each take 15 to 20 minutes to complete. It helps producers and processors evaluate whether their business is able […] Read more
Alberta farmland value growth second highest in Canada
Taber and Lethbridge held the highest average farmland values in 2016, reaching over $5,800 per acre
Reading Time: 2 minutes While the rate of increase appears to be slowing, average farmland values in Alberta continue to rise. “Farmland values rose rapidly in the 1970s but were met with a substantial decline in the 1980s,” says Aaron Lawson, program assistant, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AF). “For the most part, prices recovered by the mid-’90s, and farmland […] Read more
Seeding nears the finish line, growing conditions good to excellent
Alberta crop conditions as of June 13
Reading Time: 2 minutes Over the past week, most areas of the province received at least 10 mm of rain, with the western areas of the Southern, Central and North West Regions as well as southern areas of the Peace Region receiving over 20-30 mm of rain. About 96 per cent of crops across the province have now been […] Read more
Unseeded acres this summer? Consider winter wheat
Producers have a few options for their unseeded acres this summer
Reading Time: 3 minutes A bad harvest followed by a wet, cool spring likely means that many producers won’t get all of their fields seeded this spring. And that means making the best of a bad situation. “Once we enter the middle of June, we’re looking at what producers can do with unseeded acres,” said Neil Whatley, crop specialist […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
