Reading Time: < 1 minute The Inspiring Rural Leadership pilot project is looking for participants. “At some point in everyone’s life –— whether it’s in the workplace, the community, or a family setting — we’re called upon to be a leader,” said Shari Hanson, leadership specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “The Inspiring Rural Leadership program aims to help […] Read more
Rural leadership pilot project looking for participants
Registration deadline Feb. 18
Sharpen your pencil before deciding whether to spray
Determining the economic threshold on when it pays to spray is not cut and dried, says research economist
Reading Time: 2 minutes The decision on whether to spray or not can be a difficult one for producers, says an Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development specialist, and the wrong decision can have serious financial consequences. “Today’s farm business managers wear many different hats, and mycology and entomology may not be their area of expertise,” said research economist Nevin […] Read more
Cash flow really is king when growing your farm
Tighter margins have upped the danger level for farms that have expanded or just getting started
Reading Time: 2 minutes Cash is the lifeblood of a business, but with so much emphasis on profitability, this can be easily overlooked, says Rick Dehod, farm financial specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Of course, the bottom line is important, but poor cash flow management can drive a growing and/or profitable company out of business,” said Dehod. […] Read more
Opportunities for organic hemp growers
Manitoba Harvest and Hemp Oil Canada are still looking for organic producers
Reading Time: 2 minutes An Alberta Agriculture crop specialist says there are opportunities for growing hemp in the province, particularly organic hemp. “Many people may now be aware that the majority of the hemp grown in Alberta is for seed purposes,” said Harry Brook, crop specialist with the Alberta Ag-Info Centre in Stettler. “The market is strong for hemp […] Read more
Employers wanted for Lethbridge job fair
Reading Time: < 1 minute If you’re looking to hire, employers are wanted for the job fair in Lethbridge on Feb. 26. “We had 18 companies at last year’s fair in Lethbridge and we’re hoping for even more this time,” said Al Dooley, labour recruitment specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. Employers that participated at past job fairs include: […] Read more
Alberta Farm Fresh School 2015
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Farm Fresh School 2015 takes place Feb. 26-27 at the Pomeroy Inn and Suites on the Olds College campus. “This annual school is the perfect place to learn more about direct- market production and marketing of fruit, vegetables and livestock, as well as connect with producer peers and experts,” said Rob Spencer, provincial […] Read more
Will you have enough water when you need it?
Growing Forward 2 funding is available for new water sources such as wells and dugouts
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winter is a good time to review your water resources and identify any risks, says a provincial water engineer. “It’s the perfect season to spend some time working on your long-term water management plan,” said Melissa Orr-Langner. The goal of the plan is to ensure a farm has adequate and sustainable water sources to meet […] Read more
New hotline for reporting rats
Province says even calls left after hours or on weekends will be responded to within 24 hours
Reading Time: < 1 minute Albertans now have a new way to report rat sightings. “Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development has a new easily remembered phone number, 310-RATS (7287), for all Albertans to report possible rat sightings,” said rat inspector Bruce Hamblin. “It’s not a replacement for the current system of reporting rats, but it is an addition to it.” […] Read more
Pain mitigation in livestock conference
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Antimicrobial Stewardship & Pain Mitigation in Livestock: Current Developments Conference will take place Jan. 27, 2015 in Olds at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites. The conference, which is free, will feature presentations on pain mitigation from a welfare standpoint, the management perspective, respiratory pathogens, pain mitigation for livestock, swine, and horses, antimicrobial resistance and poultry, […] Read more
Payoff from variable-rate technology is variable
Study of variable-rate fertilizer application finds it’s not a ‘slam dunk’ — sometimes it pays and sometimes it doesn’t
Reading Time: 2 minutes Does variable-rate fertilizer application pay off? Sure it does — if you can find the areas of the field that need it, suggests a recent financial analysis of variable-rate technology (VRT) conducted in Lethbridge. “The more fertilizer you put on, the better results you get,” said Mark Wobick, a farm management consultant with MNP. “But […] Read more
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