Reading Time: 3 minutes This much is known. “We’re not going to have a disease-free year — that’s for sure,” said Michael Harding, a research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “The environment will determine how much we see and which pathogens have the ability to cause the most serious issues.” And just what kind of environment — […] Read more
Trouble looming if there’s another cool, wet spring
Four to Watch: Increasing disease levels over the last few years could lead to big-time outbreaks if the environmental conditions are right
Avoid a cash crunch
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development has an online cash flow analyzer. The analyzer is a spreadsheet that allocates an operation’s cash requirements throughout the year, allowing the user to create a cash flow budget, and identify those months with the largest draws. It can also be used to calculate demands on operating loan and the resulting […] Read more
New forage resources available
Reading Time: < 1 minute Foragebeef.ca has added new fact sheets and a research paper. The fact sheets are: Oats, Triticale and Corn Winter Grazing Comparison — an update on winter grazing; Triticale Swath Grazing Demonstration Project; and a financial analysis entitled Will a hay shed pay? by Alberta Agriculture economist Dale Kaliel. Also available is a paper titled: Effect […] Read more
A dark cloud with a silver lining for hog producers in 2014
Five to Remember: The threat of PEDv hung over the sector all year, but the virus was kept at bay and strong prices helped heal years of hurt
Reading Time: 3 minutes Back in April, Murray Markert spoke for the entire Alberta pork sector when asked to sum up the mood of producers. “Relief” was the Vulcan farmer’s single-word answer. And that’s a good way to sum up the entire year. Despite a close call in October, the sector was poised to end the year the way […] Read more
Want a can’t miss weather forecast for 2015? Then don’t look here
Five to Remember: Vagaries of weather forecasts prove there's no crystal ball involved
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you’re looking for a crystal ball to predict the weather for the coming year, steer clear of whatever brand Environment Canada is using. “In October or November, it does its forecast of what the winter’s going to be like, and for three years in a row now, it has been diametrically 180 degrees opposite […] Read more
New booklets offer help for farm-direct marketers
Reading Time: < 1 minute A pair of new booklets — one on regulations and one on labels — can help farm-direct marketers better understand the regulations around their businesses. The regulations booklet looks at both federal and provincial legislation and how acts and regulation can affect direct marketers. The food labels booklet looks at basic labelling requirements, including sections […] Read more
Guide for marketing crops and livestock updated
Agricultural Marketing Guide outlines marketing basics, managing risks, and ways to get more value from crops or livestock
Reading Time: 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development has recently updated the Agricultural Marketing Guide. “This guide is for all farm managers, agribusinesses and anyone who deals with farmers or needs a better understanding of farm product marketing,” said Jennifer Stoby, market analyst for agriculture inputs. For example, under the grain- and oilseed-marketing section there is information on […] Read more
Record-keeping rules for manure
Records must be kept for five years and include who handled the manure, and what, where, and when manure was applied
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development is reminding producers and manure haulers and applicators who handle more than 500 tonnes per year of manure that they must keep records for a minimum of five years. “When we are talking about manure, we’re including everything from manure, compost, bedding, and feed to the wash water,” said Deanne […] Read more
Taste of Canada a hit
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Taste of Canada event, on Nov. 3-4 in San Francisco featured 40 Canadian exhibitors, 25 buyers, 345 pre-scheduled appointments, and 1,000 business-to- business interactions. The annual two-day food showcase attracted buyers such as Trader Joe’s, Williams Sonoma, Kroger, and Raley’s Fine Foods. “A buyer who attended told me that they got more done at […] Read more
Bale grazing saves time and money, and boosts pasture productivity
Cattle producers can save more than 40 cents per cow per day – but the time savings and more lush pastures are the big benefits
Reading Time: 4 minutes An “old throwback” way of feeding cattle is gaining traction among producers who are looking to save a little time in their day-to-day chores — and a bit of money. “Bale grazing is an approach to feeding cattle in winter that tries to look at reducing costs,” said Grant Lastiwka, a forage specialist with Alberta […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
