Reading Time: 3 minutes Time is running out for producers trying to deal with unharvested — and unsalvageable — acres. And the situation could become a train wreck for many of them if the province’s crop insurer can’t speed up its assessments, say farm groups. “Within certain regions, I would say that dire is an apt description because there […] Read more
UNHARVESTED ACRES: Farmers scrambling to avert a second wreck
If your crop is a writeoff you need an insurance assessment — but you need to get out on the land to get a sample first
Alberta farm groups want provincial action on unharvested crops
A coalition of Alberta farm groups calling itself “Team Alberta” is meeting with the province’s agriculture minister and representatives from the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) on Wednesday seeking immediate action regarding approximately one million unharvested acres still sitting in farmers’ fields. They are recommending that farmers in the hardest hit areas of Alberta be […] Read more
Cereal commissions launch mentorship program
Registration deadline for AdvancingAg Future Leaders is March 13
Reading Time: < 1 minute The province’s two main cereal groups are launching their version of a mentorship program that has already been a proven success in the beef sector. “The AdvancingAg Future Leaders program is about fostering a strong network of future agriculture leaders for a progressive and vibrant cropping industry in Alberta,” Kevin Bender, vice-chair of the Alberta […] Read more
Province needs to soften the carbon tax blow
‘Team Alberta’ is pitching enhanced carbon credits
Reading Time: 4 minutes The carbon tax has kicked in, but producers are still trying to figure out its impact — and what can be done to ease the hit on the bottom line. “Everything we buy — whether it is in inputs, fertilizers, freights, parts, machinery — all of those service providers to us are all impacted. Their […] Read more
Grain elevators reporting spike in heated canola
More heated canola is being reported so producers should check for heated seeds by coring bins or transferring their grain to another bin
Reading Time: 3 minutes Growers, check your bins — grain terminals across Alberta have reported a spike in heated canola, and your cereals may be in danger as well. “I did a sample of canola two or three weeks ago and it already had four per cent of heated in it, and canola can deteriorate very quickly,” Larry Michta […] Read more
Alberta producers aren’t sold on sustainability certification programs
Only 30 per cent of farmers believe sustainability certification will be part of doing business in the next five years
Reading Time: 4 minutes Alberta producers don’t know much about sustainability certification programs — but they don’t think it matters much anyway. Those were the key findings of a survey of 400 Alberta producers who were asked about sustainability practices on their farms. While producers are making headway on adopting sustainable production practices, they’re not yet sold on the […] Read more
Barley groups pledge $2.4 million for barley breeding
Thanks in part to producer funding, the Crop Development Centre has released more than 70 barley varieties
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Barley, its Saskatchewan and Manitoba counterparts, and the Western Grains Research Foundation will provide more than $2.4 million over five years to the barley variety development program at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre. Since 1995, producers have invested almost $15 million into barley variety development through the research foundation. “This funding provides […] Read more
Alberta Barley has three board and 17 delegate spots open
The deadline for nominations is Oct. 31 with the election taking place Dec. 8
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta Barley is seeking nominations for directors and delegates. There are 20 positions available, including two directors (Regions 3 and 4) and one director-at-large (Region 1, 2, 3 or 6). Seventeen spots are available for delegates with at least one opening in five of the six Alberta Barley electoral regions. “Volunteering your time as a […] Read more
Checkoff refund deadline looming
Reading Time: < 1 minute The deadline for applying for a refund for wheat and barley checkoffs is at the end of the month. The five-year transitional Wheat and Barley Check-Off was established four years ago and is administered by Alberta Barley. The checkoff is 48 cents per tonne of wheat and 56 cents per tonne of barley (four cents […] Read more
Food development centre gets $10-million boost
Crop commissions welcome funding to expand the Leduc food development facility
Reading Time: < 1 minute A $10-million expansion of the food development facility in Leduc is being welcomed by the provincial wheat and barley commissions. “We hope this capital injection will be a catalyst for further innovation from the Food Processing Development Centre,” said Alberta Barley chair Mike Ammeter, who farms near Sylvan Lake. The centre and Agrivalue Processing Business […] Read more
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