Reading Time: 3 minutes Harvest 2015 is, finally, a wrap and the storyline is pretty much the same across most of the province — yields are poor but not as bad as feared, and quality is surprisingly good. The final crop report from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry says yield estimates are higher than first forecast earlier in the summer. […] Read more
A crop year that doesn’t look better in the rear-view mirror
Yields could have been worse and quality is pretty good, but this is a year distinctly lacking in high points
Will rodeo’s top showcase leave town?
Northlands’ contract for the Canadian Finals Rodeo is up in 2017 and there’s a chance the rodeo could saddle up and mosey on
Reading Time: 2 minutes Will Edmonton still be the host of Canada’s top rodeo in 2017? The Canadian Finals Rodeo has been held in conjunction with Farmfair International, owned by Northlands, for 42 years, but the contract for the rodeo showcase is up for renewal. The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association plans to issue a request for proposals, and that […] Read more
Soil health conference bringing in leading experts
Reading Time: < 1 minute Ten leading experts will present current information on concepts for improving soil health at the Western Canada Conference on Soil Health in Edmonton on Dec. 8-10. Among the speakers are Gabe Brown, Jill Clapperton, and Martin Entz. The topics include building healthier soils through grazing, cover crops, soil health assessment, and ecological farm management. The […] Read more
Open Farm Days: This is how you connect with consumers
Yes, there were questions about GMOs and hormones in meat, but the farm visitors were just ‘amazed’ by what they saw and learned
Reading Time: 4 minutes As farm leaders, Humphrey Banack and Kent Erickson are well aware that consumers are increasingly critical about how their food is produced. So they were expecting tough questions when they put up the ‘Come On In’ sign for this year’s edition of Alberta Open Farm Days. But that’s not what happened. “They were amazed at […] Read more
Start scouting: stripe rust in winter wheat is spreading north
Producers across the province need to start scouting their winter wheat fields for signs of stripe rust
Reading Time: 3 minutes Stripe rust overwintering on three winter wheat fields in the Edmonton area is “concerning,” says a provincial winter wheat agronomist. “Last year, stripe rust overwintered in the central Alberta region, near Lacombe, Red Deer, and Olds, which was alarming because it really hasn’t overwintered in years,” said Janine Paly of Ducks Unlimited Canada. “Last year, […] Read more
Spread of stripe rust to Edmonton-area cause for concern, says winter wheat researcher
Producers across the province need to start scouting their winter wheat fields for signs of stripe rust
Reading Time: 3 minutes Stripe rust overwintering on three winter wheat fields in the Edmonton area is “concerning,” says a provincial winter wheat agronomist. “Last year, stripe rust overwintered in the central Alberta region, near Lacombe, Red Deer, and Olds, which was alarming because it really hasn’t overwintered in years,” said Janine Paly of Ducks Unlimited Canada. “Last year, […] Read more
A warm welcome from a very hospitable community
The number of producers is declining, but the spirit of the farming community grows stronger and stronger
Reading Time: 3 minutes I was running seriously late and my pal Rick’s email directions for the community supper were “four miles north of Vauxhall — lots of signs.” Judging when you’re four miles from a place you’ve never been before is a little tough, but surely I couldn’t miss all those signs. I did. I spotted one marking […] Read more
Pasture the focus at conference
"Going Beyond Sustainability” will be held at the Radisson Hotel from Dec. 9-11
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Western Canadian Grazing Conference “Going Beyond Sustainability” will be held Dec. 9-11 at the Radisson Hotel, Edmonton South. This event is designed as a forum to discuss leading-edge grazing and forage techniques and theories for producers across Western Canada. Keynote speakers include Judith Schwartz who will speak on “Cows Save the Planet,” and Diane […] Read more
Trio of La Crete projects to split prize in UFA contest
The fast-growing northern community wanted to finish off Jubilee Park, give a boost to an arena project, and help the fall fair
Reading Time: 2 minutes La Crete is the first winner in this year’s edition of UFA’s Get ’n’ Give contest. The community will use the $50,000 prize for finishing Jubilee Park, supporting the fall fair, and contributing to the fundraising for construction of a riding arena. “We are tickled pink,” said project spokesperson Susan Siemens. “This is going to […] Read more
Big farm trade shows offer a chance to reconnect
Every year, Alberta’s farm shows attract hundreds of thousands of visitors — and socializing remains the major draw
Reading Time: 3 minutes Before there were smartphones, Twitter and Facebook, farmers perfected the art of social networking the good old-fashioned way — face to face at meetings, trade shows, and conferences during the busy winter season. And that’s still what keeps ’em coming back for Alberta’s two biggest farm shows. “For agricultural folk, whenever they gather, networking is […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
