Reading Time: < 1 minute Applications for the second round of grants from the On Farm Climate Action Fund open today. RDAR, the agency delivering most of Alberta’s share of the $200-million federal program, has posted new resources on its website. They include an updated seven-page FAQ document that answers common questions on eligibility, applying, receiving funding, and general program […] Read more
Round 2 of climate grants opening
Lethbridge College gets $2-million for ag research facility
Reading Time: < 1 minute Lethbridge College has been given $2-million by Ottawa to complete a new research facility and lab. The Agriculture Research Innovation Facility is housed in what was called the Farm Stewardship Centre when it was operated by the provincial agriculture ministry. It was acquired by the college in 2022. It will be home to seven research […] Read more
Round 2 of climate funding set to start
Reading Time: < 1 minute Producers will again be able to apply for grants from the On-Farm Climate Action Fund. More than 700 applications were received from Alberta producers during the first round of funding last year by RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research), which is administering most of Alberta’s share of the $200 million federal program. Farms can get up […] Read more
Program targets worker shortage, promotes careers in ag
Reading Time: < 1 minute The province and Ottawa are giving $2.5 million to Ag for Life so the non-profit can promote ag careers and help companies with recruitment and worker retention. Best known for its classroom education program, Ag for Life will distribute two types of grants aimed at helping reduce a labour shortage in the ag and food […] Read more
Many farmers – but not all – are cashing in on interest-free loans
With the first $250,000 interest-free, producers can save big with a cash advance
Reading Time: 4 minutes There may not be such a thing as free cash, but an interest-free loan of up to a quarter-million dollars may be the closest thing to it. Administrators of the federal Advance Payments Program say they’ve seen a big jump in applications since the interest-free portion of the loan was increased to $250,000 (from $100,000 […] Read more
Take advantage of cash advances, says expert
Right now, producers can get a loan of up to $250,000 interest free
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farmers who aren’t getting cash advances to reduce their interest expenses should take another look at the federal program, says a provincial crops market analyst. The Advance Payments Program, as its formally called, has been expanded over the years and now covers a wider range of farming operations but “many producers do not take advantage […] Read more
Federal climate cash gets a welcome from producers here
Many farmers had rotational grazing, cover crops or nitrogen management on their to-do list
Reading Time: 3 minutes Federal climate cash is flowing out the door and being put to work on rotational grazing, cover cropping or nitrogen management projects on Alberta farms. “We’ve been out on a couple of farms to see projects and talk to people,” said Fiona Briody, program manager for RDAR (Results Driven Agriculture Research). “There are just really […] Read more
Opinion: The emissions controversy offers an opportunity for both sides
Like many farmers, I’m concerned but also see there’s a way to move forward if we work together
Reading Time: 3 minutes You may have heard the buzz lately. There has been a lot of talk about emissions, environmental impact, and what the future looks like with a changing climate. The past few weeks have been dominated by conversations about the government of Canada’s plan to reduce emissions from on-farm fertilizer use. With little substance revealed regarding […] Read more
Supply doesn’t meet demand for ag workers in Alberta
People are submitting applications, but there’s a lack of follow-through and quality, say business owners
Reading Time: 3 minutes Aerial field sprayers are the fighter pilots of industry, swooping low and fast while dropping chemical armaments over fields. They’re used to challenges such as avoiding obstacles including power lines, trees, buildings and vehicles. But they’re facing a new challenge — getting chemical delivered to the aircraft. Calvin Murray, founder of Early Bird Air near […] Read more
Federal, provincial governments partner on ecological goods and services program
Few details available so far on the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program, but producers think it’s a good step
Reading Time: 3 minutes A new federal ecological goods and services program, the first of its kind, was announced in late July as part of the next five-year agriculture framework dubbed the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. About $250 million will fund a new Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP), designed to support ecological goods and services provided by the agriculture […] Read more
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