Reading Time: 3 minutes Paying farmers for stewardship that produces environmental benefits isn’t a new idea, but it’s one that’s been slow to catch on in Canada. Coronation rancher Tim Smith wants to know why — and what can be done to move ecological goods and services into the mainstream of agriculture here. “There are benefits in grassland biodiversity […] Read more
It’s time to reward ranch stewardship, says Alberta Nuffield scholar
Coronation rancher Tim Smith will travel the globe to find ways to bring ecological goods and services into the Canadian mainstream
We need to look at land in the larger context
Fear of ‘peak soil’ is driving global investment and raising questions about who will control it in the future
Reading Time: 3 minutes A man named Louis Glickman once said, “The best investment on Earth – is earth.” And what do we, as farmers, know of this great gift? We know it is the foundation of civilization, the centre of well-being, and the giver of abundance, including joy. We know that it is scarred with the battles that […] Read more
Tapping into nutrients and tackling compaction with tillage radishes
The forage brassica has big-time potential for rejuvenating tired, compacted pastures — but there’s a learning curve
Reading Time: 3 minutes How effective are tillage radishes in rejuvenating poor soil and pastures? Staff at Clearwater County have been experimenting with tillage radishes to see if their theoretical benefits hold up in the real world. The fast-growing brassica can be used in forages as a cover crop and as feed for cattle; its long taproot can open […] 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
Farm family weathers Mother Nature’s worst through diversification
Bowden farm has branched out from grain, cattle, and seed potatoes into agri-tourism and community-supported agriculture
Reading Time: 3 minutes In a bad year, the Great White Combine does a good chunk of the harvesting in Hailstorm Alley — a little pocket of central Alberta that sees more than its fair share of hail. And there have been more bad years than good in John Mills’ farming career. “I’ve been back on the farm for […] Read more
Manage crop residue with next year in mind
Reading Time: < 1 minute How you harvest, what you are using to harvest, and what you do with the residue will have a huge effect on what happens next spring. “Crop residue isn’t trash as it has a significant amount of fertilizer value,” said provincial crop specialist Harry Brook. “The straw has probably the lion’s share of this, as […] Read more
Stewardship program expecting a flood of new applicants
About 8,000 producers have completed an Environmental Farm Plan — but that number is about to grow by 5,000 a year
Reading Time: 3 minutes Jason Bradley thought he was a pretty good steward of the land — but doing an Environmental Farm Plan helped him become a better one. “If it wasn’t for the Environmental Farm Plan, this would not have come to fruition,” said the manager of Red Deer River Ranches, indicating the fenced-in riparian areas and the […] Read more
The five keys to assessing rangeland health
The old adage about not being able to manage what you can’t measure applies to rangelands
Reading Time: 3 minutes Native rangelands are key assets to livestock producers — and rangeland health assessments allow them to adjust grazing practices to achieve productive, sustainable grazings. A rangeland assessment system looks at the five key functions of rangelands: integrity and ecological status; community structure; hydrologic function and nutrient cycling; site stability, and noxious weeds. And in all […] Read more
Nominations sought for pollinator award
Reading Time: < 1 minute Nominations are being sought for the 2015 Canadian Farmer-Rancher Pollinator Conservation Award. Individuals or families in Canada currently implementing pollinator protection measures on their farm or ranch are encouraged to apply. The award recognizes farmers and ranchers who have made significant efforts in conserving natural ecosystems, fostering additional pollinator habitat, and protecting pollinators. The recipient […] Read more
Soil fertility is about more than nutrients
Expert says farmers need to learn more about the physical and biological structures of the soil
Reading Time: 2 minutes Many farmers tend to focus on the chemical composition of the soil, and ignore its other two key components — and that’s a mistake, says a crop and soil nutrient management specialist. “Farmers need to understand more about the physical and biological structures of the soil to manage their cropping systems,” said Yamily Zavala of […] Read more
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