Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s not often you find yourself in the middle of a field with full Wi-Fi bars on your phone. But what else would you expect from a ‘smart farm?’ “This is the classroom coming alive,” said Jason Bradley, director of smart ag for Olds College. “The smart farm is a place where students can get […] Read more
Students will find tomorrow’s technology today at ‘smart farm’
Operation will use tech ranging from drones and data analytics to multispectral imaging and AI
Plenty of jobs in budding cannabis industry
Spots in Olds College cannabis program snapped up in hours, with hundreds of jobs in Alberta beckoning
Reading Time: 3 minutes Olds College’s new cannabis production program isn’t some half-baked idea — it’s high time. “We’ve been offering horticulture programming for over 50 years, so it makes sense for this new facet of the horticulture industry to come our way for training,” said Debbie Thompson, the college’s vice-president academic and student experience. “It’s a new industry […] Read more
Cherries and berries workshop
Workshop at Olds College, register by Feb. 14
Reading Time: < 1 minute Sour cherries and haskap are excellent fruit crops to grow in Alberta, with lots of potential markets for these tasty berries. Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has organized a full-day workshop in Olds on all aspects of growing these crops, from planting to harvest. Participants will receive information on varietal selection, establishment, maintenance, and harvest of […] Read more
Attend this forage webinar in person
'In-person' webinar Dec. 12 at Olds College Bell-E Learning Centre
Reading Time: < 1 minute The webinar season is underway, but that can be a challenge for those who’ve never participated in these online learning events (or those with poor internet connections). So the Beef Cattle Research Council is inviting producers to attend its Dec. 12 webinar on forage diseases in person. The webinar on forage diseases that affect yield, […] Read more
Genomics testing now available for commercial herds
Knowing more about your cattle’s DNA can help you make better decisions, says non-profit developer of test
Reading Time: 3 minutes Delta Genomics has released a new genomics tool that will help commercial cattle producers determine breed composition and fertility of their cattle. EnVigour HX, which was released in February, allows producers of crossbred cattle to tap into the power of genomics, said Michelle Miller, chief executive officer of the not-for-profit genomics service division of Livestock Gentec. […] Read more
‘Build your cow herd’ workshops on tap
Workshops begin Oct. 23 and run to early November across Alberta
Reading Time: < 1 minute Wondering how to use genomics, deal with lower-quality feed, or about health issues faced by cattle producers in your area? Then you may want to attend one of 10 workshops being held across Alberta in late October and early November. The ‘Tools to build your cow herd’ workshops are being put on by Alberta Agriculture […] Read more
Trio of groups proposes Alberta-based agrifood ‘supercluster’
Agrium, Olds College and global satellite communications corporation MDA have submitted an application to the federal government to form an agrifood “supercluster.” The Liberal government committed up to $950 million (over five years) in its March budget to create hubs that would focus on key economic sectors in an effort to kickstart investment, boost exports […] Read more
If it is happening in research, it is happening here in Alberta
The list of research centres is long and varied — and all of them are part of our competitive advantage
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta is a hive of exciting and interesting research activity that is a benefit to agriculture and society. From bees to bovines, we employ world-class scientists who work with enthusiastic producer groups. Livestock (under the federal definition) includes bees, and the National Bee Diagnostic Centre is in Alberta, a partnership between the Grande Prairie Regional […] Read more
Olds College to create ‘smart agriculture’ centre
Reading Time: < 1 minute Olds College has been given a $16-million donation it will use to create an institute specializing in ‘smart agriculture.’ The Werklund Agriculture Institute will use big data, technology, and enhanced Internet connectivity to increase the quality and quantity of agricultural production. The funding is a gift from David Werklund, an entrepreneur best known for his […] Read more
College student turns brewery waste into a budding business
Reading Time: 3 minutes Two years ago, Alex Villeneuve was pressing the moisture out of spent grain with two stainless steel bowls in his Olds College dorm room, wondering what he was doing with his life. But that all changed when he was awarded a $5,000 innovation incubator grant — the “launching point” for Ceres Solutions Ltd., a company […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
