Reading Time: 3 minutes In 2014, I published a detailed report on the development of mentorship programs for women in agriculture from a global perspective. This report (which can be found at brendaschoepp.com) has since given flight to a number of global study topics with other Nuffield Scholars. Recently, a report in Alberta published by the Agriculture & Food […] Read more
Better credit risk, smaller loan
It’s not just that women get turned down for loans more often, but that too many aren’t getting a proper financial education
Ag students can win $1,500 award
Application deadline is May 5
Reading Time: < 1 minute Applications are being accepted for the 2016-17 Excellence Award for Agricultural Students. There are three awards (first place is worth $1,500) for the best responses to this question: Certain segments of the general public question the way food is produced, and have misgivings about the use of new technology. What concrete steps would you, as […] Read more
OMAFRA seen needing a soil health ‘tuneup’
Ontario’s environmental commissioner is calling on the provincial ag ministry to rebuild its soil health expertise and find ways to encourage farmers to adopt soil-friendly production practices, to deal with what she calls a “catastrophic” loss in soil organic matter levels. The report recommends better soil carbon level monitoring and 10-year programs to financially encourage […] Read more
Thinking of buying a sawmill?
Kerf, daily production, and whether you want to saw lumber at the harvesting site are some of the key factors
Reading Time: 2 minutes Woodlot and acreage owners wanting some lumber cut can either pay someone to custom mill their trees or buy a sawmill and do it themselves. “If it’s the latter, there are several things to consider before buying,” said provincial bioenergy/agroforestry specialist Toso Bozic. “These include the size of your operation, the sawmill type you buy, […] Read more
Get advice on how to get good advice
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has a new fact sheet on best practices when creating a business advisory board. “Business success is greatly impacted by the support and guidance of a board, which helps ensure that the business leaders are achieving the vision, and are supported with skills and expertise,” said value chain development expert Margurite […] Read more
AgriProfit$ program gets upgrades
Reading Time: < 1 minute The latest version of the AgriProfit$ program offers improved reports and faster report turnaround times. Producers who sign up and submit production cost data receive a customized farm business analysis. The program is now moving to digital data collection, so reports will be ready shortly after completing the survey with program interviewers. Reports will also […] Read more
Slave Lake and Coaldale receive community awards
Reading Time: < 1 minute Slave Lake and Coaldale have received awards from the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association. Slave Lake was given the Most Significant Community Change Award because residents have taken great steps to enhance holistic wellness in their community over the last year. After a 2011 wildfire destroyed a third of the town, residents have been rebuilding […] Read more
Landowners’ rights and exploration
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Farmers’ Advocate Office has updated one of its key publications to help landowners understand their rights relating to geophysical exploration. Geophysical Exploration and Landowners’ Rights answers the five most common questions about geophysical exploration, including whether landowners can refuse permission for exploration on their land. (They can.) It also explains the notification process and […] Read more
Ritchie Bros. buys Saskatchewan’s Kramer Auctions
One of the Prairies’ major farm auction houses has become part of the world’s biggest industrial auction firm. Vancouver-based Ritchie Bros. announced Tuesday it has bought Kramer Auctions of North Battleford, Sask. for an undisclosed sum. The company, set up in 1949 by the late Eiling Kramer, today runs about 75 on-farm dispersal auctions, four […] Read more
Province ups funding for energy efficiency projects on farms
Farm groups welcome additional funding but say ‘work still needs to be done’ to reduce impact of carbon tax
Reading Time: 3 minutes After installing about 100 solar panels on their dairy barn, the Schuurman family has reduced their energy bill by 60 per cent. And they plan to drive it lower still. “My personal conviction is that I want to be sustainable long term — I believe in climate change, and I have an opportunity to change,” […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
