London | Reuters – The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking a new leader for its France-based cancer research agency to replace the current director, Chris Wild, from January 2019. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a semi-autonomous unit of the WHO, is currently under scrutiny by influential members of the United States […] Read more
WHO seeks new director for cancer agency facing U.S. scrutiny
Buckle up — workplace safety rules may be in for a rough ride
Mandatory seatbelt use is among several ‘pretty big’ regulations that don’t make sense, says the AgCoalition
Reading Time: 5 minutes Over the objections of its farmer members, a committee has recommended the province make seatbelt use mandatory in tractors, combines, and other farm equipment. Forcing farmers to buckle up is just one — although likely the most controversial — of 142 recommendations from four “technical working groups” established to turn Bill 6 into actual occupational […] Read more
Fund set up for family of James Hargrave
Reading Time: < 1 minute A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family of rancher James Hargrave, who died in a vehicle crash while helping to fight wildfires along the Alberta/Saskatchewan border. Hargrave, 34, was chairman of the Alberta Grazing Leaseholders Association and first vice-president of the Western Stock Growers Association. The Walsh-area rancher “was community minded […] Read more
Temper tantrums: There’s way too much drama on some farms
A Facebook post on hand signals prompted an outpouring of comments from farm women subjected to angry tirades
Reading Time: 4 minutes This summer, a young female farmer posted the following message on Facebook: My husband is the worst ever at hand signals. Ten yrs. farming together and I still have no freaking clue what he is trying to signal to me. It would help if he actually used conventional signals and not his own secret signal […] Read more
Cargill fined $10 million for inaccurate swaps information: CFTC
Washington/Chicago/Reuters – Cargill Inc will pay a $10 million fine for providing inaccurate information on swaps to protect its revenue, and for failing to supervise the company’s swap dealers, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said on Monday. The CFTC said that beginning in 2013, Cargill did not comply with regulations on thousands of complex swaps […] Read more
Budding 4-H scientists have a chance to shine
Reading Time: < 1 minute 4-H members in Grades 7 to 12 are invited to enter their innovative science fair projects for the third annual 4-H Canada Science Fair — the only non-school science fair in the country. Entrants, who can register and get more detailed information at the 4-H Canada website until Jan. 16, have a chance to compete […] Read more
Time to get the dead wood out
Reading Time: < 1 minute The annual elm-pruning ban is over until March 31, so it’s time to remove dead wood that can attract elm bark beetles, says the Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED). The beetles breed and overwinter in dead and dying elms but trees can’t be pruned between April 1 and Sept. 30 because the pests […] Read more
Alberta students win Monsanto Fund scholarships
Reading Time: < 1 minute Thirteen young Albertans are among the 65 students who have been awarded a $1,500 scholarship from the Monsanto Fund. The scholarships are for students entering their first year of agriculture or food-related studies at a Canadian university and college. Traditionally the Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship Program required applicants to be from a farm and entering […] Read more
Memories are made of this — 4-H exchange creates deep bonds
Reading Time: 4 minutes “We were waiting at the airport and the kids were all excited. But even though we had a big sign welcoming them, they were looking for their luggage and kind of walked by us. But when we got off the plane (in Nova Scotia four weeks later) and walked through the airport doors, everyone was […] Read more
New technology brings new risks to the farm, say experts
Advances — from needleless injectors to auto steer — make farming easier, but also have safety implications
Reading Time: 3 minutes New technology brings many advantages to the farm, but can also result in unintended hazards, both for farmers and animals. This was stressed numerous times during presentations on technology at this year’s Canadian Agricultural Safety Association annual general meeting. Read more: AgSafe Alberta offering free safety programs for farmers “There’s a lot of routine work on […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
