Reading Time: 3 minutes A$500,000 donation will create almost 1,000 additional acres of conservation land in southern Alberta. “This funding pretty clearly identifies ALUS’s niche,” said Bryan Gilvesy, CEO of ALUS Canada, the organization receiving the donation. “This program isn’t about the traditional environmental ethics of protecting existing features. This harnesses the skills and energy of farmers and ranchers […] Read more
Donation will spark conservation projects across southern Alberta
A $500,000 gift from philanthropist David Bissett will fund 186 projects on 39 farms and ranches
Carbon credit program ain’t what it used to be
A rising carbon tax should put more money in farmers’ pockets, but participation rates have gone down
Reading Time: 5 minutes Greenhouse gases were on the minds of many Alberta farmers a decade ago when no till offered good cash from selling carbon offset credits. Fast-forward to 2017 and things have changed. Although there is still a lot of participation in the province’s carbon credit trading and sequestration program, many believe it has become too demanding, […] Read more
Farmers who know the ropes stay with the program
It takes time and effort to fulfil the record-keeping requirements for the carbon trading program
Reading Time: < 1 minute It’s difficult to track exactly how many farmers participate in the province’s carbon trading program. The tonnage of carbon traded by producers has been constant in the last few years, but there’s likely been a drop-off since 2012 when the ability to claim historical carbon credits ended, said a greenhouse gas agrologist with Alberta Agriculture […] Read more
Forestburg 4-H club lets members clown around
Reading Time: 4 minutes Not many people can say they just clown around when volunteering, but 4-H leader Caroline Boddy does just that, thanks (in part) to her willingness to say yes. “I am notorious for just saying yes to absolutely everything,” Boddy said with a laugh. “That seems to work really, really well for me — it opens […] Read more
Alberta students receive 4-H scholarships
Reading Time: < 1 minute Six Alberta students have received 4-H scholarships for their post-secondary education. Andrea DeGroot, Kaylie Krys, and Katrina Taylor were among 15 4-H members from across the country to receive John Deere Canada 4-H scholarships, which are worth $1,000. DeGroot along with fellow Albertan Nicole Steed and six other young Canadians also received $1,000 CIBC 4-H […] Read more
Landowners not on the hook for insolvent gas or oil companies
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Utilities Commission recently released a decision confirming its authority to order refunds for the electrification costs of oil and gas leases that were mistakenly billed to farmers. Last year, an electric utility was trying to collect payment from farmers for electricity supplied to an insolvent oil and gas company. Some landowners brought the […] Read more
With interest rates on the rise, is it time to lock in?
Variable rates have been a winner for decades, but a fixed rate is an option worth considering
Reading Time: 2 minutes Is it time to lock into a fixed long-term mortgage? “Since 1975, the majority of the time the variable interest rate has been the better option and has saved producers money,” said provincial farm financial specialist Rick Dehod. However, the Bank of Canada recently increased its prime rate by a quarter of a percentage point […] Read more
Walk the safety talk — literally
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture is reminding farmers to do a full inspection on any equipment they plan to use, including a walkabout, before turning it on. That should include a “full 360-degree walk” around equipment and “looking for damage, excessive wear, loose or missing bolts, debris build-up, damaged or missing safety signs, leaks, tire inflation and fluid […] Read more
Farmers’ markets allowed to offer local beer
Craft breweries and local distilleries excited by the chance to introduce their products to a wider range of Albertans
Reading Time: 2 minutes Shoppers at provincially approved farmers’ markets can now crack open a brew or sip a bit of vodka. “We’re really excited with the news. It offers us the chance to expand our customer base and reach out to different sales channels,” said Marty Shaw, general manager of Ribstone Creek Brewery in Edgerton. The move puts […] Read more
Proposed tax changes could hit farmers hard
Ottawa’s plan to make wealthy Canadians pay their fair share of taxes could cripple your retirement or succession plans
Reading Time: 4 minutes Proposed changes to the federal income tax act could have far-reaching consequences for Canadian farmers. “The proposals that came out in July are so wide reaching and so complicated that they could significantly impact all farms across Canada,” said Allan Sawiak, a taxation partner at accounting firm Kingston Ross Pasnak in Edmonton. “This will affect […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
