Reading Time: 2 minutes More than a dozen farm groups in Alberta are calling on the province to further delay the implementation of new Class 1 licensing rules, and find ways to make it less costly for those farmers and their workers seeking one. Those new training rules — called Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) — were brought in […] Read more
Class 1 licensing problems need to be addressed, say farm leaders
Costly new training requirements and testing backlog among the issues facing many farmers
Food banks expect surge as pandemic’s impact takes a toll
Government support has greatly helped, but making ends meet is getting tougher for many families
Reading Time: 3 minutes As the pandemic grinds on, food banks in Alberta are expecting a sharp rise in people needing help. They’re already seeing it in Lamont. The food bank in the town of 1,800 normally assists six to eight people, and their families, a week, said Colette McBride, a volunteer and chair of the County of Lamont […] Read more
Government exits the agricultural research game but questions abound
New publicly funded body launches drive for ‘farmer-led’ research but details still aren’t known
Reading Time: 7 minutes With a flurry of announcements — and a leaked layoff plan — the UCP government has made it clear that it’s largely exiting ag research. But what comes next is still up in the air. In mid-October, the province shifted several research programs to universities and colleges while also informing the union representing agriculture employees […] Read more
The axe comes down at Alberta’s Agriculture Ministry
Notification letter to union opens window on upcoming loss of 190 positions
Reading Time: 2 minutes The province is cutting 247 jobs at Agriculture and Forestry, according to a letter sent to — and then publicly released by — the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees. The letter provides some specifics of the “phased workforce transformation,” but also notes that its plans haven’t been completely finalized. It also says cuts will be […] Read more
Former federal ag minister Don Mazankowski, 85
Long-time Alberta Tory MP deemed a 'minister of everything'
A private memorial is planned for long-time Alberta MP Don Mazankowski, whose work in the cabinets of prime ministers Brian Mulroney and Joe Clark included a stint as Canada’s minister of agriculture. Mazankowski, the MP for the east-central Alberta riding of Vegreville from 1968 to 1993, died late Tuesday at age 85, his family said […] Read more
Women Entrepreneur Program proves popular
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farm Credit Canada has loaned nearly $1 billion under a program aimed at increasing the number of women entrepreneurs in the ag sector — twice what was allocated when the program launched a year and a half ago. The Women Entrepreneur Program was designed to encourage female farm operators and women in the agri-food sector […] Read more
Reflections from a long and sorrowful drive
Those who came before us have given us a gift and we must preserve it for future generations
Reading Time: 3 minutes It was a long and sorrowful drive home in September as I travelled to say the final goodbye to my dad. He was a man of honour, integrity and faith — and will remain forever our farmer and gentleman. It is men like him who along with their partners carved out a living strictly from […] Read more
Free mental health training workshops on offer
Workshops focus on identifying mental health issues and providing support, but deadline is Oct. 31
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Do More Agriculture Foundation is accepting applications for its rural mental health training program until the end of the month. The program is aimed at developing the capacity for mental illness identification and support in rural areas. Those taking the program receive education to identify mental health concerns and provide initial supports to producers […] Read more
New AFSC boss makes for the third one this year
Reading Time: < 1 minute Agriculture Financial Services Corporation has appointed Darryl Kay as its new CEO. Kay has worked with the crop insurer and lender for nearly a decade, most recently as chief financial and innovation officer. Kay takes over from Jerry Bouma, a board member and agri-food management consultant who has been interim CEO since Steve Blakely retired […] Read more
Saskatchewan agriculture minister cruises to election win
NDP's ag critic trailing, with mail-in votes still to come
Another incumbent agriculture minister easily held his seat as Saskatchewan’s governing Saskatchewan Party scored another decisive majority in Monday’s provincial election. David Marit, MLA for the southwestern riding of Wood River since 2016, held his seat by a spread of 5,177 votes over the New Democrats’ challenger, teacher Roger Morgan, with 459 mail-in ballots remaining […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
