Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s tough being a farmer today and it is easy to be fixed on sky watching, that proverbial hope of rain or snow and even perhaps a wee bit of wind. Even as the farmer watches, there are political and social expectations that we, the keepers of the land, do something to change the course […] Read more
Schoepp: Wider conversation needed on climate cause
Agriculture has a role to play, but so does society at large
Ag resources for teachers released
New online resources will help Canadian teachers educate students in grades 10 and 11 about what it takes to grow the food they eat.
Opinion: Charting Alberta’s energy transition destiny
Rural Alberta should be a powerhouse in the energy industry now and into the future
Reading Time: 3 minutes Living in what I’ve whimsically dubbed “M&M-ville” holds the promise of a ground-breaking energy paradigm for rural Alberta. Nestled about 45 minutes southwest of Calgary along Highway 543, this imaginary locale embodies the dynamic interplay between traditional petroleum industries and innovative renewable energy ventures. “M&M-ville” is my imaginary descriptor for the community of “Molecules and […] Read more
Study finds renewable energy footprint light on agricultural lands
Alberta Utilities Commission says wind and solar would have less impact than petroleum sector
Reading Time: 4 minutes Alberta’s booming renewable energy sector poses little threat to agriculture or the environment, stated the Alberta Utilities Commission in a report released in mid-March. “After doing a comprehensive review on the agricultural impact, the AUC found there were no significant concerns for agriculture or the environment from renewables. In fact, they found that existing protections […] Read more
Alberta government develops plan to train and retrain rural physicians
New Rural Medicine Education Program aims to relieve pressure on rural health care systems and rural emergency departments
Reading Time: < 1 minute The provincial government announced yesterday that it will invest $224.8 million through Budget 2024 to train more physicians in rural areas.
Alberta researcher blazes gene editing trail
AAFC launches gene edited wheat trials at Lethbridge research farm
Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s only early spring, but things are already heating up in southern Alberta. Research scientist John Laurie has just planted the federal government’s first plots of gene-edited wheat at the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre. These lines are grown in a greenhouse after being successfully propagated in growth chambers. Laurie is excited for where his […] Read more
Prairie forecast: Cooler and unsettled west, mild and dry east
Forecast issued April 3, covering April 3 to 10
In a nutshell, it looks like Saskatchewan and Manitoba will see dry weather and nice, warm, spring temperatures. Alberta is going to have to deal with colder air being drawn southwards into the developing storm system over the south-central U.S. Along with the colder air, southern Alberta may deal with some more snow as moisture is pulled northward and then westward on the eastern side of the low.
Deere reaches for fully autonomous fleet by 2030
Company targets autonomous operations for every job required to grow a corn or soy crop, from tillage to harvest
Reading Time: 2 minutes As John Deere unveiled its 2025 model year product line in late February, it brought the company one year closer to a significant date: 2030. That is when the brand has promised to offer a complete fleet of autonomous equipment, able to handle a full farming season from seeding to harvest with self-driving machines. “The […] Read more
Western Prairies to be cooler, wetter than eastern half
With spring planting on the Canadian Prairies a few weeks to a month away, the region’s weather outlook is very likely to take somewhat different paths, according to Scott Kehler of the Manitoba-based Weatherlogics.
Farmers urged to find political allies in the suburbs
Pollster says suburban voters hold sway in elections and could advance farmer interests, if they know what those are
Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Farmers should build alliances with suburban voters if they want stronger political representation in the House of Commons, according to a leading pollster. Darrell Bricker, global chief executive officer of Ipsos Public Affairs, told delegates of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture annual meeting in late February that suburban voters hold the greatest […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
