Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Wheat Commission has launched a new online platform that it says makes applying for a cash advance simpler and easier. “We pinpointed areas that could be time consuming for applicants and came up with solutions that will speed up the application process,” said Syeda Khurram, Alberta Wheat’s chief financial officer and COO of […] Read more
Cash advance website revamped
New program will encourage 4-H’ers to develop STEM skills
Reading Time: < 1 minute A new initiative will give 4-H’ers the opportunity to develop their skills and interest in the area of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics — a group of subjects known as STEM. For the first year of this initiative, 4-H clubs will take part in a science experiment ‘in a box.’ “With this initiative, our goal […] Read more
Get a grant to hold a Safety Day event
Reading Time: < 1 minute There’s still time to apply for funding to put on a Safety Day event this year for children in your area. Each year, communities across Canada host Safety Day events — reaching approximately 17,000 young people annually. Participants learn about the hazards and risks associated with farming and rural life. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association […] Read more
Young Guns contest underway
Entry deadline is May 31
Reading Time: < 1 minute Young people involved in beef 4-H, junior cattle shows, or beef production can win $1,000 in the Young Guns contest put on by Alberta Beef Producers. The focus of this year’s contest is on the young producers themselves. Youth between the ages of eight and 21 are being asked to talk about how cattle and […] Read more
Cleanfarms raises the bar on recycling of ag containers
The stewardship organization wants to recycle 100 per cent of agricultural plastic jugs this year
Reading Time: 2 minutes In the three decades since Cleanfarms began collecting agricultural plastic containers, about 126 million plastic jugs have been recycled into new products instead of being disposed in landfills. The voluntary stewardship program in Prairie communities currently recovers about 65 per cent of the smaller plastic containers (23 litres or smaller) that are placed on the […] Read more
Feds provide funding for rail crossing upgrades
Fifteen crossings will get upgrades such as lights, gates, and improved warning systems
Reading Time: < 1 minute The federal government has announced a new $16.5-million Rail Safety Improvement Program for 136 projects across the country, including 33 in Alberta. More than a third of the Alberta projects are for grade crossing closures (13 in Calgary and one at Mile 104.12 of the Maple Creek Subdivision). Fifteen others will see improvements such as adding flashing lights […] Read more
Farmers in three provinces tapped to help reduce flood risk
A $250,000 investment will see 46 farmers establish and maintain 365 acres of wetland projects
Reading Time: 3 minutes New funding for an innovative conservation program could help reduce flood risk in Alberta’s largest city. The charitable arm of Intact Financial Corporation — the country’s largest provider of property and casualty insurance — is giving nearly $250,000 in funding for ALUS Canada to develop natural infrastructure projects in four communities across Canada, including two […] Read more
BMO offers relief for farmers
Reading Time: < 1 minute BMO is offering a “financial relief program” for farmers in Western Canada. The program will allow qualifying clients to defer principal payments for a year and temporarily increase their operating loan. The bank is also offering to waive or reduce fees “for applicants impacted by cash flow shortages as a result of the recent price […] Read more
We need all sorts of farms to preserve the culture of agriculture
Many would love to be seeding right now but they can only dream of being a farmer
Reading Time: 3 minutes It is time to be in the fields; to sow what will soon be an abundant Canadian harvest. I love the fact that I can still identify the make of an engine by the sound and I never get over the thrill of hearing the first piece of equipment rumble down a country road en […] Read more
Red-hot land market shows signs of cooling
Prices have soared for nearly a decade but that trend may be coming to an end
Reading Time: 4 minutes The price of Alberta farmland took another big jump last year — but there are strong signs the red-hot bull market is finally cooling off. Overall, Canadian acres saw their smallest price increase in nearly a decade, and the amount of land changing hands dropped as many would-be buyers either stayed on the sidelines or […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
