Even though it had been encased in concrete, this grenade could still have detonated and posed a dangerous threat.

Are there old explosives on your farm or ranch?

The RCMP says it regularly gets reports of degraded dynamite and detonators, and even grenades

Reading Time: < 1 minute Not so long ago, Alberta farmers and ranchers had easy access to dynamite and detonators. Because of these old rules, there is a large — but unquantified — amount of degraded dynamite in the province. Every year, many Albertans report finding dynamite or detonators stored, or in some cases forgotten, on their properties. Anyone who […] Read more

Alberta cattle numbers are no longer falling — but herds are on the move

Alberta cattle numbers are no longer falling — but herds are on the move

Some counties are seeing a major increase due to bigger herds, but crops are replacing cattle in other areas

Reading Time: 3 minutes While the Alberta cow herd has stopped shrinking, it has not yet rebounded. “The positive returns for the cow-calf producers over the last few years indicate the Alberta cow herd has finally stopped shrinking,” said Herman Simons, a farm business management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “In fact, the total beef cow numbers for […] Read more


Feed testing now can pay big dividends over the winter. 

Feed testing now can save you money

Testing is especially important this year as supplies are tight and quality down in many areas of the province

Reading Time: 3 minutes Doing feed tests now, at the start of the feeding season, will allow producers to develop a strategy to ensure all categories of cattle in the herd are fed to their production goals and extra costs are avoided. “Livestock feed supplies are going to be tight in some areas of Alberta, while in other areas, […] Read more

‘Build your cow herd’ workshops on tap

‘Build your cow herd’ workshops on tap

Workshops begin Oct. 23 and run to early November across Alberta

Reading Time: < 1 minute Wondering how to use genomics, deal with lower-quality feed, or about health issues faced by cattle producers in your area? Then you may want to attend one of 10 workshops being held across Alberta in late October and early November. The ‘Tools to build your cow herd’ workshops are being put on by Alberta Agriculture […] Read more


It’s a classic image of life on the farm 
but it’s time to put this tradition to rest, says Alberta’s youth farm safety 
co-ordinator.

Official says ‘One Seat, One Rider’ should be the rule on every farm

Machinery accidents cause the majority of fatalities among children on the farm

Reading Time: 2 minutes Daddy, can I have a ride?’ “Riding on the tractor with Dad has been a long-standing tradition for many farm families,” said Janice Donkers, youth farm safety co-ordinator with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “It’s not uncommon to hear the older generations boast about how young they were when they first began riding on or operating […] Read more

Diverse Group of Students in Conference Room raising Arms up actively participating in Seminar Teachers Body on background

Symposium aims to educate educators about ag

Event scheduled for Nov. 24 aims to be annual affair

Reading Time: < 1 minute Ag for Life is hosting a teachers’ symposium in a bid to bridge “the gap between the agriculture sector and classroom curriculum.” “Most families are three to five generations removed from the farm today and that disconnect leads to a misunderstanding about how food is raised,” said Luree Williamson, CEO of the Alberta non-profit, which […] Read more


Get advice on renewable energy leases

Get advice on renewable energy leases

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Farmers’ Advocate Office has released an updated guide for landowners who have been approached by renewable energy developers to lease land for wind and solar developments. The first version of the guide, called Renewable Energy in Alberta, only came out in February but has been revised following a series of presentations to landowners across […] Read more

Federal research scientist Syama Chatterton is working on a tool that will identify root rot risk in pulse crops.

Root rot risk analysis tool could come online by next year

There are few things that pulse producers can do to manage root rots in their fields — but a new risk assessment tool could help

Reading Time: 3 minutes A new screening tool that will tell producers the risk of a root rot infection in their pulse crops could be available as early as next year. “At the moment, if producers are concerned about whether they have root rot in their field, they can take their soil to a commercial testing lab to determine […] Read more


Alberta Wheat Commission looking for candidates

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Wheat Commission is looking for candidates for two directors and three regional representatives in Regions 2 and 4. Farmers can become candidates by filling the nomination package recently mailed to them (it is also available at albertawheat.com). Voting will take place at Next Level Farming events — Nov. 15 in Acme for Region […] Read more

Cattle producers urged to get premises identification number

Cattle producers urged to get premises identification number

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency is urging Alberta livestock producers to prepare for new livestock traceability regulations that once enacted will require them to have a valid, premises identification (PID) number. A producer can call Alberta’s PID registry at 310-FARM with a legal land description to confirm or acquire a PID, or contact a field […] Read more