Reading Time: 3 minutes This winter, you might want to harvest something a little different on your farm — water. “Our farm harvests 40 years of water in two weeks just from snowmelt,” said Takota Coen, who farms near Ferintosh with his parents. “We live in one of the only places in the world where you can actually increase […] Read more
Innovative farmers ‘harvest’ water to boost production
Coen Farm created shallow ditches called swales to capture millions of gallons of snowmelt each spring
Program that rewards stewards of the land is taking off in Alberta
More than 100 Alberta farmers have signed up for ALUS, and that number is expected to grow rapidly
Reading Time: 3 minutes The movement to pay farmers for being good stewards of the land is gathering steam, with 10 counties in Alberta now having a local ALUS program. ALUS — short for Alternative Land Use Services and pronounced ‘Alice’ — is expanding across Canada and recently became a national, registered not-for-profit. “This kind of growth and recognition […] Read more
Want to keep pollinators and beneficial species on your land? Build an eco-buffer
Edmonton Corn Maze is showcasing an eco-buffer — a community of trees and plants that provide a host of benefits for farms
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you build an eco-buffer, beneficial species will come. An eco-buffer is a planned community of trees, plants, and herbaceous species that provide pollinator and wildlife habitat, shelter for livestock, nutrient cycling, and groundwater recharge. A newly created eco-buffer, designed as part of an ALUS (Alternative Land Use Services) project, will soon demonstrate its value […] Read more
New working group gears up to get answers about habitat conservation
Maintaining habitat is also important for pollinators and parasitoids that prey on crop pests
Reading Time: 3 minutes When you cut down your shelterbelt or take out a windrow, you might not think about the effect it has on the beneficial species living on your farmland. A new working group, unofficially known as the Habitat Working Group, is gearing up to inform producers about the changes they can make to conserve habitat for […] Read more
Planning is key to preparing an effective shelterbelt
Specialist recommends visiting mature shelterbelts and talking to landowners
Reading Time: 2 minutes Trees and shelterbelt planting is a long-term investment that requires careful planning and design. “Ask yourself what you want to accomplish by planting trees or shelterbelts on your property,” said Toso Bozic, a provincial agroforestry/bioenergy specialist. Trees should always be managed with future generations in mind, he said. “The goals can be many — ranging […] Read more
Rotation grazing and an amazing transformation
The one-wire fences, cover crops, and intensive grazing raised some eyebrows — as did 500 fast-gaining head on 600 acres
Reading Time: 4 minutes The ranch we were starting from scratch had a stunning mountain view west of Grande Prairie. But except for a small lovely piece of native prairie, this was land mined hard for grain crops. A relentless wind meant drift from the sprayer had hardened the shelterbelts to a few old stalks of saskatoon bushes. Our […] Read more
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