Two couples grow fruit that can tolerate Saskatchewan’s harsh environment as they work to make their dreams come true
A long love affair with wine has led to Saskatchewan’s latest craft winery. “When my wife and I first met in the earlier part of the 1980s, one thing we always enjoyed doing was making homemade wine,” said Peter MacInnis, chief executive officer of Bee and Thistle Winery northeast of Debden, Sask. “As time went […] Read moreIrrigation
Sask. irrigation project still at desktop stage
Work continues on mapping, soil and geotechnical testing and development of the water project’s preliminary design
Saskatchewan’s plan to develop another 500,000 acres of irrigation is proceeding, although perhaps not quickly enough for some. Farmers got an update during the Saskatchewan Irrigation conference held online earlier this month. Questions after the presentation from Water Security Agency officials included how soon shovels would be in the ground. Clinton Molde, executive director of […] Read more
Cattle seen as agriculture’s long-term solution
A producer’s research determines that farmers can improve the ecosystem by increasing forage and grazing positively
Nuffield scholar Ryan Boyd says Western Canada is missing a huge opportunity by not incorporating more cattle into farming systems. Boyd, who operates a mixed farm near Forrest, Man., said his observations from travel around the world last year show that livestock offer a “resilient long-term solution to agriculture profitability, productivity and climate change.” Boyd […] Read more
Western Canada takes over country’s potato production
A massive yield gap of 100 to 150 hundredweight per acre has developed between the Maritimes and Western Canada
Manitoba and Alberta were the number one and two potato-producing provinces in 2020, thanks in large part to hot weather and poor yields in Prince Edward Island. Statistics Canada data, released in early December, said nationwide potato production was 104.2 million hundredweight, down 1.3 percent from 2019. However, the data also shows a massive yield […] Read more
New Alberta feedlot ready to buy cattle next year
The project near Enchant is thought to be the first large from-scratch facility to be built in this region of the province in the past 10 years
A new 40,000-head feedlot north of Enchant, Alta., is on pace to start accepting cattle as early as March. Serfas Farms began the project in June and it is expected to be fully complete in the third quarter of 2021. The new build is likely the first large from-scratch feedlot to be built in the […] Read more
Alberta fish farm reels in booming business
A 30 percent increase in purchases of recreational fishing licences helps spark an extra demand for farm to stock fish
If you caught a rainbow or brown trout this year in Alberta, there’s a fair chance you have the Menard family to thank for it. They’ve turned the unlikely prospect of aquaculture on the Prairies into a business that employs up to seven people, says Max Menard of Smoky Trout Farm Ltd. near Red Deer. […] Read more
Check-off revenue drops in Sask.
Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association says the $350,000 reduction was the result of a shrinking herd in the province
The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association took in less check-off money last year due to a steady to declining herd size. Chief executive officer Ryder Lee told the online district meetings held last week that checkoff revenue was down about $350,000 in 2019-20. “It was something we forecasted so it’s not a threat to the organization,” he […] Read more
Union decries agriculture cuts
Layoffs will occur across the agriculture department, from 4-H to farm safety and research to irrigation
Rural residents and farmers affected by losses in agricultural services due to Alberta government job cuts are being sacrificed to the belief you can cut your way to prosperity, says a union leader. “We understand in addition to these cuts, there’ll be more coming,” said vice-president Mike Dempsey of the Alberta Union of Public Employees […] Read more
Alberta has adequate water supplies to grow: panel
One member of a recent discussion says the environment will suffer if water use in the province expands too much
The question is apt: does Alberta have enough water to grow? The University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy put that question to a three-member panel Oct. 20. Two said the answer is yes. The third said maybe but there will be trade-offs. Earlier this month the federal and provincial governments announced an $815 million […] Read more
Energy industry-climate change called balancing act
Alberta premier recognizes that the energy sector must focus on the environment, but he says oil and gas companies already do a good job
Alberta must be able to “walk and chew gum at the same time” when it comes to promoting projects such as oil and gas pipelines, said premier Jason Kenney. Access to capital for the energy sector increasingly “requires a demonstration that companies and governments are serious about improving their environmental performance — reducing their CO2 […] Read more
