The new game is the Canadian Cattle Association’s latest effort to update its documentary about the importance of grazing
Farm simulations are a popular video game subgenre. Now, the Guardians of the Grasslands teaching tool, produced by the Canadian Cattle Association, has a video game component aimed at middle and high school students for in-class learning. Riffing off the title of the popular superhero series Guardians of the Galaxy, the CCA has been promoting […] Read moreStories by Adeline Panamaroff
Probiotics may improve bees’ digestive health
Field studies at Western University have shown health improvements throughout the hive where probiotics are present
Research from Western University in London, Ont., is exploring the use of probiotics to improve overall gut and immune health in bees. Graham Thompson, professor of biology at Western University, has since 2018 studied probiotics as a way to boost bee health. “Now my own research program has shifted to incorporate more and more research […] Read more
Cover crops may help better control flea beetles
Researcher says cover crops may make it harder for flea beetles to find canola, and can attract bugs that prey on the pest
Flea beetles can wreak havoc on canola but new research from the University of Manitoba could offer natural ways to control the pests. Associate professor of entomology Alejandro Costamagna started research on the value of cover crops in 2022 on mitigating flea beetle damage in canola. He said cover crops may help decrease flea beetle […] Read more
School builds ag focus into curriculum
An Alberta Kindergarten to Grade 12 school puts an agricultural spin on what it teaches by offering hands-on experience
Hands-on experience can be mind-changing for aspiring young agrarians. To that end, Altario Agriculture Academy in Altario, Alta., has been building a farm curriculum into its junior high and high school program for years.
Spiders can pay significant dividends in pest control
New University of Alberta research has found that a healthy population plays an important role in pest management
A study, in its final stages of data analysis, carried out by Carol Frost, an assistant professor of conservation biology at the University of Alberta, is showing the importance of a healthy spider population in pest management.
Locally grown goji berries find niche market
Edmonton-area organic market garden has grown the berries for a decade, selling them at farmers markets and food stores
The orange-red oblong berries of the goji plant have an initial sweetness, followed by a bitter aftertaste. They have more than 500 times the amount of vitamin C as an equivalent weight of oranges.
Alberta farm fueled by flower power
A passion for gardening leads couple into the world of floral retail, concentrating on the dried flower market
Lori Wimble wanted to share her love of flowers and maybe even make money at it, so in 2021 she started selling at farmers markets. Wimble focused on fresh-cut flowers, and the money she made went into production for the next market. Looking to diversify, she started to dry her flowers and make bouquets.
Peat producers focus on environmental impact
The industry says it consults with local rural communities to create jobs and apply post-harvest restorative practices
About 11.8 million cubic metres of peat are harvested a year from Canadian wetlands and shipped to the United States for processing. Then it is distributed back into Canada and throughout North America. The demand is high and Canadian peat harvesters can’t keep up. Peat lands exist across Canada. They make up 13 percent of the nation’s total land mass.
New cover crop attention revives interest in safflower
Proponents say the plant’s deep tap roots make it a desirable option when producers are considering cover crops
As more farmers deal with rising input costs and learn to work with fewer chemicals, cover cropping is gaining attention as a viable alternative for weed control, better soil health and overall biodiversity.
Firm focuses on gluten-free
Calgary-based Stoked Oats is one of several Canadian oatmeal companies dedicated to producing gluten-free oats. President and chief executive officer Simon Donato said he started the company in 2011 with an eye on the cereal market and how there was a gap in the quality of oats delivered to grocery stores.
