Grasshopper infestations across Alberta are patchy this year, following a cool April and scorching May with small pockets of moisture, according to a University of Lethbridge entomologist. The usual hotspot for grasshopper populations in southeastern Alberta got a late start compared to the rest of the province, said Dan Johnson. He cited a wet early […] Read more
Alex McCuaig
Stories by Alex McCuaig
B.C. crop yields up in the air amid drought
Scattered rainfall has helped some producers in the province’s Peace Country but have made yield projections difficult
Crops in British Columbia have gone from bad to worse as a grave wildfire situation compounds drought problems. B.C. Premier David Eby called a state of emergency for the entire province last week. B.C.’s Peace Country near the Alberta border, has dealt with fire and drought this year, but cereal, pulse and oilseed crops are […] Read more
Alta. irrigators cautioned as water levels worsen
Cooler temperatures and precipitation may offer relief, but river levels have been running below historical lows this year
The irrigation season in Alberta is ending, just as Calgary issues mandatory water restrictions and the province elevates its water shortage rating. “This is a dry year and demands on water are more evident,” said Ryan Davison, chair of the South East Alberta Watershed Alliance (SEAWA). “It may be time to re-think future development such […] Read more
Renewables pause painted as landowner issue
Alberta says regulatory approval pause will allow it to consider how landowner rights fit into the renewable energy boom
Following a surprise announcement by the Alberta government, no new regulatory approvals for wind or solar projects that are more than one megawatt in size will be issued for the next six months as of August 2023 as it reviews the state of the industry. Provincial government officials have said alternative energy developments have happened […] Read more
Farmers in B.C. brace for fish-protection water restrictions
The crop situation in British Columbia is dire as drought and fire continue to plague much of the province and rivers that provide irrigation are drying up, according to the executive director of B.C. Agriculture Council. Danielle Synotte said the situation adds to existing problems caused by a strike by port workers on the West […] Read more
VIDEO: River levels run low in Alta.
UPDATED: Friday August 11, 2023 – 1100 CST – Video added. – Watershed council directors who manage two of the largest waterway systems in southern Alberta say the Bow and Oldman rivers will struggle to provide water to irrigators if present conditions persist. They said the rivers can currently deal with the lowest water levels […] Read more
Drought another threat to beef herd
The newly appointed federal agriculture minister and his Alberta counterpart discussed a range of topics during their first meeting, which took place in Calgary the first week of August. Alberta’s RJ Sigurdson and the feds’ Lawrence MacAulay talked about challenges such as the potential of an outbreak of African swine fever and international trade protocols. […] Read more
Irrigators test direct seeding to prevent erosion
Alberta producers say the practice has its benefits, but challenges include dealing with chaff rows and managing stubble
Irrigation in southern Alberta has proven transformational to the ability to grow crops in the region, but although it has delivered water to the dusty plains, it hasn’t tamed the wind. Direct seeding is a piece in the puzzle to stem wind erosion in the area known for gales that can make it hard to […] Read more
Project aims to encourage wildlife habitat development
A partnership between the Alberta Conservation Association, a farming family and the owners of a rented piece of agricultural land near Enchant, Alta., is proving successful in providing a refuge for wildlife and opportunity for upland game bird hunting. Surrounded by irrigated canola fields farmed by the Stamp family, the refuge lies in an undulating […] Read more
Alberta’s Highway 3 twinning project delayed
The road, also known as the Crowsnest Highway, is often billed as one of Canada’s most significant agri-food corridors
The pledge to twin a portion of Alberta’s Highway 3 between Taber and Burdett starting this year was made with plenty of fanfare by two Alberta premiers over the past three years. However, that commitment, part of a more than decade-old push to twin the stretch of highway between Medicine Hat and Lethbridge, has quietly […] Read more
