Premiums for automobile insurance can increase by up to five percent in Alberta over the next three years, beginning Nov. 1. The province’s Automobile Insurance Rate Board recently completed an annual review and said in a July 25 news release that it will allow the increase. “We knew that an increase would be necessary, but […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Field tour gets lowdown on growing fababeans
ENCHANT, Alta. — Fababeans were the crop du jour at a July 16 field day that attracted 80 southern Alberta farmers. An estimated 15,000 to 16,000 acres have been planted to the crop in Alberta this year, the highest amount ever seeded in the province. “The attraction is it’s a high yielding crop in all […] Read more
Two farmers appointed energy commissioners in Alberta
Two Alberta farmers will bring an agricultural perspective to provincial hearings on provincial energy projects. Terry Engen, a fifth generation farmer and municipal reeve from Eckville, and Jurgen Preugschas, former chair of the Canadian Pork Council and hog producer from Mayerthorpe, have been appointed as hearing commissioners for the Alberta Energy Regulator. Their appointments and […] Read more
Grower, province see potential in hemp seed, fibre
Two income streams | There are existing markets for hemp seed and fibre and more interest is being shown in both
Quips about hemp’s hallucinogenic cousin, marijuana, are inevitable in discussions about the crop, but its potential profit for farmers is no laughing matter. Rod Lanier has been growing hemp for six years on his farm near Leth-bridge, and with hemp seed prices nearing $1 per pound and yields ranging from 700 to 1,200 lb. per […] Read moreAlberta loan program aimed to help flood victims
Low-interest loans of up to $1 million will be available to Alberta farmers and small businesses affected by July floods. Alberta finance minister Doug Horner announced the loan program yesterday. Dubbed the Hand-Up Plan, it involves two loan and interest rate rebate programs. The Alberta Flood Recovery Loan Guarantee Program will provide low-interest loans that […] Read more
Farmer’s Edge wins science award
The Lethbridge hub of Farmer’s Edge Precision Consulting, a precision agriculture services firm, was named yesterday as an honoree in the Alberta Science and Technology Leadership Foundation awards. Also named was Canadian Food Inspection Agency researcher Dr. Stephanie Czub. She is part of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency and is well known for research […] Read more
E. coli detection research receives funding
Funds totalling $1 million will be evenly split between two research projects designed to explore methods of quick detection of harmful E. coli bacteria in meat. University of Alberta lead researchers Linda Pilarski and Lynn McMullen will receive $500,000 to explore rapid sampling and detection of E. coli in meat using existing molecular testing technology. […] Read more
Stampede collects $2.1 million for flood relief
This year’s Calgary Stampede collected $2.1 million for Alberta flood relief. Stampede chief executive officer Vern Kimball announced the total earlier today. “This was an unprecedented fundraising campaign for the Calgary Stampede,” he said. “We anticipated the campaign would be successful. However, we never anticipated presenting a cheque of this amount to the Canadian Red […] Read more
Watch out for wireworms
A handful of rolled oats, a bit of water and a dollop of honey makes bait that is irresistible to wireworms. Not that anyone wants to attract them, but it is useful for farmers to know whether wireworms are a factor in their fields. A bait ball can help them find out. The pests, which […] Read more
Accurate ID crucial for controlling cutworms
Similar to species that aren’t harmful | Bite marks on leaves when it isn’t grasshopper season are tell-tale signs
The truth is, most people would just as soon not become overly familiar with worms. However, familiarity and accurate identification are crucial to making decisions if the worms in the field are suspected to be affecting crops. Plant and soil sciences instructor Jeremy Hummel gave farmers at a June 25-27 field school in Lethbridge a […] Read more
