The relationship between livestock production and biodiversity is complex. Livestock species, climate, geography, production method and the vast global array of wild plants and animals are only some of the variables involved in any study or assessment. That’s what makes such a study so interesting and exciting, said Agriculture Canada senior research scientist Tim McAllister. […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
BC pickers face risks
Seasonal fruit pickers soon to arrive in British Columbia’s Okanagan region will face the risk of contracting COVID-19 and the provincial government said it is taking steps to protect them. All seasonal fruit pickers will be required to take an on-line awareness course about the virus, which is organized through AgSafe, an association that represents […] Read more
Crop disease may be forgotten but not gone
Soggy weather in parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan have increased the risk of fusarium head blight (FHB) infection in wheat and barley crops. It’s a year when the risk management tool available through the Alberta Climate Information Service might be particularly handy, said Alberta Agriculture crop pathologist Michael Harding. “Things are lining up for a […] Read more
Vicious hailstorm slams Alberta
The crops were looking good this year on Matt Sawyer’s farm near Acme, Alta. The barley went in early and was thriving. The canola was spreading its leaves. On June 13 it was gone, wiped out in a vicious storm that fired rain and hailstones, some of them baseball-sized, over a 20-minute-long siege. “All over […] Read more
Weevils pressure healthy seed alfalfa crop
Pesticide resistance has been found in Alberta, but other good control options continue to be available to producers
Seed alfalfa crops in southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan are starting to flower, and growers are preparing to put their leafcutter bees in place, ready to do their pollination work. Alfalfa weevils are also making their presence known and in some parts of southern Alberta have already reached spraying thresholds. “There’s definitely weevil pressure coming […] Read more
Open Farm Days ready to go
Many events have been cancelled this summer because of COVID-19. Not Alberta’s Open Farm Days. Barring a second wave of the illness and restrictions it could cause, the event showcasing Alberta’s farms and agricultural industry will proceed on Aug. 15 and 16. At least 100 farming operations plan to open their gates to visitors, with […] Read more
Price may pressure beef consumption
Canadian beef consumption per capita has been gradually declining for the past decade and economic effects of the pandemic might further pressure consumer purchases, an agricultural economist suggests. Craig Klemmer, principal ag economist with Farm Credit Canada, said the price of beef could become an issue due to high unemployment and escalating credit card debt. […] Read more
Consumers’ beef beliefs show opportunities
Two main beliefs about beef production arose from a recent American consumer study: most believe that larger scale cattle production is focused on money at the expense of animal welfare; and most think smaller farms, though perceived to be a dying breed, produce higher quality beef under more favourable conditions for animals. Those results present […] Read more
Market outlook appears promising for pork and beef
The outlook is cautiously optimistic for Canadian beef and pork trade, say industry experts, so long as the worst effects from the pandemic are over. Fawn Jackson of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Phil Boyd of Turkey Farmers of Canada and livestock and meat market analyst Kevin Grier each said demand for beef, turkey and pork […] Read more
Leader wraps up long tenure at ABP
Rich Smith became executive director of Alberta Beef Producers when industry was still recovering from the BSE crisis
At a fall Alberta Beef Producers meeting in 2008, held at an auction market, executive director Rich Smith was there to tell cattle folks all the good things the organization was doing for them. But the auction mart had left its sign on showing the most recent sale price: a dismal 84 cents per pound. […] Read more
