There are tax benefits for Albertans when putting ecologically sensitive land into a conservation trust, but there are no equivalent benefits for those wanting to protect productive, cultivated farmland from urban encroachment or development. Kim Good, president of the Legacy Land Trust Society, and Stan Carscallen, a Calgary lawyer and rancher, want to change that. […] Read more
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Severe hailstorms drive up claim costs this year
Every cloud has a silver lining, as the saying goes, but for the prairie growing season of 2018, the silver lining came without many clouds — hail clouds in particular. The Canadian Crop Hail Association released its hail summary today, noting lack of moisture in many areas this summer resulted in fewer storms than average. […] Read more
Ag sector major job creator in southern Alta.
What does it take to get a southern Alberta potato from the field to a bag of potato chips? It takes a whole lot of people doing a whole lot of different jobs. Trevor Lewington, chief executive officer for Economic Development Lethbridge, made that point Oct. 19 during a talk at the University of Lethbridge […] Read more
Producers should check dugouts before freeze-up
Early October’s flirtation with winter could be a good reminder to check farm and ranch dugouts before freeze-up. Dan Benson, agricultural water specialist with Alberta Agriculture, said dugout maintenance depends on whether people need them as a year-round water source or only seasonally. Either way, it’s a good idea to do a fall inspection. “I […] Read more
Alberta directs renewable energy reclamation
The Canadian Wind Energy Association welcomes the new rules, saying they will help build community trust
Landowners won’t be on the hook for reclamation costs on wind and solar projects in Alberta now that the government has developed new rules. Reclamation of such projects hasn’t been an issue because most are relatively new or still within their useful lives, but until last month there were no provisions in place to force […] Read more
Alberta family keeps cattle, business flowing
Windows in the second-floor office at KCL Cattle Company provide a good view of the 9,000-head feedlot north of Lethbridge. It’s a good place to watch the cattle and the workings of an operation that is a passion for the Wall family, which includes Les and Lisa, their daughter, Karleen Clark, and her husband, Jared […] Read more
Part of Alta. ranch joins conservation corridor
White Moose Ranch offers 2,000 acres to the Nature Conservancy of Canada to connect the Sheep and Highwood rivers
Two thousand acres of land in arguably one of the most picturesque regions of Alberta became part of a conservation agreement Oct. 11 between the Nature Conservancy of Canada and landowner Stan Carscallen. Those acres are a portion of Carscallen’s White Moose Ranch located west of Turner Valley and a 45-minute drive southwest of Calgary. […] Read more
Producers urged to keep eye on heifer health
Biosecurity plays vital role in maintaining heifer health, particularly if producers buy rather than raise replacements
Heifers need special attention if they are to have productive lives in a cow herd. Whether producers are raising or buying their replacements, they should be aware of heifers’ vaccination, nutrition and post-partum needs, said veterinarian John Campbell, head of the large animal clinical sciences department at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Campbell teamed […] Read moreDecision to buy or raise heifers requires careful analysis
It’s not necessarily economical for ranchers to raise their own replacement heifers rather than buy them. However, the reverse is also true, and research economist Kathy Larson says it’s wise to analyze the costs before deciding whether to raise or buy females for the herd. Larson told those on an Oct. 3 webinar, organized by […] Read more
Alberta college now VBP+ certified
Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alta., attained its Verified Beef Production Plus certification last week, making it the first Alberta post-secondary institution to do so. VBP+ is a national on-farm food safety program that requires certificate holders to comply with specific practices and standards for food safety, animal care, environmental stewardship and biosecurity. The certification applies […] Read more
