The wind warning sign along Highway 3 in southern Alberta, west of Lundbreck, read 181 km-h when it blew down. The locals, accustomed to strong winds typical of the region, appreciated the irony. The few semi-trailer drivers and people pulling holiday trailers, who took their chances along that highway and the north-south route of Highway […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Revenue streams expand for hemp growers
The time has come for electric lettuce. That’s one term that Jan Slaski, hemp expert and senior researcher with InnoTech Alberta, has heard applied to high THC cannabis, the marijuana that produces strong psychological effects on those who imbibe. But the legalization of marijuana in Canada has also flung open the doors for hemp, the […] Read more
PED found on Alberta hog farm
Porcine epidemic diarrhea has been confirmed on a 400-head Alberta hog operation. It is the first case of the deadly virus discovered in Alberta, although it has affected hog operations in four other provinces since 2014. Alberta Pork today confirmed the finding and said it is working with Alberta Agriculture to investigate the outbreak and […] Read more
U.S. ag researcher says he’s paid high price for his views
Kevin Folta is no stranger to controversy. The University of Florida researcher and agriculture communicator is frequently pilloried by some factions in social media for his explanations about agricultural practices, biotechnology and crop chemistry. He regularly blogs, tweets and podcasts about the latest concerns regarding food safety, yet on one topic at least, he feels […] Read more
Erin Brockovich called out on glyphosate
U.S. researcher says famous environmentalist is part of a movement that is ‘working against agricultural chemistry’
Erin Brockovich has a new cause. The legal clerk and environmental activist built a case against California’s Pacific Gas and Electric Company in 1993 and secured compensation for people made ill by the company’s chemical use. Her success was immortalized in a movie starring Julia Roberts. Now Brockovich has targeted glyphosate. That isn’t sitting well […] Read more
Timing of hail more important than damage
An applied agricultural research association in Alberta has wrapped up its study on hail and how it affects crops
They won’t be beating up healthy crops anymore. The team at Farming Smarter, the applied agricultural research association, has concluded a study on hail and how it affects crops, a process that required researchers to develop their own hail simulators and deliberately damage crops so effects could be studied. Ken Coles, general manager of Farming […] Read more
Pessimistic calves at disadvantage
Researchers have discovered that some calves are more fearful than others, which can have implications for future health
Some cattle are more fearful than others. It’s a universal truth confirmed by anyone who has handled cattle herds. But fearfulness is connected to pessimism, says University of British Columbia PhD student Benjamin Lecorps. His research on 22 Holstein dairy calves has shown that some animals are inherently more pessimistic than others, and that trait […] Read moreForage researcher asks for input
Surya Acharya has developed dozens of forage cultivars as a research scientist and forage breeder with Agriculture Canada. He’s not done yet. Acharya is now seeking input from farmers and producer groups to further guide his research and forage-breeding activities. “We are researchers and we know from literature where there are gaps and things like […] Read more
Neonic ban would require multi-pronged flea beetle plan
The battle against flea beetles will have to employ other tactics if the Pest Management Regulatory Agency proceeds this year with a proposed ban of neonicotinoid seed treatments. Foliar-applied chemicals, reduced tillage, seeding dates and seeding rates could become part of the battle plan if producers lose the use of clothianidin and thiamethoxam to control […] Read more
The end of fake calamari
In some parts of the world — maybe even this part, on occasion — the “beef” on your plate might be meat from rats, dogs, horses or camels. High-quality beef is expensive so it can be lucrative to misrepresent high-end meat by substituting a cheaper product or ingredient. In addition to being illegal, it reduces […] Read more
