BIG SKY, Mont. — Mycoplasma may be rearing its ugly head again in bison herds. The bacteria-like organism was responsible for a significant number of bison deaths during a 2010-12 study and now it may have mutated to attack in animals in a different way. Dr. Pat Burrage, a veterinarian with Bluffton Veterinary Services, told […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Ag groups demand end to GM alfalfa approval
LA GLACE, Alta. — Fourteen Canadian agriculture organizations want the federal government to cancel registration of genetically modified alfalfa and test all imports of U.S.-grown alfalfa seed. They also want the locations of all GM alfalfa fields made public “so farmers can protect their fields and crops until all GM alfalfa varieties are taken off […] Read more
Delayed crops good news for Alta. honey producers
BEAVERLODGE, Alta. — Crop progress in Alberta’s Peace River region ranges from canola in full bloom, a result of harvest problems last fall, to crops barely emerged. That maturity range bodes well for honey producers, said BeeMaid Honey chief executive officer Guy Chartier. The longer there are blossoms available, the better it is for honeybees. […] Read more
Compulsory farm safety training advised
An Alberta provincial court judge recommends that farm safety training be made compulsory in all post-secondary agriculture programs and that the government develop a compulsory regime of safety certification on farm equipment. The recommendations stem from a public fatality inquiry following the death of Stephen Murray Gibson on Jan. 31, 2014. He was killed in […] Read more
Bison Hump Day declared in U.S.
BIG SKY, Mont. — There’s meatless Monday and taco Tuesday, and now Wednesday has its own promotion. Bison Hump Day was announced here today during the International Bison Conference in front of more than 575 bison producers. Dave Carter, executive director for the National Bison Association, said the declaration is a way to further promote […] Read more
Attack weeds early to avoid yield loss, resistance
If history is a guide, a higher number of herbicide resistant weeds will be discovered this year in Alberta when Agriculture Canada researchers survey the province. Sixty percent of cropland in Western Canada has a weed resistance problem to some degree compared to 15 to 20 percent 10 to 15 years ago. Research scientist Bob […] Read more
Alfalfa, grasses top choices to aid in carbon sequestration
Farmers with the goal of sequestering maximum carbon in their soil would plant alfalfa or canola. That was the quick answer to the “best crops to keep carbon” question from Agriculture Canada researcher Brian McConkey. Alfalfa is a nitrogen fixer that puts lots of resources into its roots, keeps the soil dry so it reduces […] Read more
Fort McMurray business owner bristles at red tape over animals
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — The Clearwater River flows gently beside Dunvegan Gardens but the hills surrounding the garden centre, greenhouse and market garden show how close the fire of 2016 came to shattering the calm. Like much of the area around this northern Alberta city, blackened tree trunks stand as stark reminders of a disaster […] Read more
Farmers restore Canadian war bomber
‘We didn’t know it was impossible, so we did it,’ say Fairview farmers who restored Canso PBY-5A airplane
FAIRVIEW, Alta. — Dreams took flight June 18 for six farmers from Fairview and for a community of volunteers who shared in their vision. The Canso PBY-5A soared that day for the first time in 16 years, the last nine of them spent in restoration. As one of only 13 Canso aircraft still listed as […] Read more
Field studies to narrow down when, how to grow hemp
Hemp has been grown on the Prairies for decades but there’s been relatively little research on its agronomics. Jan Slaski, senior researcher at InnoTech Alberta, is working to change that. He’s conducting agronomy trials in Lethbridge, Falher and Vegre-ville, Alta., to learn more about seeding dates, fertility and the yield attributes of different varieties. Plots […] Read more
