The country’s largest out-of-school educational program makes its classroom wherever young people gather to learn
On Jan. 11, 4-H clubs in Canada celebrate the organization’s 110th anniversary. The first 4-H club in Canada was formed in 1913 at Roland, Man., and quickly spread across the country. Only 11 years earlier, the idea began in the United States, filling a need for a way to pass agricultural knowledge on to young […] Read moreStories by Freelance writer
Mental health key to successful farm succession
Farmer finds the tools that help her cope with depression are also useful as she and her husband plan their retirement
STROME, Alta. — Having the taxes organized and the yard in good shape are important when planning a farm retirement or succession plan, but just as important is open communication and good mental and emotional health. Farm transitions are hard and the family needs to have all the skills to cope, said Doreen Blumhagen of […] Read more
Couple’s retirement plan required professional expertise
Alberta family had difficulty developing a succession plan on their own until they decided to hire a retirement expert
Hiring a professional farm retirement expert was key to a successful farm division with all parties still talking to each other at the end, said Carol Penman. For more than 50 years the three brothers, Bev, Jim, and Donald, and their families had a successful mixed farm of grain, hogs and cattle south of Czar, […] Read more
Students served homemade meals
The nutrition co-ordinator at Montmartre School in eastern Saskatchewan offers students more than just hot lunches
MONTMARTRE, Sask. — When you walk in the door, the mouth-watering aroma of fresh buns envelopes the senses. In the kitchen, it quickly becomes evident that the homey smell is from so much more than fresh bread — it’s from pizza buns, cinnamon buns, pulled pork, chili, chocolate-chip cookies and peanut butter squares. Charlotte Shewchuk […] Read more
Increased CO2 exposure can hinder crop growth
Researchers discover that plants exposed to higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere take up less phosphorus
Researchers have discovered that when plants are exposed to increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the phosphorus levels in their shoots and leaves decrease. Phosphorus is essential for growth but researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that the phosphorus reduction is an adaptive response of plants to increasing carbon dioxide levels worldwide. […] Read more
Greenhouse operators embrace new technology
Horticultural business adopts a specialized machine that eliminates the drudgery of sticking plants into a soil medium
STURGEON COUNTY, Alta. — Mindy and Justin Bidewell took a step to secure their horticulture future by investing in technology. One of the most laborious jobs in the greenhouse is to take a tiny plant stem with three tiny leaves and stick it into a soil medium and hope it grows. “If you were doing […] Read more
Sask. woman enjoys shooting from the horse
A commitment to push herself out of her comfort zone drew Judy Wright to the sport of cowboy mounted shooting
KENDAL, Sask. — At age 68, some are looking for ways to slow down. Not Judy Wright. She is looking for ways to speed up. The Regina psychologist gets on a fast horse several times a week, straps a loaded gun to her waist and shoots black-powder blanks off that horse’s back. “I’m going to […] Read more
Beaver activity improves water-holding capacity
The animals can significantly increase open water, raising the water table and making more of it available to vegetation
For higher water retention, erosion control, greater biodiversity, increased pollinators, fire resilience and more vital land systems, farmers might consider looking to the beaver. “There are many cost-effective strategies to manage the two f-words — flooding and foraging — when it comes to beavers,” says Kirby England, faculty instructor at Lethbridge College’s School of Environmental […] Read more
Winter is fun, but safety comes first
This time of year brings with it new risks on the farm, especially for children, and families are urged to play it safe
Keeping kids safe on the farm is a key consideration during the winter, whether it’s snow-submerged fence posts, hidden barbed wire on snowmobile trails, snow removal that reduces yard visibility or the exhaustion that comes with winter calving,. Snow sports, shifting weather, extreme cold and chores can add to safety risks. Trish Henderson and her […] Read more
Life has changed for Ukrainian farmer coping with war
Ukrainian farmer Yuriy Vovchenko survived the Russian occupation and constant shelling for eight months but his life has changed immeasurably. I have known him for years and since the invasion I have wanted to phone him many times but each time I dialed, I stopped, because I was afraid I might hear that he’d died. […] Read more
