Some scientists focus on chemistry, biology and physics, while others look at factors such as the ratio of small to large molecules
Researchers at Cranfield and Nottingham universities in the United Kingdom believe farmers and land managers need to change how they think about, measure and study soil. “I have been working on soils in various contexts for the last four decades from my early work on the restoration and reclamation of open-cast mines (strip mines) to […] Read moreStories by Freelance writer
Laundry day was a winter adventure
The well water was so hard it curdled the soap; instead, snow was hauled in on wash days — which was always on Monday
It was rather a pleasant task in spring, summer and fall to hang the laundry on the clothesline that swung between two maple trees in our big front yard. One year my dad got one of his old work boots soaking wet and hung it by the laces over the clothesline to dry. A pair […] Read more
Family’s stoic old outhouse was a rare source of privacy
Houses came and went, but the old outhouse retained its Spartan lines, a familiar piece of architecture on the home farm. Ours bore all the trademarks of a typical model: the grey, weather-beaten exterior peppered with knotholes, the jagged half-moon carved in the sagging door, the shanty roof bared defiantly to the elements. Over the […] Read more
Hormone helps plants better react to stress
Research discovery sheds light on how crops decide when to switch their energy use from growth to threat response
Crops often face harsh growing conditions and, when faced with challenges, instead of using energy for growth they are forced to use the energy to respond to threats such as disease, extreme temperatures and changing soil conditions. This switch in focus is known as the growth-stress response trade-off, but little is known about how it […] Read more
Research may help improve how plant stress is measured
Scientists at the University of Missouri-Columbia have furthered the understanding of a communication signal indicating stress in plants. The research underscores the importance of understanding the mechanisms plants use to build resilience against environmental consequences. The discovery at UMC involves a group of molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are produced by all living […] Read more
Farm takes manure composting to next level
Family’s move to use compost to rejuvenate old hayland is part of a bigger decision to embrace regenerative agriculture
SILVER VALLEY, Alta. — It may look like a pile of coffee grounds, but the dried, composted wiggler worm castings can give a northern Alberta farm a much-needed nutrient boost. What started as piles of manure will eventually be sprayed on most of the 500-acre farm in the form of compost tea to ensure the […] Read more
Bull selection: should it be maternal or terminal sires?
If using terminal bulls, just sell all the calves, but if using maternal bulls and keeping half, good marketing is essential
When buying a new bull, most ranchers have specific goals and are seeking specific traits in the offspring. Travis Olson, a seed-stock breeder near Athabasca, Alta., has been raising Angus bulls for years and says there are several tools for choosing the right bull for the purpose. “All ranchers have slightly different views on what […] Read more
Breeders say demand growing for Wagyu beef
Meat marbling is a significant selling point, but producers also point to the breed’s vigour, longevity, fertility and docility
Adrienne Herron has been raising Wagyu cattle in Alberta’s Red Deer County for about 15 years. She started with three unregistered purebred orphans from a local herd. “Then I bought purebreds from Marchi Ranches in Montana, and now have registered fullbloods I sell to commercial cattle producers,” she says. Heifers bred to Wagyu bulls don’t […] Read more
Indexes helpful tool for commercial producers
Expected progeny differences come with a wide range of numbers, while indexes simplify many factors into one number
Every breed has its own indexes, and they work in similar ways. The important ones in the Canadian Hereford Association, for instance, are the Maternal Productivity Index (MPI) and the Feedlot Merit Index (FMI). The MPI for the Canadian Hereford Association, which was created in 2000 by Agriculture Canada, was designed to combine genetic factors […] Read more
Food production may change, but not the food
Speakers at a recent U of A forum say food will be produced significantly differently 50 years from now than it is today
EDMONTON — A group of agriculture specialists were asked to gaze into their crystal balls during a University of Alberta event to see what would be on the table in 50 years and their answers were as wide as their specialties. Ellen Goddard, a University of Alberta economist and professor believed the food for our […] Read more
