Photo by Greg Price
Amanda Crook, lead agronomist at McCain Food (left), and Ashley Wagenaar, conservation agronomist for Farming Smarter, show off a drip tape irrigation demo at a field day at Farming Smarter's field day.

Alberta research group digs into potato research

Farming Smarter embarks on second growing season of potato research to support the multibillion-dollar industry

Farming Smarter embarks on second growing season of potato research to support the multibillion-dollar industry

Photo by Greg Price
Dr. Henry Chau shows off a FieldScout TDR 350 to onlookers which measures volumetric water content, electrical conductivity and turf surface temperature. Chau's presentation, 'Tools for Measuring Soil Physical Health,' was part of Farming Smarter's field school in late June.

Balance sought between soil health, bottom line

Agronomists and economists look for common ground during the ongoing debate about soil health and its effect on profitability

Agronomists and economists look for common ground during the ongoing debate about soil health and its effect on profitability


Photo courtesy of Erin Payne of EG Auctions

Agriculture history on display

Antique tractor collector’s sale to showcase machinery spanning first half of the twentieth century

Don Ellingson of Springbank, Alta., is selling off his legacy, putting 91 antique tractors up for sale, some dating back as far as1927.


PHOTO BY GREG PRICE
McCain Foods has entered into a partnership with Farming Smarter Association, using one of its commercial plots to do a trial growing four different varieties, using six treatments. Hopes are best management practices can be adopted that have better efficiencies, water fertility, pest and disease tolerances than the commonly-grown Russet Burbank for processing.

McCain Foods looks for new processing potatoes

Company works with Farming Smarter Association as it searches for options other than the century-old Russet Burbankvariety

McCain Foods has entered into a partnership with the Farming Smarter Association


Candace Woods, project co-ordinator for CDC South in Brooks, Alta., says the facility is currently looking for researchers to lease space.

Alberta research facility gets new lease on life

County of Newell takes over Crop Diversification Centre South and hopes to attract dozens of tenants for the $100 millionfacility

County of Newell takes over Crop Diversification Centre South and hopes to attract dozens of tenants for the $100 millionfacility

Photo by Greg Price
Dr. Mike Harding, crop assurance lead for Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, was on hand at a recent field school at Farming Smarter, telling of and showing the various cereal leaf diseases producers have to look for in the southern Alberta. Stripe rust has appeared in fields in the region where growers are encouraged to scout their fields for it to best combat it before it progresses too much.

Stripe rust confirmed in Alberta fields

Farmers are encouraged to scout their fields for stripe rust disease so that they know if fungicide applications are warranted

Farmers are encouraged to scout their fields for stripe rust disease so that they know if fungicide applications are warranted