On the Farm: Kevin Lefsrud needed a creative pastime after retiring from the Canadian Football League because of multiple concussions
VIKING, Alta. — When Kevin Lefsrud began coping with his concussion, he realized he needed a creative outlet to improve his mental health. He decided to distill honey, creating an array of uniquely flavoured alcohols through his company, Section 35. “Concussions are a very nasty thing,” he said, speaking in a telephone interview from his […] Read more
Jeremy Simes
Stories by Jeremy Simes
Racism: not someone else’s problem
People of colour who work in the agriculture sector share their experiences and argue the rural Prairies are not immune
Himadry Singh was once told she needed a more white-sounding name. In another instance, someone said to her she was only hired to fill a diversity quota. She has also been asked if her parents speak good English. The racist comments are only a few that Singh, a marketer in agriculture, has dealt with. She […] Read more
Alta. community creates scrub bags
Health-care workers can use the bags to store their work clothes after shifts to help reduce the spread of COVID-19
When Laurie Hermary first realized scrub bags were needed for health-care workers in neighbouring communities, she immediately went work. Hermary, along with many others, began sewing dozens of bags. Health-care and group-home workers can use them to store their work clothes after their shifts. With COVID-19, health-care employees are trying to reduce the spread of […] Read more
Private rail crossing upgrades could be costly
Farmers may have to decide whether they want to keep their crossings as new regulations come into force next year
Farmers with private rail crossings will have to decide whether to keep them when new regulations come into effect late next year. The regulations require railway companies and public transport authorities to meet new safety standards by Nov. 27, 2021. Landowners with private crossings must also meet the regulations, and may be required pay for […] Read moreAlberta launches new funding opportunity for agriculture
The $40 million fund is intended to provide economic benefits to the agricultural sector and help it reduce emissions
The Alberta government will be providing funds to agriculture ventures that demonstrate they can help boost the economy and lower carbon emissions through innovation. The $40 million in new funds, announced in early June, will be funnelled through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA). The provincial corporation is requesting industry members to submit applications. The forestry industry […] Read moreWet spring dampens progress in northern Alta.
It has been an extremely stressful spring for Bryan Gacek. Gacek, who farms with his dad near Peace River, Alta., has been dealing with saturated conditions, making it difficult to harvest last year’s crop and seed another one. “We seeded everything into mud. There is no dry ground anywhere,” he said. “It’s unbelievable. I’ve taken […] Read more
Alta. removes fusarium from pest act
The Alberta government is removing fusarium graminearum from its pest regulation, a move industry says will allow for better management of the disease. The government said in a news release June 3 that regulating the disease has failed to stop it, arguing the changes allow for the modernization of management practices. It said rates of […] Read more
4-H shows fundraising spirit during pandemic
Clubs adjust to COVID-19 by going digital to showcase their work and raise money for charities such as food banks
Despite changes to their activities, 4-H members have adjusted fairly well during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clubs have started showcasing their work and have undertaken fundraising efforts. Even though everything is digital, they’ve continued to be successful. “Our motto is to learn by doing, and that is what we’re doing,” said Susann Stone, executive director of […] Read more
Alta. local food council wants better branding, food hubs
Alberta’s former local food council has put forward a number of recommendations it says will help bolster the sector. The recommendations were part of the council’s interim report, which was submitted in March 2019. The unreleased document was recently obtained by The Western Producer. Within the report, the council provided seven recommendations. It was mandated […] Read more
Farmers fail to act on safety
Farmers don’t necessarily change their behaviour when they experience close calls or are injured while working, according to a new survey from Farm Credit Canada. The survey, conducted from Feb. 10-21, found that roughly seven in 10 producers (72 percent) have had an incident resulting in an injury, or they experienced a close call at […] Read more
