A new report urges the federal government to de-tangle its regulations on the country’s agri-food industry, hoping streamlined measures will increase the sector’s competitiveness. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce report, titled Cultivating Competitiveness, discusses the history of regulations on the industry and sets out clear actions the government must take to improve it. In summary, […] Read more
Author Archives
Feds must act on red tape
Conservatives want action on rural crime
Members of the federal Conservative party are urging Ottawa to take rural crime more seriously, arguing that the Liberal government is failing to offer concrete solutions. Speaking in Edmonton May 23, Lakeland MP Shannon Stubbs said rural crime is not a priority of the federal Liberals, pointing to a recent Public Safety Committee report that […] Read more
Lakeland restructures livestock program
Lakeland College is restructuring its animal science technology program, introducing a new equine major for students looking to get into the horse business. The program also includes majors in beef, dairy and livestock, but the changes will allow students to go more in-depth so they can enhance their studies in an industry of their choice. […] Read more
Alta. commissions study grain drying
Alberta’s main crop commissions will soon launch a study to assess grain-drying costs, using its findings to potentially help farmers save dollars on energy consumption. The three-year study is expected to begin this summer with experts monitoring participants’ grain-drying and conditioning systems. “We want to provide farmers information on some of the best practices, as […] Read more
Alberta carbon tax to end May 30
The new Alberta UCP government introduced legislation today to kill the contentious carbon tax, eliminating extra costs for home heating and fuel. The government says the tax will officially be scrapped on May 30 at 12:01 a.m. Premier Jason Kenney said the repeal will free up a tax burden of nearly $1.4 billion, as well […] Read more
Farm safety and tax reforms part of Alta. throne speech
Alberta farmers can expect the new UCP government to move on reducing tax burdens and reforming safety legislation as part of its mandate this year. The measures, outlined May 22 in the provincial throne speech, will be introduced this fall and tabled as the Farm Freedom and Safety Act. The act will rollback the previous […] Read more
Scope of rural homelessness revealed
An Alberta survey could help communities gain access to more resources to help people find stable housing
STONY PLAIN, Alta. — Sharida Csillag recalls an incident during a volunteer park cleanup in Stony Plain when a child found a duffel bag in a forested area. Csillag said she instructed the child to return the bag — it wasn’t garbage; it was someone’s home. “I told them the bag was full of clothes […] Read more
Licensed wells abandoned
Alberta gas company Trident Exploration Corp. has walked away from more than 4,400 licensed wells, leaving the province’s energy regulator in the lurch over finding a new operator for the sites. The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) said it had been working with Trident to address concerns about the company’s ability to continue operating, looking to […] Read more
Market vegetable farm thrives in Alberta
On the Farm: Riverbend Gardens grows roughly 45 acres of vegetables with close access to urban consumers
Janelle and Aaron Herbert have what they call the perfect storm for growing vegetables in Alberta. Their farm, Riverbend Gardens, is situated in an agricultural zone within City of Edmonton limits, giving them close access to urban consumers who demand local products. They are also lower in altitude, right beside the North Saskatchewan River, allowing […] Read more
CRISPR gene editing can backfire
Biologists warn others to be careful when using the new technology because of what happened in a recent research project
A team of biologists is warning other researchers to be careful when using CRISPR gene editing, after finding the technology could backfire. According to a newly released scientific paper, the biologists used CRISPR on the cassava plant, hoping the technology would make it resistant to the mosaic virus. However, the method, which lets researchers precisely […] Read more
