2017 FarmTech award winner
Murray Hartman of Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has been awarded a 2017 FarmTech Award for his contributions to Alberta’s crop sector.
Hartman currently serves as the provincial oilseed specialist based out of Lacombe and is a proponent of science -based, research-driven agriculture and is also an extension agent.
Guide on wind and solar leases
A booklet called Negotiating Renewable Energy Leases is available from the Farmers’ Advocate Office in Alberta.
It is in response to an increase in calls about negotiating wind and solar leases.
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It is designed to help landowners who are negotiating for a developer to lease land for the construction and operation of a solar or wind farm.
The publication looks at some of the differences between wind and solar leases as compared to oil and gas.
Negotiating for a wind and solar lease is voluntary. There is no legislated compensation structure, and developers will offer different compensation structures.
End-of-life considerations for wind and solar are also different than what exists in oil and gas.
Copies are available through Agriculture and Forestry Publications at 310-FARM (3276).
A digital version can also be downloaded from the website.
Laser-based technology gets federal funding
The federal government recently announced a repayable contribution of $470,000 to help Quebec-based Logiag Inc. to commercialize a laser-based soil analysis system that replaces more traditional chemical analyses.
The funding will allow the company to use laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), a technology that allows for faster and more accurate data at lower cost.
The goal is to provide producers with information on the amount of fertilizer needed to help avoid overuse.
Golden Scissors award for food inspection agency
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has received an honourable mention from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’ Golden Scissors awards for its new service called Ask CFIA.
The Ask CFIA service helps industry to improve understanding and compliance with regulatory requirements.
The service helps cut red tape for small businesses by streamlining where they go to ask technical questions, and also provides them with consistent written answers to questions.
Ask CFIA is expected to be phased gradually for all CFIA regulated parties across food, animal and plant sectors.
This includes the non-registered food sector once the proposed Safe Food for Canadians Regulations come into force.
