B.C. award program
The British Columbia government is launching a new, more flexible Century Farm Award program to honour the province’s first farms.
The awards are designed to honour pioneers whose farms or ranches have been in the family for 100 years or more. Eligible farms or ranches must be a minimum of five acres, be owned by the immediate descendants of the original owners and have operated as a farm or ranch continuously over the past 100 years.
The re-launched program expands the selection criteria by offering new categories, including a farm or ranch that has been owned and operated by the same family for 100 years or more but whose owners do not now live on it or operate it, or where the farm business has moved from one location to another and remained active.
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Going beyond “Resistant” on crop seed labels
Variety resistance is getting more specific on crop disease pathogens, but that information must be conveyed in a way that actually helps producers make rotation decisions.
It also now includes farming institutes or industry associations that have been active for 100 years.
Conservationist award
Nominations are being accepted for the Order of the Bighorn awards.
The Alberta government established the award in 1982 to acknowledge outstanding contributions of fish and wildlife conservationists who enrich the lives of Albertans.
Nominations and ceremonies take place every two years. The 2008 ceremony is scheduled for March 7 in Edmonton.
Past recipients include Kim Allan, creator of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton, the late Andy Russell, noted wildlife author and outdoorsman, and the conservation organization Ducks Unlimited Canada.
Nominations must be received by Nov. 1. For nomination forms, visit www.srd.alberta.ca and click on “fishwildlife” or visit a Sustainable Resource Development office.
Canola council official
Chris Anderson is the Canola Council of Canada’s new vice-president of crop production.
He replaces JoAnne Buth, who was promoted to council president.
Anderson will work out of the council office in Winnipeg. He joined the council last January as crop production program manager.
In his new position, Anderson will lead the council’s team of agronomy specialists, develop and deliver technology transfer programs, co-ordinate agronomic research, deal with seed and variety policy issues and work with all parts of the industry to ensure a sustainable supply of canola.
He has a farm background and a master of science degree from the University of Manitoba.
Before joining the council, he worked for Advanta Seeds and Monsanto Canada in canola product development and quality assurance.
CCIA field reps
The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency and Alberta Agriculture have hired eight mobile field representatives to assist with age verification issues and help producers take advantage of the system’s benefits.
Reps will also conduct meetings with producers, auction market operators and feedlot owners. They will provide answers to questions about the age verification process, tagging requirements and radio frequency readers, scanners and software.
Alberta cattle producers can contact a mobile field rep by phoning age verification specialist Sarah Tingley at 310-FARM (toll free in Alberta) or the CCIA at 877-909-2333.
Ag safety campaign
Alberta Agriculture has launched a new farm safety campaign.
Safety Up is aimed at new and young farm workers aged 17 to 24. The program will offer information at trade shows, farm events and in the media beginning this fall.
The campaign, funded in part by the federal government, includes a display aimed at workers and supervisors, fact-sheets and a poster campaign. For more information, contact Laurel Aitken at 780-27-4231 or visit www.agric.gov.ab.ca/farmsafety.
