Alberta’s Bill 6 plans to eliminate the farm exemptions on the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Workers Compensation, Labour Relations and Employment Standards. Legislation in the other western provinces varies when it comes to coverage and exemptions for farmers and farm workers. Below is a snapshot of how regulations apply to farms and ranches in […] Read more
News
What other provinces are doing about farm worker safety
Alta. gov’t to amend farm safety bill
Amendments tabled in the Alberta legislature Dec. 7 are designed to clarify parts of Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act, and quell at least some of the farmer outrage that has gained momentum since the bill’s introduction in November. Farm and ranch owners, family members and neighbours or volunteers who […] Read more
World Bank attempts to protect Africa from climate change
BARCELONA, Spain (Thomson Reuters Foundation) — The World Bank wants to direct more funding into efforts to help African countries withstand climate change and boost their clean energy production. The $16 billion Africa Climate Business Plan identifies investments that will make the continent’s people, land, water and cities more resilient to droughts, floods, storms and […] Read more
Red tape costing hemp producers billions: industry group
WINNIPEG — Government regulations are costing Canadian hemp producers a potential billion dollar market opportunity, says an industry group. Canadian hemp farmers are permitted to use only certain parts of the plant: the stock and seeds. Kim Shukla, executive director of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, said that means farmers are missing out in the […] Read more
Lack of capital tough on young farmers
The National Farmers Union calls for new ideas to make it easier for beginning producers to get started
DRESDEN, Ont. — A National Farmers Union survey shows that 70 percent of young, beginning farmers are from non-farm backgrounds. Youth president Ayla Fenton told the organization’s annual conference in London, Ont., that 75 percent of established farmers looking to retire makes for interesting dynamics. “I’ve been working on organic farms and I’ve been with […] Read moreDow sells popular herbicides Treflan and Edge to Gowan
Company insists that its sale of the products does not signal it is leaving the agricultural chemical business
Chemical company Dow has sold part of its herbicide business to Gowan. The family of herbicides, known as dinitroanilines, includes the popular products Treflan and Edge, which are produced in Canada at Dow’s Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., facility. Dow had indicated that the company was considering selling some assets. The technology was among the first soil […] Read moreBill 6 draws varied reaction from farm groups
Most groups want government to slow down in its efforts to pass farm worker safety legislation, but some support bill
Many agricultural and rural groups in Alberta have issued public responses to Bill 6, the Alberta government’s Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act. Here is a summary of their views. Alberta Pork Pork producers agree with the government’s goal to improve worker and workplace safety but they want more details on what Bill […] Read moreChlorine, potash tested as possible mussel control methods
Alberta wants to be ready for a fight if zebra and quagga mussels invade the province’s water bodies. The small, invasive species multiply rapidly and cling to boats, water infrastructure and almost anything else. They clog pipes and machinery and consume water-borne nutrients essential to fish, plants and other aquatic species. The mussels’ size and […] Read more
Alta. committed to flood mitigation
Flood mitigation has been on the Alberta government’s agenda since the granddaddy flood of 2013 wreaked $6 billion in damage to Calgary, Bragg Creek, High River and many other communities. Millions have been spent on recovery and more will be earmarked to protect communities from future floods, said Andy Lamb of Alberta Environment and Parks. […] Read more
AG Notes
Gift ideas for livestock producers Alberta Agriculture’s Publications Office suggests the following publications as possible Christmas gifts. The Alberta Forage Manual is a 350-page book describing forage species and their growth habits. There are sections on forage pest insects and diseases with in-depth discussion of these problems in forage crops. The Beef Cow-Calf Manual is […] Read more
