New Nature Conservancy of Canada deals will preserve more than 6,178 acres of grassland in the Porcupine Hills
Three cattle ranches in operation for generations have joined a network of conserved lands in Alberta that protects grasslands essential to everything from watersheds to wildlife. “I think ranchers are what make these projects possible,” said Sean Feagan, media and communications co-ordinator for the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Alberta Region. “They’ve stewarded the land. They’ve […] Read moreNews
Gov’t looks for ways to cut cattle’s methane emissions
Ottawa is making $12 million available to help find ways to reduce methane emissions from cow-calf, dairy and feedlot operations. The Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge is part of the federal government’s plan to reduce overall methane emissions 40 to 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 and to be net-zero by 2050. The challenge aims […] Read more
Big show day at Day 3 of Agribition
REGINA — Sales to Mexico highlighted the national Speckle Park sale at Canadian Western Agribition on Wednesday. Four animals went to Mexican buyers who want to build the breed in their country. The top seller, however, was a $17,000 heifer calf consigned by INC Cattle Co. of Saskatoon. INC Centerfold 80L was purchased by Polzin […] Read more
Irrigation modernization moves ahead in Alta.
Proponents say the projects that have already been completed made a significant difference to irrigators this past year
It’s full bore ahead for the nearly $1 billion Alberta Irrigation Modernization program launched more than two years ago that will see hundreds of kilometres of open canals converted to underground pipes, improved infrastructure and expanded reservoir capacity. Richard Phillips, chair of Irrigating Alberta, a consortium of 10 irrigation districts set up to manage the […] Read more
Alta. board ruling that reduced farmer’s lease payment overturned
An Alberta judge has overturned in decisive fashion a Surface Rights Board’s decision to limit a farmer’s compensation to half the agreed amount. Vulcan farmer Wayne Bateman sought the judicial review of the board decision, which found the farmer was only entitled to half the $2,700 annual payment between 2015 and 2019 on four acres […] Read more
Prairie micro-maltsters ride rye whisky wave
The business is not an easy one, but a passion for malting has encouraged a few entrepreneurs to take a leap of faith
This is part of an ongoing series of stories exploring rye, the crop, as it becomes Rye, the whisky. It’s not something most farmers consider. But a few are building malting plants on their farms as they work their way into the rapidly expanding world of micro-distilleries and micro-breweries. Other stories in this series: More […] Read more
Farmers urged to use marginal land for forage
Ducks Unlimited Canada, Farm Credit Canada hope to help farmers turn uneconomical farmland into perennial forage
A new program sponsored by Ducks Unlimited Canada and supported by Farm Credit Canada hopes to spur producers to turn uneconomical farmland into perennial forage. The Marginal Areas Program on the Prairies is open to producers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with DUC providing financial support to convert unproductive cropland to forage areas. FCC clients […] Read more
Man. living lab takes new direction
The Manitoba Association of Watersheds is hammering out specifics for the next five years of Living Labs work. On Nov. 15, Agriculture Canada announced Living Labs Manitoba. It’s the successor to Living Labs Eastern Prairies, established as part of a multimillion-dollar commitment from the federal government in 2019. The idea was to provide common ground […] Read more
Three genes discovered that make carrots orange
The U.S. research project is now studying the genetic mechanism that controls traits important for carrot production
Many vegetables are so familiar, they are taken for granted, especially something as commonplace as carrots. But recently, researchers at North Carolina State University delved into the familiar carrot in a study exploring what gives the vegetable its orange colour. Researchers looked at the genetic blueprints of more than 600 types of carrots and found […] Read more
Rodeo photographer has many stories to share
Alberta man found another way to revel in the excitement of the rodeo ring by trading in the back of a bull for a camera
CAMROSE, Alta. — Rodeo is not only dangerous for the riders. Sometimes the arena gets rough for the photographers. A horse and rider fell on Ken Marcinkoski while he was changing film in the player’s box of a Didsbury, Alta., rodeo. He needed stitches in the butt after a horse raced past and kicked as […] Read more
