Organic acreage in the province increased 65 percent between 2017 and 2019, jumping to 570,000 acres from 314,000
The number of organic farmers and acreage may be flattening in Canada, but not in Quebec. Growth is way up in Quebec, as the province continues to add growers and land that is organically certified. Data from L’Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) shows that acreage went from 178,980 in 2017 to 243,168 in 2019, a […] Read moreNews
Young family turns old barn into new home
The ambitious project required years of planning, designing, permits, cleaning and work on weekends between day jobs
ONOWAY, Alta. — If Katie Hartfeil and Adam Turnbull’s three children are ever asked the etiquette question, “were you raised in a barn,” they can truthfully answer, yes. For almost 10 years, the family transformed the eight-stall hip-roofed horse barn, built in 1928, on the family farm, into their home. “They were wandering around here […] Read more
Iron contest – photo essay
The tracor pull event at the Coyote Flats Pioneer Village near Picture Butte, Alta., proves a good place for tractor renovators to compare notes. Photos by Barb Glen.
Hog feed businesses join forces
Nutrition Athena Inc. and Nutrition Partners Inc. have joined forces within the swine feed and nutrition business. The two companies announced the new partnership Oct. 8. Nutrition Athena is a division of Groupe Ceres Inc., a Quebec-based firm that influences the feeding of more than 4.5 million pigs annually. It is the lead nutrition partner […] Read more
‘I’ve never missed a harvest in my whole life’
Pliers and baling wire help carry a Saskatchewan farmer through 77 consecutive harvests — and he’s working on his 78th
ST. BRIEUX, Sask. — With 77 harvests under his belt, Lucien Fagnou keeps climbing the combine ladder. He’s working on number 78. “I’ve never missed a harvest in my whole life. This is really the start of my 78th harvest now. I’m not finished yet,” said the 91-year-old farmer. In fact, Fagnou remembers the first […] Read more
Agribition lineup set for this year’s online event
Canadian Western Agribition has announced its full lineup of virtual events for this year after the live Regina show was postponed due to the pandemic. It includes the opportunity to vote for the Supreme champions of all time through a bracket-style competition that includes every Beef Supreme champion ever named at the show. The champion […] Read more
Silicon Valley eyes ag
A Silicon Valley-based venture capital fund likes what it sees from Canadian agricultural startups and has partnered with Farm Credit Canada to increase opportunities for them. SVG Ventures has invested in agricultural technology around the world, including in Canada, and is expanding its accelerator program, Thrive, north of the border. Chief executive officer and founder […] Read more
Farmers urged to look at asset turnover ratios
Most farmers don’t use it, but most factory operators do. However, the asset turnover ratio is a financial measure that makes sense for production agriculture and farmers should consider it, says Purdue University farm management expert Michael Langemeier. Unlike metrics that look at revenue and expenses, or return on all forms of invested capital including […] Read more
Ag minister ponders more food autonomy
Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau is exploring how to make Canada’s food more autonomous. In a Sept. 24 interview, Bibeau pointed to her minority Liberal government’s pledge in the throne speech to further support the food value chain. That could mean a review of food infrastructure across the country, according to Bibeau. “I don’t want to […] Read more
Alberta funds start-up program in Olds
Provincial government provides money to develop collaboration between Olds College and a business accelerator program
Agricultural startups in Alberta are about to get a shot at the world stage thanks to Olds College and a global Silicon Valley innovation and investment program. “This is Silicon Valley meets Olds College meets rural Alberta meets farming,” said Doug Schweitzer, provincial minister of jobs, economy and innovation. “I couldn’t think of a better […] Read more
