Photo by Greg Price
Amanda Crook, lead agronomist at McCain Food (left), and Ashley Wagenaar, conservation agronomist for Farming Smarter, show off a drip tape irrigation demo at a field day at Farming Smarter's field day.

Alberta research group digs into potato research

Farming Smarter embarks on second growing season of potato research to support the multibillion-dollar industry

Farming Smarter embarks on second growing season of potato research to support the multibillion-dollar industry

PHOTO BY GREG PRICE
McCain Foods has entered into a partnership with Farming Smarter Association, using one of its commercial plots to do a trial growing four different varieties, using six treatments. Hopes are best management practices can be adopted that have better efficiencies, water fertility, pest and disease tolerances than the commonly-grown Russet Burbank for processing.

McCain Foods looks for new processing potatoes

Company works with Farming Smarter Association as it searches for options other than the century-old Russet Burbankvariety

McCain Foods has entered into a partnership with the Farming Smarter Association


Candace Woods, project co-ordinator for CDC South in Brooks, Alta., says the facility is currently looking for researchers to lease space.

Alberta research facility gets new lease on life

County of Newell takes over Crop Diversification Centre South and hopes to attract dozens of tenants for the $100 millionfacility

County of Newell takes over Crop Diversification Centre South and hopes to attract dozens of tenants for the $100 millionfacility

Cheryl Waldner presents research at LFCE field day 2025.

Metagenomics change how disease is diagnosed

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan use the technique to identify disease through bacteria, pathogens and viruses

Metagonomic sequencing has helped researchers learn more about respiratory disease pathogens because the process canprovide new information on pathogens that were previously hard to identify


A modern tractor cab showing multiple screens displaying reams of data.

New study flags trust failures with big farm data

A researcher says she has found that few producers believe they reap the biggest benefits from the new agricultural technology

The rise of big data in agriculture has also led to questions about data ownership, security and how much farmers actually trust the technology.

A ground spray rig applies nematodes to a corn field.

Using nematodes to control crop pests

Alberta research and U.S. commercialization suggest soil-dwelling nematodes could become a practical option for Prairie pest control

Alberta research and U.S. commercialization suggest soil-dwelling nematodes could become a practical option for Prairie pest control.




A cow with a bright pink tag in her left ear stands over her calf while others stand behind her in a pasture with trees in the background.

Tighter antibiotic rules changed little for beef sector: research

Federal regulations changed the way producers procured antimicrobial drugs, but did little to change their already low use on Canadian beef farms, says study

Canadian beef farmers have needed their veterinarian to write a prescription for antibiotics since late 2018, part of efforts to fight off antimicrobial resistance. Producers haven’t had to change what they were doing much.