Annelida Soil Solutions has a 90,000 sq. foot facility in Nisku, Alta., that has about 80 million worms that collectively weigh about 36,000 kilograms. They live in one-metre-deep worm beds that are 24 metres long by 2.4 metres wide and are vertically stacked like bunk beds up to several stories high. | Photo by Annelida Soil Solutions

Company deploys million worms to improve soils

Annelida Soil Solutions of Alta. recently received an innovation award for its soil amendment that is based on worm castings

CALGARY — An Alberta company wants to turn poop from about 80 million worms into a natural superfood for the soil. “Essentially, what we’re doing is using Mother Nature and creating a soil microbiome through our technology,” said Jamie DePape, co-founder and director of sales for Annelida Soil Solutions Ltd. Related stories: Regenerative ag reaches […] Read more

The Water Security Agency recently completed consultation on a draft policy that would use a per-network approach to retaining a certain percentage of wetlands. | File photo

Sask. wetland plan to have local focus

YORKTON, Sask. — Saskatchewan continues to wrestle with how best to allow agricultural water drainage while retaining wetlands. The Water Security Agency recently completed consultation on a draft policy that would use a per-network approach to retaining a certain percentage of wetlands. It would use a floor concept within the network, or a conservation and […] Read more

Saskatchewan’s proposed wetland stewardship policy has been criticized for a lack of meaningful enforcement and an inadequate ability to separately manage runoff and permanent wetlands.  |  File photo

Critics unhappy with proposed wetland policy

University of Regina researcher says embedding wetland policy within an agricultural drainage framework is backwards

REGINA — Critics of a proposed wetland stewardship policy in Saskatchewan say it fails to properly address the issue. Academics who sat in on consultations about the plan said it focuses more on agricultural development than retaining wetlands and habitat, and they don’t believe the Water Security Agency’s data that says 86 percent of Saskatchewan […] Read more


Recording stations in the Livingstone mountain range near Lundbreck, Alta., are reporting well-below-normal snowpack this winter. The snowpack feeds river systems leading into the southern Alberta irrigation reservoir system during spring runoff, and prairie farmers who depend on water from the watershed will be keeping a close eye on the situation as they hope to recover from last year’s drought. |  Mike Sturk photo

VIDEO: Alta. plans for water shortages

UPDATED – Video added to story January 16, 2024 – 1515 CST – MEDICINE HAT — An early January snowfall across the Prairies brought slight relief to dry conditions following one of the warmest, driest Decembers on record in Alberta and Saskatchewan, but drought concerns remain. Alberta is moving into high gear to co-ordinate agricultural, […] Read more

The goal is to show that with the right support, Canadian agriculture can play a role in helping the country meet its net-zero emissions target by 2050. | File photo

Climate report focuses on best management practices

Farmers for Climate Solutions holds consultations as it looks for ways in which farms can reduce climate change impact

A new preliminary report from Farmers for Climate Solutions is expected to be released in March and will look at more than 50 approaches and best managements practices that can reduce carbon emissions. The sector-wide report is being developed by a farmer-led task force. Its members include agricultural emissions modellers and agricultural economists. The goal […] Read more


Pulse industry officials contend that the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (COP28) has paved the way for increased global attention and investment in crops like peas, lentils, chickpeas and beans.  |  File photo

Pulses seen as COP28 winner

SASKATOON — A recently concluded global meeting on climate change has created a huge opportunity for pulses, say industry officials. They contend that the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (COP28) has paved the way for increased global attention and investment in crops such as peas, lentils, chickpeas […] Read more