Every once in a while a group with a real passion for something get a chance to get together and talk about what they care about. If you get to be in room with with them, you can't help but feel the energy and, most likely, learn something. The Western Forum on Pest Management (WFPM)... Read More
Category: Western Canada
Each fall the Western Forum on Pest Management meets to review the previous growing season. Scientists, researchers, and agronomists get together to compare notes on what happened during the previous growing season. This helps everyone get a better understanding of the issues so that they can help each other help farmers. Dale Leftwich, field editor... Read More
If you've heard or seen the term "buy local" get ready to see and hear it a bit more in Wild Rose Country. Back in May of this year, Bill 7 was passed in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The bill's purpose is to encourage the development and success of a local food sector throughout... Read More
It was an exciting day at Olds College as the United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative (UFA), announced it was making a hefty donation to create the UFA Innovation Lab located at Olds College Smart Ag Innovation Centre. Part of the $500,000 in funds will also go to support the college's Smart Farm. "Not only is... Read More
Although many Albertans are still on edge about Bill 6, which takes effect on December 1, there's some good news for those who are going to have to upgrade their equipment or train new staff under the new regulations. The Alberta government recently announced $6 million in funding to be used towards costs farmers and... Read More
This month, the University of Saskatchewan awarded more than $8 million towards research projects. Large amounts to the tune of $200K, even $375K surely grabbed most peoples attention, but my eyes shifted more towards Jacqueline Toews's research. Toews has been awarded $17,500 in scholarship money to continue her research on the efficacy of grazing cattle... Read More
There is a secret society working to protect Western Canadian crops from diseases and insects. Ok, it's not actually secret, but not too many know about it either. The Western Forum on Pest Management (WFPM) meets each fall to get a preliminary handle on the threats that appeared in fields, orchards, and greenhouses during the... Read More
On Friday, Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) will have their plebiscite vote available to its members. Ranchers are being asked if their provincial check-off dollars should be refundable or non-refundable. Voting will take place at various ABP fall meetings across the province from October 19th until November 13th. There's also the option to vote at any... Read More
It's the middle of October and there is a lot of harvest yet to do in the Prairie Provinces. Many farmers got off to an early start, progress was ahead of schedule, and then things ground to a halt. No one knows for sure, but back of the envelope estimates conservatively put the value of... Read More
Wheat midge is still a significant threat to wheat in Western Canada. While the threat has subsided a bit because of the discovery and use of the SM1 resistance gene, it's important to remember that there is only one bullet in the chamber, and if it gets spent wheat crops will be, once again, at... Read More