Seven years ago, Chris Moore and Lyndsey Smith decided they needed more acres if they were going run a viable sheep farm. But rather than buy land, the partners opted to try their hand at solar grazing their Shady Creek Lamb flock at a solar power installation near their Kinburn, Ont., home farm. What started as… Read More
Category: Biodiversity & Habitat
Saving honey bees from ongoing population declines will be the focus of the new Luckevich Pinchin Honey Bee Research Centre, set to open at the University of Guelph in 2025. A groundbreaking ceremony was held this week to kick off construction of the $16-million centre. The new facility is billed as an upgrade to the… Read More
This month, representatives from nearly 200 countries, met in Montreal for the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. The goal of this COP15 was to hammer out an agreement on conservation and biodiversity protection. Pierre Petelle, president of CropLife Canada, says that going in to the meeting,… Read More
Not every acre in a field is the same when it comes to profitability. Some areas have high earning potential, while other areas are riskier, and possibly even costing money. As a wildlife biologist, those risky or unprofitable areas are what Mark McConnell is interested in. The Mississippi State University researcher made the trek to… Read More
Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C), along with its 10 provincial members, has launched a teaching guide with interactive resources for “Guardians of the Grasslands,” a documentary that explores the role that cattle play in the survival of Canada’s grasslands ecosystem. Guardians of the Grasslands in the Classroom will complement the 12-minute documentary through viewing and reflection questions,… Read More
BASF Canada has committed $250,000 to the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) to help establish a research chair position focusing on pollinator health and biodiversity. The $50,000 per year contribution, over five years (2021-2025), will go towards the creation of a permanent, tenured veterinary research chair, with a focus on pollinator… Read More
The 2021 Dave Reid Award — formerly known as the Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) Canada Producer Innovation Award — has been presented to Duane Movald. Movald has been an ALUS Brazeau participant and chair of the Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC) since the program launched in Brazeau County, Alta. in 2016. Bryan Gilvesy, CEO of… Read More
A collaborative program between six major crop commissions will look at the role of wetlands and their ecosystem services, over three years. “We’re very excited this year that we have a collaborative program to monitor Alberta’s wetlands,” says Nevin Rosaasen, policy and program specialist with Alberta Pulse Growers. “What we’re looking for is, first off,… Read More
Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is announcing that Larry Kaumeyer will become its chief executive officer this fall. “I’ve been an avid supporter of Ducks Unlimited Canada my entire life. It’s an honour to be joining a team that delivers such a meaningful and tangible impact on the landscape,” says Kaumeyer. “I look forward to building… Read More
On behalf of Minister and Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau announced today (July 23) more than $25 million in funding to conserve, restore, and enhance critical wetlands and grasslands on the Prairies. Minister Wilkinson stated that Western Canadians know that climate change is here. “They also know… Read More
National Insect Appreciation Day, which falls on June 8 this year, is an online celebration for insect enthusiasts, amateurs, and entomology professionals, promoted by the Entomology Society of Canada. John Gavloski, provincial entomologist for Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, recently joined Lyndsey Smith to talk about the day and how to show your appreciation (and… Read More
The UN Food Systems Summit is set to take place this fall, and what happens at the summit could very well impact your farm operation. Whether you are in British Columbia or through to Prince Edward Island, this meeting could inform policy back here in Canada and alter what is deemed acceptable practices in here… Read More
Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau launched a $185 million climate-focused program today, called the Agriculture Climate Solutions program. Aimed at building “climate resiliency” within the agriculture sector, the ACS program is intended to be led by farmers and farm groups tasked with developing and deploying climate solutions tailored for each region,… Read More
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) will continue its species at risk stewardship activities with a $1.27 million contribution from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCA). The Species At Risk Partnership on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) initiative will be delivered in partnership with MULTISAR, Cows and Fish, Alberta Beef Producers, and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. The additional… Read More
Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) is launching a pilot project to help conserve native grasslands. The two-year pilot project, titled “Retaining Canada’s Grasslands Using Carbon Offset Markets,” will allow landowners and ranchers to generate carbon offsets for carbon stored in conserved grasslands in Canada, says the organization. Qualifying land owners who sign a land… Read More