Alberta’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has come out with its grasshopper outlook for the upcoming farming season, and indications are that populations could put serious pressure on growing crops. The 2020 grasshopper forecast map is based on adult grasshopper counts conducted in early August 2019 by participating agriculture fieldmen across the province. This year’s… Read More
Tag: Alberta Agriculture And Forestry
Fungicides play a key role in helping manage disease in pulse crops across the Prairies. But growers need to be vigilant to prevent fungicide resistance and ensure they have the tools required to fight yield-robbing diseases, says Alberta Agriculture and Forestry pulse research scientist Robyne Bowness Davidson. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Resistance Management School,… Read More
Less than three weeks before Christmas, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry have laid off staff. A total of 22 managers from a variety of programs were given the option to opt out and receive severance. Another 20 managers have received working notice. “Alberta has a spending problem, and tough decisions need to be made to chart… Read More
The frustration and confusion for many famers surrounding Alberta’s Bill 6 will be laid to rest as Agriculture and Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen will be repealing the Bill, and replacing it with the Farm Freedom and Safety Act (FFSA). New Alberta ag minister to kick off consultation on Bill 6 repeal Over the past few… Read More
Pulse crops like a warm, dry bias — something that has eluded much of the pulse growing region of Western Canada this year. Peas especially don’t like wet feet, preferring instead well drained, lighter soil, along with that drier weather. For the 2019 growing season, many pulse growers saw plenty of pea crops with lots… Read More
If dogs can detect trace amounts of drugs in luggage, could they be trained to sniff out plant disease, too? The short answer is yes — and a research scientist headed up a project to prove it in a one-year, proof of concept study out of Alberta. Mike Harding, research scientist with Alberta Agriculture &… Read More
Those who trespass on Alberta farms will potentially face stiffer fines, as Premier Jason Kenney has announced upcoming changes to the provincial petty-trespass act in the upcoming fall session. “Alberta’s farmers and ranchers treat their animals well, and they have a right to run their operations without illegal harassment from militant trespassers. I’ve asked Minister… Read More
Visual assessments are not enough to gauge feed quality, and a feed test is an economical way to protect against under or overfeeding certain critical components of a feed ration, such as protein or energy, says Andrea Hanson. Hanson is the beef extension specialist with Alberta Agriculture & Forestry, and says that feed testing all… Read More
When it comes to accessible data around forages, there isn’t much out there. That’s according to Grant Lastiwka with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry who spoke at AgSmart this year at Olds, Alberta. The forage extension specialist dubbed his talk to producers, “pasture and hayland Viagra” and his aim was to get producers excited about the data… Read More
Myscosphaerella blight — more commonly known as ascochyta — can cause significant devastation in pea, lentil, chickpeas and even faba bean crops. Robyne Bowness Davidson, research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, says in this Pulse School episode that farmers should be out scouting for ascochyta just before the crop starts flowering. “You can certainly… Read More