The Government of Alberta is making some resolutions for the new year. As of January 1, 2018, farm and ranch owners will have some new Employment Standards rules to abide by. The changes are part of Bill 17: The Fair and Family-friendly Workplaces Act, and will apply to farms and ranches that “employ waged, non-family… Read More
Tag: Alberta
A group in Alberta is hoping to determine how prepared farmers are to meet internationally recognized sustainability standards. “The Alberta Farm Sustainability Extension Working Group is a very new project, and its continuing on the work from the Alberta Crops Sustainability Certification Pilot project that was completed in the spring of 2015,” says Jolene Noble, AFSE extension… Read More
It’s an app that’s been around since late 2014, but few people outside of the Edmonton area have likely heard of it. Called the Alberta Weed Spotter, the app gives the public help in identifying and reporting invasive and noxious weed species regulated under the province’s Weed Control Act. “Catching invasive species early on in their… Read More
When the Bill 6 town halls started in the fall, Christina Gray was a private member in Alberta’s Legislature, under the New Democratic Party. Now, she’s Minister of Labour and Minister Responsible for Democratic Renewal. That means, part of her portfolio involves work with the Enhancement of Protection of Farm and Ranch Workers. On Friday,… Read More
United Farmers of Alberta (UFA) has seen many changes since its 1909 start, with the amalgamation of the Canadian Society for Equity and the Alberta Farmers Association. Today, the co-operative includes more than 100 bulk fuel and petroleum cardlock locations, 35 farm and ranch stores, and 1200 employees. One thing hasn’t changed though. UFA is… Read More
Registration for CanolaPALOOZA in Lacombe, Alberta is now live, and I can’t help but be a little excited. Last year, event organizers hinted at great content and wacky entertainment, but I really didn’t know what to expect. I showed up with camera in hand, sunscreen on face. Photos from CanolaPALOOZA ’15 | Registration for ’16… Read More
The year is definitely flying by very fast. It only seems like yesterday that famers were rallying about Bill 6 and expressing their displeasure with the possibility of being legislated to offer Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) coverage to employees. As we approach the end of April we are encroaching on the deadline set by the Alberta… Read More
Young Agrarians grew by a province this year, with the new Alberta chapter receiving the 2015 Community Agricultural Grant from Peavey Mart — a fifty thousand dollar award given annually to a project that helps strengthen rural communities. “Young Agrarians is an initiative that came out of British Columbia, and really it’s an opportunity for… Read More
Thanks to changes in legislation in the province, and an ever-growing interest in food and drink, craft breweries are popping up across Alberta. “We know as brewers that the best barley on earth comes from Alberta,” Graham Sherman, of Tool Shed Brewing told us. “And we also know that we have the best malthouses on earth.” But… Read More
Bryan Walton, CEO of the Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association, and general manager of the National Cattle Feeders’ Association, joins us for an update on cattle feeder news, including: the Alberta Beef Industry Conference, the agriculture coalition in Alberta, and a new feedlot assessment tool. Alberta Beef Industry Conference The Alberta Beef Industry Conference kicked off… Read More
Every year the Canadian Farm Writers Federation (CFWF) hosts a conference and awards night, complete with agriculture and agri-food related tours. This year, for the first time, I was along for the ride. I have to say, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve met a great number of farm writers, journalists and reporters since the… Read More
It’s generally agreed that most of the earthworm species native to Canada were actually wiped out during the glacial period. Since then, new species have been introduced to the country, with at least 14 non-native species now tunneling their way through Alberta’s soils alone. To most of us, earthworms are an indicator of good (or… Read More
The 10th annual Cattlewomen for the Cure has officially opened registrations for this year’s event, which consists of 18 holes of golf, steak dinner, entertainment and a silent auction. Last year, the group donated $71,000 to STARS and $2000 to local food banks. Running at a tally of $425,000 for various charities, the goal this year… Read More
In Alberta, regulations require premises identification (PID) became law under the Animal Health Act on January 1, 2009. It is thus mandatory for livestock and poultry to be associated with a PID account. It’s part of a full traceability system aimed at improving disease and emergency response. Related: Alberta Beef Producers Proposes an Additional, Non-Refundable $1 to the… Read More
Exciting news for youth aged 8-21 in Alberta’s beef industry! If you’re involved in Beef 4-H, junior cattle shows or beef production, you’re eligible to apply for the Alberta Beef Producers’ (ABP) “Young Guns Contest.” The contest, running until May 30, 2014, is looking for applicants to identify what they see as the biggest challenge… Read More