The proposed reopening of the Grassy Mountain coal project on Alberta’s Eastern Slopes has prompted questions about selenium and downstream water quality among scientists, citizens and farmers. In a January Grainews column, retired agronomy research scientist Ross McKenzie raised concerns about selenium mobilization and its persistence in watersheds downstream from the Eastern Slopes. In July, ecotoxicologist Guy Gilron responded in a letter to the editor, arguing that guideline exceedances do not necessarily translate into risk and that regulatory controls exist, characterizing McKenzie’s warning as alarmist.

Canadian cereals are a hot commodity south of the border, where the $3 billion U.S. market for this country’s cereals-based products is highly integrated. Despite the current trade climate in which tariff uncertainty has become the norm, this demand remains strong for a range of reasons.

In Alberta, mature oil and gas fields and wells continue to be abandoned at record speed. Often called mature assets, they continually look more and more like liabilities for many farmers. When an operator abandons a site, municipal taxes and surface leases go unpaid, which can be financially damaging for rural communities and landowners.

Alberta farmers typically see their products shipped far away to be processed while the province loses the value-added margin. This is changing as rural communities work to keep more food processing at home. Such development gives farmers expanded market options and shorter hauls.

Led by Lakeland College in partnership with Farming Smarter and SARDA Ag Research, a three-year study examined ways to minimize lodging and maximize yield in barley. The project was carried out with the support of the Agriculture Funding Consortium. The initiative, which wrapped up this year, examined the combined effects of cultivar selection, plant growth regulator (PGR) strategies and tank mixes under Prairie conditions.

As illegal seed practices continue across Canada, a tip line has been established by the country’s biggest industry group.

The feed industry continues to be optimistic after recently announced changes to Canada’s policies and regulations.

To stay in the black while greening the planet is a constant challenge for agriculture. The production of ammonia-based fertilizer is a carbon intensive process. In response, FuelPositive Corporation has developed a cutting-edge fertilizer production system to be operational on a Manitoba farm upon approval by Manitoba Hydro. This green ammonia equipment is pitched as friendly for the environment and the farm bottom line.

Until recently, Saskatchewan attracted less than one per cent of Canadian tech venture capital dollars. In 2019, Conexus Credit Union of Regina established its business incubator, Cultivator, to kick-start the province’s modest tech sector. “Saskatchewan was missing out in a big way because we didn’t have this tech ecosystem,” said director Laura Mock.

Farmers and rural communities in southern Alberta are heavily dependent on the health of the region’s ground and surface water resources. Much of the province’s 815,000 hectares of public and private irrigation is contained within the South Saskatchewan River Basin (SSRB). Here, 13 districts serve 556,000 hectares of farmland and 40 communities that include Calgary, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat as well as many rural properties.