On a sunny morning in the Origin Malting & Brewing taproom in Strathmore, co-owners Meleah Geeraert and her husband, Kyle, took an uncharacteristic break from what has been a crazy work schedule. Meleah is a fifth-generation member of the Hilton family whose farmstead is located just down the road. While she handles digital marketing, office management and taproom operations, he handles product development. They’ve overseen off-the-hook growth in sales following the outfitting and August 2017 launch of their business, which they carried out in record time. Invoking their “farm-kid work ethic,” they manage the endless tasks commensurate with this undertaking while raising their two-year-old son, Easton, and a second child is on the way. They’re overworked but clearly thrilled with their success thus far.

Bitcoin took the world by storm about two years ago and has since risen, fallen, crashed, burned, re-risen and may be soaring or bottoming out on the stock market as you read this. When the world’s biggest bubble comes along, it’s hard not to take notice, and Bitcoin news certainly is enthralling. However, what has captured the attention of many is the technology behind Bitcoin: blockchain.

For farmers, sustainability is the foundation of the future. As Albertans become more interested in where our food comes from and how it is grown, we naturally want to know how farms measure up in the use of sustainable growing practices. It may come as a surprise that in many ways the province’s farmers are leaders in developing and adopting farm practices that not only protect environmental values, but support economic viability and social responsibility.

With farmers facing a rail-transport backlog that may jeopardize their 2017/18 grain marketing contracts as they endure shipping delays, the group requested the speedy amendment and passage of Bill C-49, The Transportation Modernization Act.

What should I consider when choosing to grow malt barley, and which varieties should I grow? To answer some of the questions farmers may have about the crop, the following guide includes basic information and links to further sources.

For those attending the Alberta Beer Awards at Calgary’s Palace Theatre, it was clearly a banner evening for Alberta’s craft-beer scene.

To a large extent, economics will dictate cropping plans for 2018, but the need to generate profit is also tempered by the employment of productive agronomic practices.

With Alberta’s carbon levy increase to $30 per tonne from $20 at the start of this year, energy-related operating costs on the farm, particularly grain drying, are likely to negatively affect the farm bottom line.

EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES AND A STABLE BEEF SECTOR ADD UP TO OPPORTUNITY BY NATALIE NOBLE The rising prices and growing export opportunities of the 2017/18 crop year demonstrated that there is excellent potential for feed barley growers this season. Feed wheat also saw an increase, and the price spread between the two narrowed, holding feed barley steady and preventing its escalation. Early […]

AgSafe Alberta has now transitioned into an industry-led farm and ranch safety association featuring a board composed of 10 producers representing crop and livestock groups.