This past fall, Northwest Polytechnic (NWP) in Grande Prairie launched its new two-year Agriculture Operations Diploma Program. “The program is unique because it focuses on preparing people to work in the ag industry on farms, in retail and in sales,” said NWP agriculture operations instructor Josefine Bartlett. The program’s curriculum balances agricultural theory with hands-on experience, and the school year aligns with the seasonal demands faced by students who live and work on family farms, she added. “It’s a one-of-a-kind program with nothing else quite like it across Canada.”

After a transitional year, Western Crops Innovations (WCI) is gearing up to begin life on its own, and continue to provide value to farmers. Formerly known as the provincial government’s Field Crop Development Centre, it spent three years under a licensing agreement with Olds College. As of April 2024, WCI was registered as a not-for-profit corporation and new agreements were negotiated with the Province.

Commitment is a stressful word for farmers who are subject to the unpredictability of the weather and grain markets. Forward contracts with buyers allow them to lock in a cash price long before the grain is delivered. In doing so, these agreements reduce downside price risk and uncertainty.

The invisible fungal mycotoxin ochratoxin-A, or OTA, can spoil grain under high moisture and temperature conditions. Though it develops exclusively in stored wheat, oats, barley and other grains, OTA is produced by Penicillium verrucosum, a naturally occurring soil fungus.

BY TREVOR BACQUE • PHOTO COURTESY OF CORTEVA It’s taken many years of research and policy discussions, but it’s almost here. By 2027, American farmers will be able to purchase and grow hybrid wheat. Late in 2024, Corteva Agriscience announced its proprietary hybrid wheat system that pushes yield potential by 10 per cent and up […]

Popularly known as the Blue Book, Alberta’s Crop Protection Guide, is a manual for the use of crop protection products by Alberta farmers and agronomists. This trusted resource helps users navigate the complexities of chemical application.

Protein Industries Canada is now accepting expressions of interest for a new round of technology projects with a focus on the blending of pulses and cereals. The main goal of this $10 million undertaking is to create the next generation of high-protein, plant-based ingredients and food products.

Some have dubbed it “The Parthenon of Booze.” But Bryce Parsons, CEO and founder of True Wild Distilling, said the business’s impressive Calgary headquarters is a showcase for Alberta agriculture. The $14 million destination distillery, restaurant and event space is housed in a decommissioned electrical substation built in 1911. It boasts an imposingly beautiful white edifice, hence the reference to the ancient architectural wonder.

Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) has long raised concerns the deal may negatively impact Canadian farmers. The organization has cited warnings from the Canadian Competition Bureau and a University of Saskatchewan report that determined farmers will take a $770 million revenue loss should the deal go through without divestment from G3.

University of Saskatchewan master’s student Beatriz Montenegro is searching for economical feed options for cattle that are heavy on nutrition and low on water. Supported by the Government of Saskatchewan’s Agricultural Development Fund, her research aims to help farmers maintain high-quality beef production as feed availability fluctuates.