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.

Farmer opinion is often hijacked and presented inaccurately, said Shaun Haney, owner and editor of RealAgriculture.com, a farm journalism website. All too often, he has heard industry players draw self-serving conclusions as they cite casual conversations with one or two farmers as the collective viewpoint of farmers across the country.

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.

In the late 1990s, members of the Westlock Vintage Tractor and Machinery Club noticed locally restored antique tractors often went up for auction and left the country. “People here decided they didn’t want that to happen,” said Canadian Tractor Museum president Steven Miller. The group led the creation of the Museum. Opened in 1998, the 20,000 square-foot facility sits on eight acres next to the Westlock Pioneer Museum.

Processing barley into malt for brewing is a persnickety business. Each lot of barley can vary in quality, which requires maltsters to adjust their processing approach. Factors such as protein level, germination and water absorption often require the process to be tailored by batch and sometimes adjusted in real time to produce a quality finished malt product that meets the brewer’s needs.

Every week, millions of Canadians enjoy their morning toast, lunch wraps and pasta dinners without realizing they’re consuming one of the country’s most exported crops. Canada produces high-quality, nutritious wheat for tables across the globe, yet a surprising disconnect exists at home. While 93 per cent of Canadians regularly consume wheat products, few are aware of the health benefits of this ingredient.