To defer income under LTD, the breeding herd must have been reduced by at least 15 per cent.  Photo: Canada Beef

Feds announce early livestock tax deferral

Livestock producers in drought-affected areas are getting and early livestock tax deferral (LTD) for the 2024 season. The federal government said the situation has become more challenging for producers due to climate change, when announcing a list of regions eligible for the deferral on June 14. The LTD allows producers in designated areas, who were […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

Strike possibility looms at Calgary Cargill plant

June vote will determine if Calgary Cargill workers will echo Cargill Guelph work stoppage

Nearly 1,000 workers at Cargill’s beef processing plant in Guelph were on strike at the end of May, and there’s a possibility that workers at the Cargill Case Ready plant in Calgary could also hit the picket lines.

Photo: File

New website against weeds launched

Glacier FarmMedia – Producers have a new website to bookmark if they’re looking for weed information on the Prairies. The Western Grains Research Foundation has announced the official launch of a weed monitoring hub, prairieweeds.com. The website will be the new digital host for resources, data, weed maps and research under the Prairie Weed Monitoring […] Read more


University of Alberta researcher Ehsan Feizollahi helped test the use of cold plasma to decontaminate grains.

Plasma shows promise against fusarium-formed toxins

The fourth state of matter could someday be put to work at a malt house or feedlot near you

Researchers at the University of Alberta are harnessing a high-tech concept to decontaminate grain. They’re using cold plasma, which is created by electrical discharge in a low-pressure gas. One of the most common uses is in fluorescent lighting, which creates light with little heat. Cold plasma is the fourth state of matter, alongside solid, liquid […] Read more



A view of the grassland at Calgary’s Nose Hill Park. Preliminary results of recent research suggest Alberta’s grasslands have fared better than other such regions in weathering the effect of drought.

Research looks into drought’s lingering effects on grasslands

A global project will provide valuable insights as droughts increase, an Alberta scientist says

Glacier FarmMedia — A global study is examining the surprising ways short-term droughts can affect grasslands. “It’s not surprising that less water is going to lead to less plant growth. We’re all very familiar with that,” said Cameron Carlyle, associate professor of rangeland ecology in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences at the […] Read more

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau (second from left) and Nate Horner (right), her Alberta counterpart, during a tour of Olds College’s Smart Farm on Thursday. (Photo: Olds College/Sergei Belski, www.oldscollege.ca)

Alberta looks for feed, Ottawa promises cash for B.C.

Alberta to help with veterinary testing after B.C.'s lab flooded, Alberta ag minister says

Even though supplies are low because of drought, Alberta is looking for feed to send to B.C. livestock producers, while Ottawa will provide emergency financial assistance to farmers dealing with flooding and closed roads in the hard-hit province. “We’ve been working with the B.C. department of agriculture,” Alberta Agriculture Minister Nate Horner said during a […] Read more


After denying he had a drinking problem, Devin Dreeshen drew more criticism for posting this picture on social media. Critics said perching his iPad on a drinks cooler wasn’t amusing and others pointed to what appears to be a wine bottle under the desk on the right-hand side of the photo. Dreeshen resigned as ag minister Nov. 5.  Photo: Twitter

Alberta ag minister resigns among allegations of heavy drinking

Admitting he has a problem with alcohol, Devin Dreeshen resigned as Alberta’s minister of agriculture and forestry this morning. He has been replaced by Drumheller-Stettler MLA Nate Horner. “This morning, I offered Premier Jason Kenney my resignation as minister of agriculture and forestry and he has accepted,” Dreeshen said on Twitter on Nov. 5. “I […] Read more

You may have only got up close and personal to fababeans at a field day (such as Canolapalooza in Lacombe in 2019) but the pulse may soon be more widely grown — especially if aphanomyces limits the ability to grow peas and lentils every three or four years.

What can you grow if root rot kicks out peas and lentils?

You may need an eight-year break between those crops, but there are some other pulses to consider

Glacier FarmMedia – With aphanomyces threatening peas and lentils, what can producers do to keep pulses in the rotation? Pulse growers are being urged to go up to eight years between plantings of either peas or lentils, which dominate pulse acres in the province. “Our susceptible crops are pea and lentil and, to a lesser extent, dry […] Read more