University of Alberta Archives

How broccoli may give canola traits a bump

Traits from related brassica species may improve canola diversity

By Jeff Melchior June 25, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia – There’s little doubt that canola is a powerhouse crop. Nationwide, it covered nearly 22.1 million acres last year, more than 99 per cent of it on the Prairies. The Canola Council of Canada puts its economic contribution at nearly $30 billion a year. A University of Alberta researcher, backed by the Natural […] Read more

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

Cereals, Crops, Features

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

By Alexis Kienlen May 27, 2024

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

Crops, Features, Pulses

The flatulence-free faba bean

The process used is seen as an important tool for sustainability

By Jeff Melchior March 2, 2024

Glacier FarmMedia — Let’s get the obvious part out of the way. By separating “the good stuff” (protein, starch and dietary fibre) from faba beans, a University of Alberta researcher has improved on a process that minimizes human flatulence from eating them. That issue has long been a deterrent to mass acceptance of the pulse. […] Read more

A 2017 study maps out predictions for changes to the “water footprint” of rain-fed barley grown in agricultural Alberta. (Science of the Total Environment, March 2018)

Barley, Crops, Weather

University’s ‘Beefier Barley’ billboard binned

By GFM Network News October 1, 2019

A billboard about Alberta barley’s prospects under climate change in the University of Alberta’s ‘Truth Matters’ promotion — a series of ads meant to spark discussion about its researchers’ work — has been winnowed out of the campaign. Jacqui Tam, the Edmonton-based U of A’s vice-president for university relations, announced Sunday it would withdraw the […] Read more

Rural landscape with wheat field on sunset

Cereals, Crops, Features

Slowing growth to prevent lodging

Should you invest in a plant growth regulator for your cereal crops this season?

By Angela Lovell March 26, 2019

Where there’s enough moisture and high fertility levels, lodging can still be a major yield constraint. In cereal crops, plant growth regulators (PGRs) have been shown to produce shorter stems to reduce lodging and maintain grain yields. Researchers in Alberta are trying to optimize PGR use to prevent lodging and improve standability and harvestability in […] Read more

As the scale identifies hogs that have reached market weight,  the Tattoo Master automatically applies the tattoo.

Cattleman’s Corner, Hogs, Livestock

Automatic system for tattooing hogs

The job can be done properly without manpower

By Meristem Land & Science March 8, 2019

Here’s an idea that puts less stress on animals and the people handling them. And it automates tattooing, a job that normally requires hard work for people. The Tattoo Master designed by Daniel and Justin Maendel of Rosebank Colony in Miami, Man. is a shared winner of the 2019 F.X. Aherne Prize for Innovative Pork […] Read more

University of Alberta researcher Victor Manoli tours International Clubroot Workshop delegates through his research work at Alberta’s Crop  Diversification Centre North. Manoli has infected these plants with clubroot spores to enable future study.

Canola, Features

No silver bullet for international disease

Scientists from around the globe met in Edmonton to discuss the latest on clubroot

By Leeann Minogue October 5, 2018

The world’s top canola researchers and agronomists met in Edmonton in early August to talk about their work on the pathogen that’s lowering canola yields throughout Alberta and spreading to the rest of the Prairies. While researchers at the International Clubroot Workshop discussed the scientific research underway, farmer delegates were disappointed to hear there is […] Read more

Cereals, Columns, Markets

Getting info and seeding early

It is the time of year to gather knowledge and make your plans for the coming season

By Brian Wittal February 21, 2018

January is the busiest month of the year for ag trade shows, conferences, updates and industry meetings. You could spend the entire month traveling across the Prairies attending sessions. I attended the inaugural Cereals Innovation Symposium in Red Deer, Alta., hosted by the Alberta Wheat Commission, and heard some very interesting speakers. Scientists talked about […] Read more

Marc and Hinke Therrien and their three children, Annelies, four, Emilie, three, and Natalie, one, didn’t hesitate to learn the turkey business.

Features, Livestock, Poultry/Eggs

Canada’s OYF: The nominees from Alberta

This award is a feather in the cap of these new turkey farmers

By Geoff Geddes November 28, 2017

She was new to turkeys and he was new to farming. What could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, not much, which is why Marc and Hinke Therrien of Redwater, Alta., are proud winners as Alberta regional nominees for the Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) Award. “I’m not a farm kid; I grew up in […] Read more

Different types of soil have different properties. University of Alberta research is focusing on measuring soil quality.

Crops, Features

Controlling traffic to improve your soil

A new test offers another way to test soil quality improvements

By Julienne Isaacs September 22, 2017

It can be called “fractal hierarchical aggregation” or just “fractal aggregation.” Whatever the moniker, the new method of soil health testing promises to offer an important way to assess soil quality and land stewardship, says Guillermo Hernandez, an assistant professor at the University of Alberta. Hernandez is the lead researcher on a suite of projects […] Read more

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

GFM Network News