Sandy Carlton's Page

Seeding Peas: Establish a Strong Crop

Seed peas as early as possible from late April to early May for maximum yield potential. Peas are more tolerant to spring frosts than other crops because pea cotyledons remain underground. If frost injury occurs, new shoots will emerge from axillary buds that are protected under the soil surface. The minimum soil temperatures for germination to occur in peas is 4°C, but emergence will be quicker and more even if soils are consistently at or above 5°C. Early planting also means peas flower and pod earlier in the summer, avoiding heat blasting of flower buds and peak pea aphid populations. Fusarium and Aphanomyces root rots both prefer warm, saturated soils. Planting into soil temperatures below 10°C within one week of seeding reduced root rot severity by 17-26% and improved yield by 4-8 bu/ac compared to warmer soil temperatures in North Dakota research. 2024 research in North Dakota, looked at seeding dates and yields using newer pea varieties. In previous NDSU studies, it was noted

Canola Cares Feeding Families and Supporting Communities in Need

This year has been difficult for many Canadians, with rising costs and increased food insecurity affecting families across the country. In times like these, food banks everywhere have seen a surge in demand and are relying more than ever on support from organizations and individuals. Alberta Canola has proudly answered the call to help. Every year, we make a meaningful contribution to local communities by donating pallets of canola oil to those in need. This year, we continued our tradition by donating to the Edmonton Food Bank, which supports families in the Edmonton area. Additionally, we contributed to the North of 60 Project, a charity that works tirelessly to provide food security and essential resources to remote communities in the far north. In a further show of support, we chose to donate 2,300 bottles of canola oil to the Red Deer Food Bank in place of giving speaker gifts at the 2025 Alberta Canola Conference. In total, Alberta Canola has donated over 6,200 bottles of oil

Letter from the Chair – Spring 2025

Dear fellow canola growers, I am honoured to have been selected by the board to serve as Chair for the upcoming year. As a third-generation canola grower from Valhalla Centre, located just northwest of Grande Prairie in Alberta’s Peace Region, I am proud to represent our community and Alberta’s canola growers. As Alberta Canola celebrates its 35th year of advancing the canola industry, we see that world trade, regulations, and policy are more important than ever. We are currently facing tariffs from China and the United States; however, by working with our national organizations, we are actively trying to minimize any long-term impacts these tariffs may have. One key solution we are exploring is increasing homegrown biofuel production, which aligns perfectly with canola’s potential. In the upcoming election, it will be crucial for us to engage with candidates to ensure this solution becomes a reality. One thing is certain in these challenging times: Alberta Canola, your provincial,

Farmers Predict the 2025 Election Outcome

As the 2025 election nears, farmers on Agriville share predictions, frustrations, and hopes for a political shift, expressing both skepticism and support across party lines.

Ag and rural commitments in the Conservative platform

The Conservatives promise to pass law to protect farmland from foreign investment