Thomas Eckschmidt's Page

CGC issues two licenses to start September

Companies in Sask. and Quebec received licenses recently

Irrimap Opens New Era of Smart Irrigation

Lethbridge Polytechnic developed Irrimap, a web-based tool that measures crop water use and helps farmers improve irrigation decisions, increase efficiency, and support precision agriculture practices.

Applications Open for AALP Class 22

Applications are now open for AALP Class 22, a leadership program that helps future agri-food leaders build skills, expand networks, and gain global perspectives through unique learning experiences.

CDC North Marks 75 Years of Agricultural Research and Crop Protection

What began as an 18-acre tree nursery has grown into a vital centre for plant health, disease surveillance and agricultural research in Alberta. Alberta’s Crop Diversification Centre North is celebrating 75 years of helping farmers protect their crops, confront emerging threats and prepare for the future. CDC North began in 1951 as a tree nursery on 18 acres of a former federal government fur farm outside Edmonton. Today, the 340-acre site is a hub for collaborative agricultural research, crop health surveillance and plant diagnostics. The centre now houses nine greenhouses, the Alberta Plant Health Lab, the province’s Bee Health Unit and Western Canada’s only seed potato repository. Its research plots and specialized facilities are also used by collaborators including the University of Alberta and Western Crop Innovations. “From strengthening crop health to fighting diseases and helping protect Alberta’s farmland, CDC North has been leading the way in agriculture research, crop hea

Alberta Harvest Lags as Farmers Race to Protect Crop Quality

Yield prospects remain strong across much of the province, but wet conditions and delayed crop development have Alberta’s harvest running well behind its normal pace. Alberta farmers are heading into harvest with the potential for an above-average crop—but many will need more warm, dry weather before they can get it into the bin. As of Aug. 25, just 5.6 per cent of all crops had been harvested across the province, according to the latest Alberta Crop Report. That compares with the five-year average of 15.2 per cent and the 10-year average of 12 per cent. The delayed start reflects a growing season marked by wet conditions, late seeding, slow emergence and uneven crop development across much of Alberta. Progress varies sharply by region. Farmers in southern Alberta had harvested 16.2 per cent of their crops by Aug. 25, compared with only 2.7 per cent in the Central Region. Harvest remained below one per cent in the North East, North West and Peace regions. Warm temperatures helped m