Joe Dales's Blog (72)

There are 3 Triggers That will Make the Province Declare a Drought Emergency

The province has released it 2024 Drought Response Plan which will help guide Alberta through any and all drought conditions, the province says. The plan covers conservation plans and water-sharing agreements, emergency declarations and prioritizing water for human health and safety. The plan outlines: The five stages of Alberta’s drought response. The roles and responsibilities of partners, including government, to help everyone collaborate and communicate. The regulatory and non-regulatory approaches and tools that may be used in various drought conditions. How and when emergencies would be declared, with recognition that declaring an emergency is used as a last resort. Current situation: Stage 4 Alberta is currently at Stage 4 of the Drought Response Plan. Government is now working proactively with major water users to employ all existing regulatory and non-regulatory tools available. This includes creating water shortage response plans, fast-tracking temporary diversion licenses

There’s a Revolution Going on in the Hybrid Rye Space and Alberta is Playing a Big Role

Hybrid rye seed production is in flux, with KWS taking charge of its production and distribution to farmers, while FP Genetics works with SeedNet to bring in fresh varieties from Saaten-Union. Kenny Piecharka of Lethbridge recently took over as country lead for KWS Seeds Canada at an exciting time for the crop the company specializes in: hybrid fall rye. Over the past decade, hybrid fall rye has made significant strides in Canada, particularly in Western Canada. Hybrid rye varieties have captured approximately half of Western Canada’s rye acreage in the last decade. This adoption has been driven by their superior performance, especially under favourable rye-growing conditions. These European-based hybrid varieties have delivered a remarkable yield increase of more than 20% compared to open-pollinated varieties. In optimal conditions, hybrid fall rye has become a game-changer for farmers, providing higher productivity. “This success has paved the way for us to introduce technology t

Alberta Grains has Picked a New Interim Research Director

Alberta Grains announces the appointment of Jeremy Boychyn as its interim director of research while continuing to oversee his portfolio of Agronomy & Extension. Boychyn will now oversee all research-related activities including priorities, projects and funding. The University of Guelph alumnus began his journey with Alberta Grains (then Alberta Wheat Commission) in 2018 as an agronomy research extension specialist, where he has since played a pivotal role in driving agricultural research and extension programs in Alberta. Boychyn has been instrumental in the development of key programs and initiatives such as Plot2Farm and The Growing Point, both of which provide vital resources and support to grain farmers across the province. Plot2Farm, an on-farm research program initiated by Alberta Grains, aims to bring agronomic management research directly to the farm-gate. Developed from small plot research, Plot2Farm offers farm-ready research protocols that farmers can implement on-farm w

Maple Leaf Foods swings back to Q1 profit as pork markets show signs of improvement

Pork markets are showing signs of improvement, said Maple Leaf Foods Inc. chief executive Curtis Frank, helping the company achieve a profit in its first quarter compared with a year ago even as sales edged lower.

Gov didn’t consult with farmers on fertilizer emission target: Auditor General

In a scathing review, the Auditor General has condemned the federal government for its handling of emission reduction efforts within the agriculture sector, citing mismanagement and a lack of transparency.