Issues & Insights

By Ian Cook, Grassland Conservation Manager, Birds Canada The Prairies, with their rich biodiversity, are one of the most important ecosystems for birds in North America. This article is the second installment in a three-part series exploring the connections between the Canadian Prairies, prairie producers, and birds.  Prairie plants and animals evolved alongside free-roaming bison…

Inspiring Youth, Building Community and Next Generation in Agriculture For many past generations of youth who grew up in rural Alberta, farm and ranch chores were part of the daily morning and evening routine before and after school. For a growing number of rural schools today, students are now doing chores when they get to school. At Altario, a…

By Anne Wasko, National Newswatch  You have heard it on the news, seen it in the headlines and clicked it on social media: we should reduce meat consumption to decrease our individual carbon footprint and protect the environment. Recently, restaurants and food websites have removed beef from their menus and recipes in claims to be doing…

“Having a 1,000-head cattle ranch as part of our facility at the University has been a game changer, providing students with a connection to the land and the cattle and making the University of Calgary’s already exceptional Faculty of Veterinary Medicine become one of the most sought-after programs on the continent.” Dr. Ed Pajor,  Professor of Animal…

In an effort to encourage Albertans to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, the Alberta Government is holding an Open for Summer Lottery, with three draws for $1 million, travel prizes from Air Canada and WestJet, and now Calgary Stampede admissions. “Offering Albertans the chance to win admission to one of the province’s iconic events shows we…

From health to the environment, we’ve all heard arguments for and against cutting meat consumption. This week, we’re reading a few articles that relate to the push to eat more plant protein, and less meat. Why Global Prosperity Does Not Require Eating Less Meat by Dr. Kees Blokland – Founder & Managing Director of Agriterra Whether…

A joint review panel for the Alberta Energy Regulator has issued its report denying the provincial application for the Grassy Mountain coal project. The report, submitted to the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, concluded that the project would likely result in “significant adverse environmental effects.”  The panel made specific mention of the potential…

The Government of Alberta is simplifying its grant process for the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), to allow applicants to receive their money faster. Focusing on agriculture and food processing, this year’s funding will “encourage innovation and technological advancement on farms and throughout the entire food supply chain.” “CAP grants have increased our farmers’, ranchers’ and…

Last week, global protein company JBS Foods was the target of an organized cyberattack, which affected some of the servers supporting its Australian and North American IT systems, and global production plants. Here’s a timeline of events, including the disruption and return-to-normal for JBS Canada’s Brooks plant, and the response from the Government of Alberta….

The Government of Alberta has announced a $1 million investment to help protect riparian areas on the Eastern Slopes. Environment and Parks is providing the program funding to Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society (Cows and Fish) in 2021-22 to support projects and initiatives that protect the creeks and streams along Alberta’s Eastern Slopes. This commitment…