John Deere has announced it is entering into an agreement with SpaceX to provide satellite communications service to farmers through the Starlink network. This solution will allow farmers facing rural connectivity challenges to fully leverage precision agriculture technologies. According to John Deere, it will allow customers to be more productive, profitable, and sustainable in their…
To get a better picture of Alberta farmers and ranchers’ mental health needs and struggles, AgKnow is launching a Farm Mental Health Survey. The survey, according to AgKnow, is to help drive change in mental health support for farming communities across the province. “Your responses pave the way for tailored support programs that directly address…
The Government of Alberta has announced over $700,000 in funding in an ongoing effort to prevent human-wildlife conflicts in southwestern Alberta. The province says residents of southwestern Alberta have raised concerns regarding the growing grizzly bear, black bear, wolf, and cougar populations, and how they impact local communities and farms. The Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association…
Farm Management Canada recently held its annual Agricultural Excellence Conference where Steve Funk was announced as the 2023 recipient of the Wilson Loree Award. Now in it’s twenty-first year, the award honours individuals or groups who have made an extraordinary contribution to advancing farm business management in Canada. Funk retired earlier this year, as Director…
Against the backdrop of Food and Agriculture Day at COP28 — as world leaders convened to deliberate on sustainable solutions — the Government of Canada announced a new economic incentive intended to reduce methane emissions from beef cattle. Under Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System, Environment and Climate Change Canada published a draft fourth protocol,…
Diedrah Kelly has been named as Executive Director of Canada’s new Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO) based in Manila, Philippines. Kelly brings with her 20 years of international experience with Global Affairs Canada, including numerous assignments abroad. She was most recently the Consul General of Canada in Mumbai, India, and prior to that served…
On November 30, 2023, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications (CRTC) launched a new, national, three-digit number for suicide prevention and emotional distress support. Funded by the Government of Canada, and led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 9-8-8 is available by phone and text, provided in both English and French, and accessible 24…
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has announced a new FCC Replacement Heifer Program to help Canadian cattle producers in maintaining or expanding their herds. The Canadian beef cattle inventory was pegged by Statistics Canada at 10.3 million head earlier this year, which is a decline by four per cent since 2017. Sophie Perreault, FCC’s chief operations…
Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) has announced the winners of the inaugural Canadian Animal AgTech Awards, presented by Deloitte. The awards recognize innovative businesses at a national level for their exceptional work in animal agriculture technology. The awards, which took place on November 23, gave finalists an opportunity to showcase their work and pitch their solutions…
The Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta is receiving $388,500 to generate awareness and expand mental health research and supports available to farmers through AgKnow. The AgKnow Alberta Farmer Mental Health Network was established in 2022 with a $524,500 Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) grant. The funding will build on the work AgKnow is doing…
The Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) has released an updated Approvals Policy for confined feeding operations in Alberta. The 2018 policy was updated to improve transparency and clarity regarding Agricultural Operation Practices Act (AOPA) requirements and their interpretation, reflect current practices, and incorporate feedback that was received. The updated Operational Policy 2016-7: Approvals incorporates: The…