Rural Roots Canada

From rocks to docks, steel boats to plastic floats, zebra and quagga muscles pose a threat to Alberta's waterways and can cause considerable damage, ecologically and financially. The problem with these invasive muscles is threefold. One, their ability to reproduce is astounding, says Paige Kuczmarski with the Alberta Invasive Species Council. One female muscle can produce up to a million eggs. Two...

Snow!  The long spell of endless days of dry weather come to an end across much of the agricultural prairies this week, as a series of systems will bring rain and snow to the parched plain.   And. not a moment too soon, as, according to the latest Canadian Drought Monitor,  drought or dry conditions have returned to parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan, due to a lack of rainfall, higher than average...

Alberta-based mental health organization AgKnow will be relaunching its free mental health support sessions for farmers, farm families, farm employees, and veterinarians across the province. Recent funding from the Alberta Treasury Branch has allowed AgKnow to resume the free sessions, which had been paused as it awaited provincial grant funding. AgKnow Director Linda Hunt explains why these free...

New research from the University of Guelph is revealing how different grazing strategies can transform pasture productivity and livestock health. Kayleigh DeCoste is a master’s student in the Department of Plant Agriculture at the University of Guelph. Her master's research is looking at the effects of different grazing strategies on pasture performance and cow-calf performance on Ontario pastures...

How do low-quality forages affect animal efficiency and enteric methane emissions?  That's the question a student at the University of Guelph has some answers to. Madeline McLennan is studying at the University of Guelph in the Department of Animal Biosciences, focusing on beef nutrition and physiology. Her primary focus right now is on the impact of low-quality forages. For more on this story go...

Dennis Blackburn survived a terrifying tractor rollover that could’ve left him paralyzed or worse. Despite extensive injuries to his neck and back, he made a remarkable recovery. His story is a reminder that no matter how familiar you are with farm equipment, safety always comes first.

Family. Passion. Power.  Three generations of the Elliott family share a love of vintage tractor pulling. Darcy, Michael and Allan Elliott from Blackie, Alberta, shared the stage at the Calgary Stampede for the first time this past summer. This passion, which has driven three generations of the family, all started when Darcy had a fateful encounter with a vintage tractor. For more on this story go...

Crop research organization Western Crop Innovations is increasing its ability to test the quality of malts with the recent addition of a micro-malt plant, including a germinator and kiln. Lori Oatway is the research scientist for crop quality for WCI. She says they are excited to have a custom-built micro-malt unit.  Read the full story at ruralrootscanada.com.

The Porch Light Mental Wellness Society is hosting a gala to raise awareness and funds for mental health support within Alberta's rural farming communities. The Night Out in November: The 1st Annual Porch Light Mental Wellness Society Gala will be an evening of dance, entertainment, a live auction, and education. Proceeds from the night will go to AgKnow, the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network. Ag...

The Canadian Cattle Youth Council (CCYC) is undergoing a changing of the guard as outgoing president Scott Gerbrandt passes the torch to incoming president Emily Bromley. Gerbrandt, who served as CCYC president for the past year, leaves a legacy of strategic advancements, particularly in youth succession planning and governance. “When I took on the role, we started by finishing up a working group...

A newly launched initiative aimed at advancing Canada’s position as a leader in cereal grain innovation has been given a considerable funding boost from four Canadian grain grower organizations. The Global Agriculture Technology Exchange (Gate) Capital Campaign, led by Cereals Canada, has secured $13.4 million from Alberta Grains, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (Sask Wheat), Manitoba Cr...

The Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada is raising awareness about the many diverse jobs in the agriculture industry by taking it on the road. We have more on its Careers in Ag initiative, which now includes a mobile skills trailer. To read more about this story go to ruralrootscanada.com.

A flourishing gardening program in a community on the edge of Lima, Peru, has connections to Alberta. The power of growing food to improve people's lives is not lost on the community of Manchay, located on the outskirts of Lima. There, a gardening school has changed the fortunes of the people, thereby empowering them. Calgarian Art Froelick, whose family's charitable trust started the school, said...

The Canadian Cattle Foundation presents the second annual Reg Schellenberg Next Generation Legacy Award to support the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders program. This year's recipient is Cassie Marchand from Vernon, BC. The award honors those who embody the spirit of leadership, mentorship, collaboration, and dedication to the Canadian cattle industry and mirrors Reg Schellenberg's dedicated leadershi...

A Nova Scotia-based family farm has been named the winner of The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) for 2024. Holdanca Farms, near Wallace Bay on the north shore of Nova Scotia, is operated by the father-daughter team of John and Maria Duynisveld. The farm has been recognized for its ongoing commitment to sustainable farming practices that balance environmental conservation with agricultural p...

Going from farm to table has never been easier with the launch of a new digital cookbook showcasing Southern Alberta’s farm fresh flavours. Tourism Lethbridge and Alberta Food Tourism Strategies have teamed up with Alberta Open Farm Days to release the digital recipe book titled Lethbridge Farm-to-Table: Flavours from Southern Alberta. The book aims to promote the region’s agricultural products wh...

Alberta is gearing up for its 12th annual Open Farm Days, a two-day event on August 17 and 18 that serves as a backstage pass to life on the farm. Celebrating the province's agricultural heritage, it's an opportunity to meet local farmers, experience agri-tourism first-hand, and sample delicious food directly from producers. The goal is to provide an immersive experience by connecting consumers of...

For 35 years, 20/20 Seed Labs has been a leader in seed testing and research. The company has grown from a small business into a fully accredited and internationally recognized seed testing laboratory with facilities in Alberta, Manitoba, and Chile. The company was founded in 1989 by Sarah Foster following Agriculture Canada’s decision to privatize its seed testing program. Foster seized the oppor...

Saskatchewan’s agricultural landscape will be front and centre as Saskatoon hosts the upcoming Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC), August 18 - 22. “It’s an opportunity for Saskatchewan, and a real opportunity to showcase Prairie-wide, some of the knowledge, expertise, and excellence that can contribute to moving the livestock industry forward,” says Dr. Scott Wright, conference chair and Dir...

The Calgary Stampede is known for showcasing rodeo talent and livestock exhibitions and this year, it was also a platform for young speakers passionate about agriculture. The Alberta Young Speakers for Agriculture and Calgary Stampede hosted the Youth Agriculture Speaking Championship, bringing together young minds to voice their thoughts on agriculture and its future. Ultimately, two young speake...

In mid-July, severe storm season reaches its peak on the Canadian prairies. Already, hundreds of hail-related crop insurance claims have been filed, and several tornadoes have touched down across the prairies.  For a farmer, a single storm could wipe out weeks or months of hard work.   Cochrane, Alberta-based storm chaser Braydon Morisseau has seen firsthand the damage severe weather can cause.  ...

An innovative agriculture literacy program at the University of Calgary has secured a $1 Million donation from BMO. The Simpson Centre for Food and Agriculture Policy at the university’s School of Public Policy says the donation will support the launch of the Agriculture Literacy for Healthier People and Planet program. The initiative will address the complexities of agricultural systems while emp...

The countdown is on and preparations are being made for the Advancing Women in Agriculture AWC East 2024 Conference happening in Niagara Falls, Ontario from November 17-19. Lynda Campbell with TD Bank Agriculture Services has been a long-time conference attendee. She says the conference shines a very bright light on the importance of women in the agriculture sector. "Working and being in the indus...

Nanotechnology has long since moved out of the realm of science fiction. The practical applications of nanotechnology and its economic potential for many industries, including agriculture, are seemingly limitless.  At the forefront of nanotechnology and agriculture stands Convergent Bio. Launched earlier this year by a group of scientists, engineers, agronomists, and market specialists, the compan...

With planting season underway, a plant growth stimulant called Radiate by Nutrien AG Solutions aims to boost overall crop performance. Radiate is a plant growth stimulant designed to develop longer, stronger, healthier roots, significantly improving nutrient uptake. This foliar-applied product promises to boost crop performance across a wide range of plants, everything from canola, cereals, and pe...