Agri-News – RTW this week – Jan 27/14

News article

Features

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea a Reportable Disease in Alberta

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea, often referred to as PED, has killed more than a million young pigs in the United States. While one case has been confirmed in Ontario, there have been no cases of PED diagnosed in Alberta. As of January 20, 2014, PED is now areportable disease in the province.

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Confirmed in Canada

The first cases of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) in Canada, was confirmed on a farm in Ontario.

How’s your Farm Business’ Health?

To help producers be aware of the farm financial ratios for their farm businesses, a decision making tool called the Agricultural Business Analyzer (ABA) Simple Farm Ratio Analyzer is posted on Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s website.

Click for more information in Agri-News. >

Italian Meatloaf

This isn’t your Mom’s meatloaf – it may just be better! The Alberta Turkey Producers have added this great recipe to their website – wondering what to make for supper? And wondering how to change things up to add a little more excitement into meal time? This nutritious Italian Meatloaf made with Alberta turkey is sure to please!

Click here for this recipe. >

Webinars

Aquatic Invasive Species in Alberta

Aquatic Invasive Species: Protecting Alberta’s Irrigation Industry is the subject of the January 29 at 1:30 p.m. webinar in the Winter Webinar Series. Presenter Nicole Seitz, a water research specialist with Alberta Agriculture, provides details. For more information on the Winter Webinar Series, including how to register, click this link.

Click to listen to the Call of the Land interview. >

Markets

Crops

Livestock

Knowing the Target Market is Key

Brenda Arychuk, a registered dietician, and writer of the Marketing Nutrition Workbook, says that knowing and understanding your target market is key. This is especially true for food processors who are trying to promote the healthy aspects of their food products. More information on the Marketing Nutrition Workbook is available by clicking this link.

Click to listen to the Call of the Land interview. >

What’s New in Ag Information

Lethbridge Exhibition Ag Expo 2014

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development specialists will be on-hand and available to talk to producers, answer questions and share information at the Alberta Agriculture booth at the Lethbridge Exhibition Ag Expo. The event is being held in Lethbridge on February 26 to 28, 2014.

Click for more from Agri-News. >

New Varieties Factsheets Available

Three new factsheets have been posted to Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s website:

Livestock

Beekeeping Courses — from the Bee-ginning to Honey Food Safety

Three courses specifically designed for beekeepers and honey producers are being offered in north and south locations in Alberta in February and March. From introductory, to intermediate beekeeping to safety in honey production, the information included in these courses will be of benefit to beekeepers.

Click to read more in Agri-News. >

The 32nd Annual Horse Breeders and Owners Conference

Approximately 490 horse enthusiasts attended the 32nd Annual Horse Breeders and Owners Conference in Red Deer on January 10 to 12. It was a weekend filled with fun and education. Delegates came from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick came to share in the information, knowledge, fellowship, and the unseasonably warm weather.

Click to read more in Agri-News. >

Processing Livestock On-Farm

One of the stops on the Adding Value to Livestock Tour is Spragg’s Meat Shot at Rosemary, where they process their own hogs. Bonnie Spragg provides details. The Adding Value to Livestock Tour is February 3 and 4. For more information, contact Bert Dening at780-674-8247.

Click here for more information. >

Business

Getting Into Farm Direct Marketing

Albertans interested in farm direct marketing are invited to attend an open forum being hosted by the Explore Local initiative. The forum will be of particular interest for those new to farm direct marketing and those who have questions about farm direct marketing.

Click for more information in Agri-News. >

Farm Safety

Include Farm Animals in Emergency Plans

Know the risks, make a plan and get a kit. Those are the three main steps farmers and acreage owners should take in developing an emergency preparedness plan. In addressing responsible farm animal welfare, Alberta Agriculture’s emergency program manager Brad Andres advises people to adopt the same mindset they’d take with themselves and their family. For further information, contactAndres at 780-638-3204.

Click here to listen to the interview. >

Food & Ag Processing

Growing Sustainable Agriculture in Southern Alberta

In 2013, Farming Smarter enjoyed the support of over 150 different companies from family farming operations to large agricultural service/supply and commodity groups. The Farming Smarter team has pulled together information on the 2013 projects and provided details of proposed projects for 2014.

Click here to read more from the Farming Smarter team. >

High Pressure Processing News from ALMA

High pressure processing (HPP), the application of high pressure to packaged products, is an extensively-researched area for meat processing. With funding from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA), Dr. Haihong Wang recently led a team of researchers in determining the optimum HPP processing parameters for increasing shelf life of ready-to-eat meats and fresh marinated beef steaks while maintaining sensory and functional properties of these products.

Click to read ALMA’s latest information bulletin. >

Environment

Alberta Recycling Spring Seminar

Alberta Coordinated Action for Recycling Enterprises (Alberta CARE) is hosting a three-day seminar in High River on February 26 to 28, 2014. One of the hardest hit areas of last year’s devastating flood, High River was chosen as the site for this conference that will feature a tour to the regional landfill which boasts the largest salvage centre, a composting area and a recycling area, and tours of the Town of Turner Valley and the Town of Black Diamond.

Click for more information in Agri-News. >

23rd Annual Emerald Awards

The Alberta Emerald Foundation has opened nominations for the 23rd annual Emerald Awards. Nominations will continue to be accepted until February 28, 2014. Nominate yourself or someone you know for an award. Nominations can be made in one of the 10 categories available.

Click to read more in Agri-News. >

Decommissioning Abandoned Wells

Wells are considered abandoned if they are not currently in use and are not intended to be used in the future. Darcy Talma, agricultural water specialist with Alberta Agriculture, comments on:

Research & Technology

2014 Precision AG 2.0 Conference

The Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) is hosting the Precision AG 2.0 Conference and Tradeshow in Calgary on February 11 and 12, 2014.

Dairy Cattle Reproduction Research

Next to, and some research that is going on here in the province. Divakar Ambrose, a dairy research scientist with Alberta Agriculture discusses some of the dairy cattle reproduction research he’s involved with. For more information about this dairy research, contactAmbrose at 780-422-0807.

Click to hear more from Ambrose. >

Monday, January 27, 2014