| | Featured Websites | Open Farm Days - Save the Date | In the News | Farm Energy Agri-Processing (FEAP) Program Open | Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) Programs | Good Timber | Q and A | Mental Snacktime | Certified Seed Potatoes = Quality Crop | Saskatoon-QMOD
Featured Websites
WaterQual tool – water quality interpretation tool for irrigation of greenhouse and nurseries
http://cleanwater3.org/wqi.asp
World Crops Microsite – Vineland Research & Innovation Centre
http://feedingdiversity.vinelandresearch.com/
Open Farm Days - Save the Date
August 18-19, 2018
The deadline for farms to register to participate is May 31. Similar to last year, farms can choose which day(s) they would like to participate (Saturday, Sunday, or both).
Open Farm Days is a catalyst for stimulating economic prosperity by promoting the Alberta agriculture story. Last year’s event had over 20,000 visits and $146,000 in on-farm sales at over 100 participating farms and 22 farm-to-table culinary events.
Interested farms can learn more by emailing openfarmdays@gov.ab.ca or by calling 780-638-4302. Online registration will open soon at www.albertafarmdays.com
In the News
Farm Energy Agri-Processing (FEAP) Program Open
www.agriculture.alberta.ca/feap
Program Description:
The Farm Energy and Agri-Processing Program shares costs with the agriculture and agri-processing sector on energy efficiency investments. The Program is designed to encourage energy management which will result in cost savings, energy conservation, and ultimately, reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
The Program offers financial support, subject to financial constraint, to Applicants who incorporate high efficiency equipment that is identified in the applicable Funding List in their construction and/or retrofitting projects.
Key Information:
- This program is RETROACTIVE to April 2016.
- Applicants with eligible receipts dated April 2016 and later can apply.
- Retroactive projects are subject to current eligibility criteria.
- 50% cost share on most items. See Funding List for full details.
- $250,000 maximum grant per Applicant per year
- Funding Window is from now to Feb 2020
- Applications will be processed in a first complete, first served basis.
- Incomplete applications will not secure a spot in line.
- Watch for emails from GMS. Grant_Management_System@agric.gov.ab.ca. They will notify you as your application moves through the steps.
Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) Programs
Have a look at the new Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) Program website (www.cap.alberta.ca). CAP is a five-year, $3 billion federal-provincial-territorial investment in the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. It is the successor of the 2013-18 Growing Forward 2 (GF2) partnership.
In Alberta, CAP represents a federal - provincial investment of $406 million in strategic programs and initiatives for the agricultural sector. The roll-out of the CAP program suite in Alberta began in April, 2018, and will consist of a phased roll-out of 15 programs over the spring, summer and fall of 2018. Applications and program details consisting of cost-shares and eligible activities and/or items will be released with the opening of each program. The criteria for eligibility will be made available along with the program details.
Please note, there are some differences between CAP and GF2 programs, including many of the programs being merit-based (as opposed to 1st come/1st served), with specific intake periods staged throughout the year. Check each program for specifics.
In Alberta, CAP will deliver programs developed in consultation with stakeholders, and is organized under five themes: Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change; Products, Market Growth and Diversification; Science and Research; Risk Management; and Public Trust.
If you had subscribed to receive updates from the GF2 website, you will have to re-subscribe for updates from CAP. Click on the ORANGE button in the upper right, to subscribe.
www.cap.alberta.ca
Good Timber
The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.
The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.
Good timber does not grow with ease:
The stronger wind, the stronger trees;
The further sky, the greater length;
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.
Where thickest lies the forest growth,
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.
By Douglas Malloch
Q and A
Q: What new piece of equipment did you invest in the past 2 years? Why did you choose to invest in that equipment?
A: A mist sprayer, because we could not spray our corn; this new one is boomless
A: Bought a few pieces of equipment over the last 2 years. We'll pick our New Tec bagger/weigher for this question. We bought it to make better time & being more efficient at bagging a variety of crops. All boils down to saving time/labour = saving/making money. Hate this system of now having to monitor every second of your labour force because with the new changes our cost of labour is now an unbelievably HUGE deal.
A: Hoss 2-Wheel Hoe with attachments. We chose this since it was relatively low cost but a huge time saver in the garden.
A: Nothing, still using the old stuff.
A: Straw remover is the only piece I have bought in the past 2 year because I thought it would be a more efficient way to remove the straw from my strawberries. I sold it again as it didn't work for us.
A: Table Saw - I build beehives so purchasing a table saw makes straightforward sense, though, having the saw has allowed me to build my own propagation boxes for my backyard tree nursery.
A: A bedding plant transplanter, to save on payroll with the increase to minimum wage have to look at cost savings through mechanization.
A: Rotary tiller for weed control.
A: A refractometer or Brix Meter. It is a very good measure of plant health and quality
A: Between the row cultivator. We wanted to reduce our labour costs, and use of herbicide.
A: Bought an 8 wheel tractor to re-break reclamated farmland (just received) and a skidsteer attachment tree spade to move, manage and market indigenous and introduced trees and shrubs on the farm. Also a mulcher, to provide mulch for resale and for use on the farm.
Next Month’s ? What benefits have you observed from having a crop rotation?
Mental Snacktime – Investment
- “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Education is not only a ladder of opportunity, but it is also an investment in our future.” – Ed Markey
- “Without investment there will not be growth, and without growth there will not be employment.” – Muhtar Kent
- “Goodness is the only investment that never fails.” – Henry David Thoreau
- “One can make no better investment than the cultivation of a taste for the beautiful, for it will bring rainbow hues and enduring joys to the whole life. It will not only greatly increase one's capacity for happiness, but also one's efficiency.” – Orison Swett Marden
- “Friend, there's no greater investment in life than in being a people builder. Relationships are more important than our accomplishments.” – Joel Osteen
- “The more you rely/trust and believe in your team and the bigger the investment you make in getting them to their greatness, the larger will be the commitment, engagement, and outright devotion they have when it comes to you.” – Robin S. Sharma
Certified Seed Potatoes = Quality Crop
(Information provided by Deb Hart, Potato Growers of Alberta)
1. If you are growing in excess of 5 acres, or packing and selling potatoes, you must be licenced by the Potato Growers of Alberta.
2. Under the Alberta Pest Act, Certified seed is the lowest class authorized for planting crops in Alberta. If you are found to be planting uncertified seed you could be receive a fine from the province or be asked to destroy your crop.
3. Source your seed early to prevent disappointment.
4. Build a relationship with the seed grower.
5. Ask for and make sure you receive the field inspection and post-harvest test results for the seed lot you are planting.
6. Make sure the area where you store the seed before planting, and after the crop is harvested, is clean and disinfected. Equipment used for planting and harvesting should be included.
7. Don’t plant or harvest too early or late.
8. Scout and rogue your fields for pests, weeds and disease.
9. Grade potatoes going into storage to prevent issues later.
Have confidence you have a quality product to sell to your customers!
Contact Information:
Deb Hart
Seed Coordinator - Potato Growers of Alberta
Located at:
Crop Diversification Centre North
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
17507 Fort Road
Edmonton, AB T5Y 6H3
Office: 780-415-2305
Email: deb@albertapotatoes.ca
www.albertapotatoes.ca
PrairieSaskatoon-QMOD
Manage Entomosporium leaf and berry spot disease effectively and predict harvest times
Protect your berry yields and predict harvest date with this disease model tool which has been extensively evaluated across the prairies.
This model is a useful tool to help predict the pathogen E. mespili (Leaf and Berry Spot Disease) which affects the majority of saskatoon crops and serves as an operations planning tool for producers across the prairies.
This program should help producers’ bottom line and may also have environmental benefits, as there is potential for reduced fungicide applications. Customers should be more confident in the quality and consistency of saskatoon fruit.
Simply enter into the model:
- Daily min and max temperatures from budbreak until fruit harvest (or Aug.1)
- Rainfall events during flowering
- Various plant growth stages (bud break, 50% flowering, fruit harvest)
The model will generate your orchard spray schedule and predict harvest date. The first fungicide spray of
propiconazole-based products (Topas 250E; Mission 418EC; Jade; etc.) occurs after the first rain event that occurs 4 days after flowering.
What do you need:
1) MIN/MAX Thermometer in your orchard
2) propiconazole-type fungicide (Topas 250E; Mission 418EC; Jade; etc.)
3) Access to the internet.
For new users, the program is accessed through: www.prairiesaskatoon.com
For 2011 (and later) Model users - If you had an account before, try using the same login/password, and visit www.prairiesaskatoon.com, or signup again.
For more information, please contact your provincial horticulture specialist:
Alberta: Robert.Spencer@gov.ab.ca
Saskatchewan: Forrest.Scharf@gov.sk.ca
Manitoba: Anthony.Mintenko@gov.mb.ca |
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