Insights and Stories of Jennifer Blair

Mar. 6, 2020 at 10:11 am CST

New feed and forage genetics are coming down the pipe for cattle feeders. At the end of February, the Prairie Grain Development Committee approved three new feed and forage barley varieties from the Field Crop Development Centre, as well as two triticale varieties that would be suitable for feed and […]

By Jennifer Blair

Jan. 24, 2020 at 10:17 am CST

Managing your financial risk is a little like skinny-dipping — you’ve got to protect your assets, and that’s hard to do when you’re not covered. “When the tide goes out, everybody can see who’s swimming naked,” said MNP agricultural tax specialist Rob Strilchuk (quoting Warren Buffett). “We had a lot […]

By Jennifer Blair

Dec. 13, 2019 at 10:21 am CST

For most farm kids, taking over the family farm is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that’s too good to pass up. But for Jay Bruggencate and Mike Sulzle, it was a second chance that drew them back into farming — just not on their own family farms. Both men had “missed the […]

By Jennifer Blair

Aug. 30, 2019 at 2:10 pm CDT

Jay Bruggencate has a bit of a bone to pick with the ag tech industry. “We’ve invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into smart equipment that knows what it’s doing but can’t talk to each other,” said the Lacombe-area farmer at the recent AgSmart event at Olds College. “There’s so […]

By Jennifer Blair

Jun. 28, 2019 at 1:34 pm CDT

Genetically engineered alfalfa is gaining traction in Ontario — but don’t expect to see it in Alberta any time soon. During its June board meeting, the Alberta Forage Industry Network reaffirmed its 2016 position that Alberta should remain GE alfalfa free. That decision was an easy one, said Strathmore-area hay […]

By Jennifer Blair