Airdrie

Farmers have been experiencing rain delays as they work to complete their seeding operations.

Oilseed Specialist Sonia Wilson reports that recent rain events in Manitoba over the past eight days have brought much-needed precipitation to many areas. However, she remains hopeful that producers will soon be able to return to the fields.

A vehicle fire that blocked the right-hand lane of northbound Deerfoot Trail near 64 Ave NE has been cleared, according to 511 Alberta.

The incident was first reported at 1:40 p.m. on May 21. Emergency crews responded, and the scene was cleared later in the afternoon.

Traffic was delayed in the area while crews dealt with the fire.

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The City of Airdrie says it has purchased a building at 2 East Lake Way and will begin rolling out a new animal care service model, including a municipal pound and non-profit-operated shelter, later this year.

In a May 21 news release, the City said Municipal Enforcement will operate the pound. Dog intake is expected to begin in mid-2025, with cats to follow later in the year.

A non-profit organization will be contracted to run the shelter and oversee adoptions. The City is targeting mid-2026 for full shelter operations.

Canada Post has issued a new set of offers to the union representing postal workers as the clock ticks down to a possible strike.

The Crown corporation confirmed Wednesday it has filed a new set of proposals for workers in the urban bargaining unit and the rural and suburban units.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said its negotiating team was set to examine the proposals this afternoon.

The new offers come days after the union issued a strike notice that could see postal workers back on the picket line on Friday.

Grow Hope Saskatchewan is launching its eigth season with a new national partner - Canadian Lutheran World Relief.

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank's 'Grow Hope Saskatchewan' project connects farmers who donate land with donors who help to cover input costs.

The project started in 2017 as a way to get more people involved in the effort to help end global hunger, originally a collaboration between the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is announcing some key moves within the organization.

Jennifer Babcock has been promoted to the Chief Government and International Affairs Officer.

She has a proven track record of advocacy successes.

Babcock will lead CCA’s initiatives to promote and protect the interests of Canada’s beef cattle industry domestically and internationally.

In a recent CCA Action News Blog, Babcock says she looks forward to her new and expanded leadership role on CCA’s advocacy efforts.

A U.S. company develops a trait that it says provides genetic resistance to sclerotinia, which can be challenging for growers.

A San Diego company is closer to commercializing a trait that could protect canola from sclerotinia.

In April, Cibus announced that two of its disease resistance traits for canola have been designated as “not regulated” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We are encouraged by USDA-APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) broad designation for these traits being developed,” said Cibus co-founder Peter Beetham.

Manitoba's latest potato report shows planting in the province is now estimated to be 95 per cent complete. 

Planting has been going very smoothly, with most farms now finished.

Potato and Horticulture Crops Pathologist Vikram Bisht says with planting nearly over, it's now time to take care of cull piles in and around fields and farmyards, as cull piles can be a source of disease inoculum and may harbour Colorado potato beetles and aphids.

Scott Jespersen has been named the acting chair for Alberta Grains. 

Chair Tara Sawyer is taking a leave of absence effective immediately following her appointment by Premier Danielle Smith as the United Conservative Party (UCP) candidate for the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills by-election. 

Sawyer, a wheat and barley farmer from Acme, Alberta, was elected as Alberta Grains’ inaugural chair in 2023 after the amalgamation of the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions.

The training agreement will establish an environment, social and governance program that will be offered to students in Uzbekistan.

Countries across the globe are seeking out Canadian post-secondary institutions for partnerships focused on learning and exchanging knowledge.

Olds College in Olds, Alta., is one of the latest, signing an international training agreement with Uzbekistan April 29 following a memorandum of understanding signed last November.